Sr. Clinical Development Engineer - Strategy

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.

Were 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.

The Future Forward organization is Intuitive’s advanced concepts group. We explore emerging technologies, prototype next-generation solutions, and build software experiences that shape the future of robotic-assisted surgery.

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 the Position 

The Clinical Development Engineer - Strategy is a key member of Intuitive’s early-stage innovation incubator, reporting to the Associate Medical Officer - Strategy. In this role, you will co-own the identification, evaluation, and early development of new clinical opportunities. Working alongside physicians and cross-functional partners, you will translate clinical insights into structured hypotheses, design and execute early de-risking strategies, and help determine which opportunities should advance within the innovation portfolio. This role operates with a high degree of independence in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, contributing directly to early-stage decision-making and portfolio prioritization.

 

Essential Job Duties

• Partner with physicians to identify and validate unmet clinical needs through clinical immersion, research, and voice-of-customer engagement

• Synthesize clinical, technical, and user insights into clear opportunity definitions and problem statements

• Co-develop clinical and technical hypotheses and translate them into structured development and experimental plans

• Lead the design and execution of early-stage de-risking strategies, including preclinical and exploratory evaluations

• Develop and refine initial procedural concepts and workflows for new technologies

• Collaborate with engineering to define early product requirements, use cases, and performance targets

• Drive early prototype and concept evaluations, translating findings into clear recommendations on opportunity viability

• Contribute to go/no-go decisions by synthesizing insights across clinical, technical, and user dimensions

• Engage with key opinion leaders and external stakeholders to inform opportunity assessment and validate insights

Experience and Qualifications 

• Typically 8+ years of experience in medical device development, clinical engineering, or early-stage innovation

• Demonstrated ability to identify and frame complex problems in ambiguous environments

• Proven experience translating insights into structured hypotheses, development plans, or experimental approaches

• Experience working closely with clinicians and understanding clinical workflows and procedural environments

• Ability to co-own problem spaces and drive structured problem-solving in early-stage, high-ambiguity settings

• Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize diverse inputs into clear direction and recommendations

• Experience leading or contributing to clinical de-risking activities, including preclinical or early feasibility evaluations

• Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, clinical, and business teams to drive aligned development outcomes

• Experience with clinical labs, cadaveric or animal models, and early-stage evaluations 

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to concisely convey complex ideas clearly across clinical and technical audiences

• Experience in early-stage innovation, incubators, or R&D concept development preferred

• Exposure to Biodesign or needs-based innovation methodologies preferred

 

Education and Training 

• Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field required

• Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D., or equivalent) preferred

Working Conditions: 

• Must be available to work full-time onsite in Sunnyvale, CA

• Will require travel to clinical sites, customer locations, or conferences (up to 25%)

• May involve standing or walking for extended periods during clinical observations or procedures

• Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally (e.g., for transporting prototypes or equipment)

• Ability to meet hospital credentialing and compliance requirements for clinical site access (e.g., vaccination)

• We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer.

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.

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.

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.