Technical Lead - Systems Software (Future Forward)

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.

As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves.

Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential.

Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let's advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Primary Function of Position

We are seeking a technical lead to drive the architectural vision and execution for our core software products. This is a critical, hands-on leadership role for an individual who has a strong background in embedded systems and excels at communicating complex technical concepts to a diverse range of stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software that runs on our next-generation medical devices, with a specific focus on Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) and Linux-based platforms. This role requires a deep understanding of low-level software, hardware-software integration, and the ability to work within a highly regulated development environment. This is important as issues can change rapidly during the fast-paced early stages of product development.

Key Responsibilities

• Architectural Ownership & Vision:• Design, document, and lead the implementation of end-to-end system architecture for new and existing applications, focusing on scalability, security, and performance.
• Establish and enforce best practices for software design, coding standards, and deployment processes across the engineering team.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, and frameworks by performing proof-of-concepts (PoCs) and analysis to keep our technology stack modern and competitive.

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills:• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence and build consensus among stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Proven ability to translate abstract business needs into concrete technical solutions and system diagrams.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to manage differing opinions to arrive at the best technical outcome for the business.
• A collaborative and approachable demeanor, dedicated to mentoring and elevating the skills of the entire team.

• Embedded Software Development:• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software in C/C++ for real-time and safety-critical applications on medical devices.
• Work with and contribute to software running on Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) like [e.g., ThreadX, SafeRTOS, QNX] and embedded Linux distributions like [e.g., Yocto, Buildroot].

• Documentation & Compliance:• Generate and maintain clear, well-structured technical documentation, including software requirements specifications, design documents, and test reports.
• Adhere to software development lifecycle processes and documentation standards required for medical device regulation (e.g., IEC 62304).
• Participate in risk analysis and contribute to the software risk management file (per ISO 14971) to identify and mitigate software-related hazards.
• Utilize version control systems (e.g., Git) and bug tracking tools (e.g., Jira) as part of an agile or waterfall development process.

Required Education, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field and 10 years of experience; or Master's degree and 8 years of experience; or PhD and 5 years of experience
• 10+ years of experience with embedded software development
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ programming for embedded systems
• Hands-on experience with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) such as ThreadX, SafeRTOS, QNX, etc.
• Experience with embedded Linux, including kernel configuration, driver development, and application development in the user space
• Familiarity with medical device regulations and standards, particularly IEC 62304 (Medical device software – Software lifecycle processes)
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with safety-critical or high-reliability systems development
• Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
• Familiarity with other relevant standards such as ISO 13485 (Quality Management System) and ISO 14971 (Risk Management)
• Experience with multi-threaded, event-driven programming
• Knowledge of embedded security principles and practices

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.