Company Description

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.

As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves.

Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real-world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential.

Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let us advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Job Description

Intuitive Surgical designs and manufactures highly complex mechanical systems for use in surgery. These systems include both capital equipment and “consumables” in the form of surgical instruments and accessories. The Staff Mechanical Engineer for Instrument and Accessory Advanced Product Development will be a member of a small team responsible for exploring and developing early product concepts and technologies that will help feed the da Vinci product pipeline. The successful candidate will lead early assessment, design, development, and testing of novel concepts for instrument and accessory related products.

The candidate will help to identify and evaluate new technologies in light of customer and company needs, establish design requirements to meet customer needs, work with suppliers and other outside companies and consultants to realize viable technical solutions, and refine designs for transfer to the New Product Development organization for commercialization. He/she/they must excel in a high-energy team environment and be capable of creative problem solving when faced with the time pressures and incomplete information typical of early-stage product development. The successful candidate must have outstanding technical depth in relevant areas and be as comfortable collaborating and leading across organizational boundaries as they are working independently.

Essential Job Duties:

Work within cross-functional project teams to create, evaluate, and prove out new product architectures and refine them for hand off to new Product Development
Collaborate with subject matter experts to understand the clinical, usability, and other needs of users of da Vinci systems as they relate to surgical instruments and accessories. Assist with market research and surgeon discussions around concepts, approaches, and procedures.
Develop technical requirements for designs based on an understanding of customer needs, commercial objectives (e.g. cost of goods), regulatory requirements, and feasibility constraints
Perform conceptual design, detailed design, analytical modeling, prototyping, data analysis, and troubleshooting of novel instruments and accessories for the da Vinci robotic surgical system
Develop and perform early performance testing, with assistance from other functions as needed. Assist with evaluation of prototypes by supporting bench, ex-vivo, and in-vivo laboratory testing with clinical experts.
Develop and manage relationships with key partners
Provide written protocols, reports, and presentations related to design activities on an ongoing basis
Document product designs as needed to support successful transfer into the new product development organization

Technical leadership

Act as technical lead on product development projects
Mentor and train less experienced engineers in the art of product development and mechanical design
Review mechanical engineering designs of other Intuitive engineers in both a formal and informal capacity
Lead or assist other design engineers through brainstorming, detailed reviews, and collaborative problem-solving, resulting in compelling product architectures
Provide detailed input to project planning, including objectives, budgets, staffing, schedules, milestones, etc.
Make recommendations to senior management about the direction, activities, and staffing of ongoing projects, as well as recommendations and proposals for new product/project opportunities
Identify resource gaps and make recommendations to address issues and prioritize

Other Functions

Assess technologies from outside entities for potential licensing and adaptation to the da Vinci product line
Identify, test, and report on new materials, manufacturing processes, and technologies that could benefit existing products or enable new product designs
Document, prepare and review patent submissions
May supervise or direct the activities of others

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience:

Twelve (12) years of experience in mechanical product design, or eight (8) years with MS, five (5) with PhD
Extensive experience taking products from concept to production. Medical and/or regulated product experience highly preferred.
Familiarity with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, validation, qualification, and transfer
Understanding of mechatronics, robotics, and servo-controlled systems strongly preferred. Experience developing software control algorithms a plus.
Proven ability to apply the basic laws of physics to understand and achieve quick and reliable solutions to engineering problems
Exceptional mechanical aptitude and visual thinking skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills such as finite element analysis, statistics, and experimental designs
Experience with and knowledge of a wide range of prototyping processes, both rapid and conventional with a variety of metallic and non-metallic materials.
Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. Ability to present to a wide range of audiences, including senior executives.
Ability to interface with customers and potential business partners in a highly professional manner
Proven ability to work well in a team environment as well as “solo” projects. Experience managing partners and small projects.
Proficiency using CAD to create and document mechanical designs. SolidWorks preferred.
Proficient with electromechanical prototyping and test methods, including use of hand tools, machine shop equipment, 3D printers, soldering, and mechanical and electrical test equipment

Required Education and Training:

BS (Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field) required, MS or PhD preferred

Preferred Skills and Experience:

Experience and skills in design of high volume (e.g. injection molded, MIM) components, and design for manufacturability strongly preferred

Additional Information

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target salary ranges are listed.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.

Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

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Staff Mechanical Engineer

About the role