Mechanical Engineer- Future Forward

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:

Intuitive Surgical designs and manufactures highly complex mechanical systems for use in surgery. The Mechanical Engineer is responsible for developing, documenting, and validating new product designs, as well as improving existing designs to meet the needs of our customers

Contribute your mechanical engineering design and analysis skills to a dynamic development team creating complex equipment used in minimally invasive robotic surgery. This position will focus on engineering new product architecture for next generation instruments. You will design and develop mechanical parts and assemblies, with careful consideration for mechanical design, kinematics, materials (plastics & metals) and stress analysis. You will be able to conceptualize and analyze complex electromechanical assemblies, create theoretical models, conduct empirical confirmation and perform computer assisted simulations.

Individuals in this role must demonstrate mechanical and mechanism engineering design experience.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Create new product architectures for next generation instruments based on product functional and design specifications

• Conceptualize and analyze complex electromechanical assemblies, create theoretical models, conduct empirical confirmation & perform computer assisted simulations

• Design and develop mechanical mechanism parts and assemblies, with careful consideration for mechanical design, kinematics, materials (adhesives, plastics, and metals), finishes (roughness, lubricious, metal, and biocompatible coatings), and tolerance and stress analysis (FEA)

• Broad and deep understanding of the advantages and limitations of various fabrication methods for custom designed parts, including but not limited to CNC milling, sheet metal, casting, plastic molding and 3D printing

• Work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams to define requirements for new and current designs

• Analyze and test product designs

• Identify and research new vendors/processes to manufacture components

• Develop and perform component verification testing and product validation testing

• Support production of final product by troubleshooting processes and component problems

• Provide engineering support to Manufacturing, Materials, Test Engineering, and Service to facilitate transfer of designs.

• Competence using test and measurement equipment, such as force and height gauges

• Effective documentation, including test plans/reports, specifications, design intent and analysis, design review presentations, detailed mechanical drawings (ASME Y14.5), and assembly work instructions

• Shepherd projects through the design control process (design specification, design review, risk analysis, etc.), and support New Product Introduction personnel in initial builds (procurement, assembly, troubleshooting)

Skills, Experience, Education, & Training:

• BS / MS in Mechanical Engineering and at least 5 years mechanical, equipment and mechanism design engineering experience for a medium to high volume product.

• 5+ years of experience developing precision mechanical components and assemblies

• 3+ years of experience developing precision injection-molded components

• New product introduction/development desirable.

• Great attitude, eagerness, willingness, and able to take initiative, works well with others in team environment.

• Independent and self-driven, with a reputation for initiating action to quickly and effectively develop understanding and address issues

• Excellent communication skills to build up internal/external relationships

• Supports less experienced team members in making effective decisions and resolving issues.

• Demonstrated ability to use engineering analysis to optimize and justify design decisions, including FEA, tolerance analysis, flow analysis, load and torque analysis

• Basic statistics, Six Sigma, and data analysis skills preferred.

• Experienced in ISO 9001, or medical device manufacturing environment or another regulated field preferred.

• Documentation skills must be excellent. Excellent CAD experience. SolidWorks preferred (3D design & surfacing), Matlab, Finite Element Analysis (such as Ansys/ Pro Mechanica).

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.