Mechanical Design Engineer - Vision Hardware

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position:

The Da Vinci Surgical System continues to advance the state of the art in Minimally Invasive Surgery.

We seek a Mechanical Design Engineer who will be a partner in architecture, development, testing and transfer from conceptualization through to launch as part of the Da Vinci Vision Hardware R&D design engineering team. This role will involve design contributions to component and system-level designs of high-performance illumination systems and applications.

A product development background combined with the proven ability to map out schedules and work assignments are required. This engineer will play an active hands-on role in solving challenging technical problems. They are expected to use engineering and analytical skills to conceptualize, develop, and verify new mechanical, electro-mechanical interfaces and opto-mechanical designs. They are responsible for key system components and will interface with internal technical resources (example EE, SW, Mfg) and external suppliers using clear communication and strong interpersonal skills to build high-quality prototypes and productize new designs. They should be capable of making sound decisions when faced with time constraints and ambiguous or incomplete information typical of research and development.

Roles & Responsibilities:

This position has responsibility and authority to:

• Develop, design, own and maintain models of mechanical components and assemblies and produce mechanical drawings in a government regulated environment for volume manufacturing processes.
• Understand and integrate product requirements as well as DfX needs such as assembly processes, tolerance analysis, metrology, and calibration requirements.
• Conceptualize and analyze complex opto-mechanical assemblies, create theoretical models, conduct empirical confirmation & perform computer assisted simulations.
• Collaborate and communicate with other engineering disciplines with enough interdisciplinary understanding to negotiate appropriate design compromises.
• System-wide thinking: instinctively explore upstream and downstream requirements to fully understand the context surrounding and impacting the product design.
• Document and communicate intellectual property

Skills, Experience, Education, & Training:

• Minimum BS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Optics or related degree with 5 years of work experience (or MS/PhD with 3 years) with at least one new product from concept to launch.
• Proficiency using 3D CAD to design parts and assemblies and to create specification drawings in a PDM environment; SolidWorks preferred.
• Fluency in ASME Y14.5 GD&T and tolerance stack analysis.
• Demonstrated knowledge of a wide variety of manufacturing processes, including high-volume fabrication methods such as plastic injection molding, metal-injection molding, stamping, metal casting, sheet metal.
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently collect and analyze data, turn it into a compelling story to explain what the data is telling, and write an ending to that story which provides a path to improving patient outcomes, surgeon experience, and business performance.
• Comfortable using analysis software, and able to learn new software or equipment quickly and thoroughly.
• Experience with Finite Element Simulation (FEM, FEA, CFD, Multiphysics, etc.) tools to design mechanical assemblies
• Excellent organizational skills; Able to manage multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally across a range of technical disciplines with a broad slate of stakeholders, including management, peers, customers, and suppliers.
• Prior experience with the Design Control processes for medical devices and clinical application of surgical instruments is a plus.
• Prior experience with Agile Change Control and SAP is a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

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

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.

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 compensation ranges are listed.