Senior Software Development 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 the Position

Our team works collaboratively within a cross-functional team to develop the graphical user interface for both existing and future robotic systems in the da Vinci product line. We are passionate about both the function and finish of digital interfaces, with expertise in a broad range of development environments. The ideal candidate is an independent and fast-paced developer with excellent problem-solving skills, capable of producing robust, high-quality code in the face of rapidly changing requirements.to build a coherent test and calibration strategy and develop software to implement the same.

Essential Job Duties

• Develop world-class digital interfaces. Develop simple and elegant interfaces for the da Vinci product line, using Qt and other tools in an embedded C/C++ environment. Maintain superior development standards from prototypes through production.
• Implement the visual language of the product. Collaborate with interaction and visual designers to produce beautiful and functional interfaces.
• Contribute to system and software architecture. Work with other members of the engineering team to define the architecture and select the tools used for system graphical interfaces.
• Explore new user interface technologies. Work with mechanical and electrical engineers to explore new user interface technologies. Rapidly iterate on prototypes of those technologies to assess feasibility and value.

Qualifications

Required Education, Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years of experience and a Master’s degree; or equivalent experience
• Fluent in object-oriented programming using C/C++
• Experience in developing embedded SW infrastructure and middleware for medical devices
• Demonstrated experience in multiple phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, and maintenance
• Familiarity with UI development frameworks such as Qt
• Passionate for delivering the best possible experience to the user

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Multi-threading programming experience
• Experience in software design pattern
• Experience in UX/UI design and development

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: 474c3026-5d04-4084-8b6b-09409854b94e

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-02-24T15:10:51