Manufacturing Engineer - Digital Products

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 Digital Product Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in developing and optimizing manufacturing processes for Intuitive Surgical’s digital products. This position supports both new product introductions and continuous improvement initiatives for existing solutions, including network security devices for da Vinci systems, the SimNow simulator, the Intuitive HUB, and future digital hardware platforms.

This role spans the entire product lifecycle—from early development  through validation and product launch—ensuring robust, cost-effective, and reliable manufacturing processes. The engineer will deliver innovative solutions to improve performance, reduce cost, and enhance reliability while maintaining compliance with quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop NPI strategies to support product verification and validation.
• Build and maintain top-level assemblies in Agile document control systems.
• Develop and maintain digital manufacturing processes including assembly/test procedures, and work instructions.
• Execute and own design transfers of ISI designs to external suppliers and set up internal or supplier manufacturing lines for digital components.
• Develop and coordinate project schedules for Intuitive network security device with various platform program managers, members from Product Security, Product Networking Team and other internal organizations
• Perform process qualifications and documentation (PPQ, pFMEA, Cpk, Control Plans).
• Troubleshoot non-conforming products and conduct multi-level failure analysis to drive root cause and corrective actions.
• Provide training and support to production and engineering technicians.
• Support pilot builds and production ramp-up activities.
• Assess manufacturability of designs and identify critical steps for process development.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts to understand clinical and usability requirements for digital products integrated into da Vinci systems.

Required Skills and Experience

• BS Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering or relevant engineering discipline
• Minimum 2 years experience in medical device manufacturing
• 2 years or more experience working with networking products / solutions
• Familiarity of networking devices, firewalls, switches/routers and networking protocols and infrastructure (TCP/IP, UDP, LAN, WAN).
• Experience developing product roadmaps and release timelines
• Strong working knowledge of the Agile Change Management process and creation of a product bill of materials
• Experience reviewing process instructions, product requirements from HW/SW design documents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to communicate to both technical engineers as well as non-technical business partners.
• Experience with validation/verification of processes, equipment, and products
• Strong organizational skills and proven ability to work on multiple fast-paced project threads simultaneously
• Ability to travel to suppliers as needed: 10-20%

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.