Staff Mechanical Engineer - MP Endoscopes

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 Multiport Endoscope R&D group at Intuitive Surgical is a versatile, dynamic, and multidisciplinary team committed to advancing 2D and 3D endoscopic and vision systems for cutting-edge robotic platforms, technologies, and programs. Our mission is to develop transformative vision technologies that push the boundaries of human perception, enabling unprecedented surgical precision.

We seek a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer who has in-depth knowledge and experience of improving opto-electro-mechanical component design for full-scale manufacturing and work as a tech lead in projects with cross-functional teams. The successful candidate will be a hands-on, highly technical lead who is able to root cause complex design and manufacturing issues and make or guide designs from proof of concept to transition to full-scale manufacturing. A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required as well as a commitment to high product quality.

Essential Job Duties

• Lead cross-functional teams to improve existing designs and qualify alternative parts and vendors

• Design, develop, and build mechanical parts and assemblies with a focus on mechanical, thermo-mechanical, and materials considerations, utilizing theoretical models, empirical validation, and computer-aided simulations for medium to high volume production

• Create and maintain SolidWorks CAD databases, including assemblies, components, and detailed drawings

• Create product functional, cosmetic, and assembly design specifications

• Investigate and determine root causes of both latent and emerging designs

• Work effectively with global teams across different time zones through meetings and offline clear and timely communication

• Provide written protocols, reports, and presentations and perform technical design reviews to solicit feedback on design activities

• Provide mentorship to junior team members to help their growth

Required Skills and Experience

• Excellent organizational skills; Able to manage multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously

• Proficiency in using SolidWorks 3D CAD to design parts and assemblies, creating specification drawings in a PDM environment

• Proven expertise in designing parts for a broad range of high-volume manufacturing processes: plastic injection molding, stamping, metal injection molding, casting, metal machining, etc

• Extensive expertise in leading Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Service (DFS) initiatives

• Design validation skills: 2D/3D statistical tolerance analysis techniques, numerical analysis, computer-aided simulations., mechanical drawing composition (functional dimensioning (GD&T))

• Understanding of tight-tolerance fabrication and assembly techniques

• Multi-functional skills including mechanism design, electro-mechanical integration, PCB mechanical design, and design for high-volume production

• Excellent documentation and communication skills

Required Education and Training

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Biomedical Engineering or related engineering discipline

• Minimum 8 years of experience in design for high-volume production with at least 1-2 new products from concept to launch

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with metrology (CMM, OMM, etc.) and expertise in interpreting and deriving actionable insights from First Article Inspection (FAI) data

• Aptitude for experimental design, testing, and data analysis; experience with design of experiments (DoE) and statistical scrutiny

• Knowledge of material and component selection criteria as well as design for reliability and manufacturability best practices

• Experience working with PCB designers and exposure to PCB layout and PCBA mechanical design

• Experiences with medical devices including FDA QSR 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485, IEC 60601, and other related external standards

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.