Senior Mechanical Engineer

Company Description

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.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

Intuitive Surgical designs and manufactures highly complex electromechanical robotic systems for use in surgery, which include a variety of individual sub-systems and components that are required to achieve the desired level of surgical performance. 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.

The Senior Mechanical Engineer will develop new and innovative surgical devices (e.g., capital equipment, disposables, accessories) for the Intuitive da Vinci Surgical System. He or she must excel in a high-energy team environment and be capable of making sound decisions when faced with time pressures and incomplete information typical of new product development. The successful candidate must have strong technical depth in relevant areas and have a track record of successful product development efforts. Responsibilities include developing, documenting, and validating new product designs, as well as improving existing designs to meet the needs of our customers.

Essential Job Duties

• Represent Mechanical Engineering on cross-functional project teams that design and develop next generation surgical and energy products.

• Work closely with Marketing and Clinical Development Engineering to translate clinical requirements and user needs to functional and technical specifications.

• Analyze risk, document dFMEAs, and test product concepts according to corporate and departmental operating procedures.

Provide technical expertise and support to manufacturing and supply chain teams with initial fixtures, BOM structures, assembly processes, and troubleshooting field resolutions. 

Familiarity with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, qualification, and transfer. 

Support the quality, safety, and regulatory processes.  Have a general understanding of ISO 4414, ISO 13485, and relevant OSHA/NFPA requirements for gas powered equipment.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Self-motivated, hands-on, and the ability to work well within a fast-paced team-oriented environment. Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills. 

• Strong understanding of design for reliability, robustness, and manufacturing.

• Proven ability to handle challenging situations with composure, resolve conflicts with empathy, and have high energy and engagement for our mission.   

• Proficiency using 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) to design and document complex mechanical and pneumatics systems.  Familiarity with software for fluid simulation and flow modeling. 

• Knowledge of fluid dynamics – choked flow fundamentals, choked flow conditions, and how temperature affects performance. 

• Experience with pneumatic system design and analysis – sizing actuators, valves and air supply components.  Familiarity using flow-rate calculations and pressure drop models.

• Knowledge of control strategies – ladder logic, PLC programming, and electro-pneumatic schematics and integrating feedback from pressure/position sensors.

Required Education and Training

• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or six (6) years of experience with a master’s degree. 

Working Conditions

• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Pneumatic system design with medical products.

Additional Information

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.

Client-provided location(s): Sunnyvale, CA

Job ID: 185ca7bf-c8aa-48e3-a88f-30afaa4cf8cb

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-12-08T19:59:29