Primary Function of Position
Intuitive Surgical designs and manufactures highly complex mechanical systems (including instruments and accessories) for use in surgery. The successful Staff Mechanical Design Engineer will lead the design, sourcing, development, and integration of novel mechanical and mechatronic concepts for instrument and accessory related products. The candidate must be able to identify and evaluate new candidate technologies, establish design requirements and create novel designs to meet customer needs, work with suppliers and other outside companies to realize viable technical solutions, and refine designs for transfer to the new product development organization. He or she must excel in a high-energy team environment and be capable of creative problem solving when faced with time pressures and incomplete information typical of early-stage product development. The successful candidate must have outstanding technical depth in relevant areas and be as comfortable collaborating and leading across organizational boundaries as they working independently.
Essential Job Duties
• Work with subject matter experts to understand the clinical, usability, and other needs of users of da Vinci systems as they relate to surgical instruments and accessories.
• Develop technical requirements for designs based on an understanding of user needs.
• Perform conceptual design, detailed design, analytical modeling, prototyping, and troubleshooting of novel instruments and accessories for the da Vinci robotic surgical system.
• Create new product architectures to solve complex and highly constrained design problems.
• Develop and perform early design verification and validation testing, with assistance from other functions as needed.
• Assist with clinical evaluation of prototypes by supporting ex-vivo and in-vivo laboratory testing.
• Assist with mechanical engineering problem-solving in any part of the organization as needed to solve challenges on urgent or critical programs.
• Identify, test, and report on new materials, manufacturing process, and technologies that could benefit existing products or enable new product designs.
• Develop and manage relationships with key suppliers.
• Provide written protocols, reports, and presentations related to design activities on an ongoing basis.
• Document, prepare and review patent submissions.
• Review mechanical engineering designs of other engineers in both a formal and informal capacity.
• Refine and document product designs as needed to support successful transfer into the new product development organization.
Required Skills and Experience
• Minimum BS (Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field) required
• Minimum twelve (12) years of experience taking products from concept to production (medical product experience preferred). 8 years with MS or 5 years with PhD
• Familiarity with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, qualification, and transfer.
• Understanding of mechatronics, robotics, and servo-controlled systems strongly preferred.
• Experience developing software control algorithms a plus.
• Proven ability to apply the basic laws of physics to understand and achieve quick and reliable solutions to engineering problems.
• Exceptional mechanical aptitude and visual thinking skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills such as finite element analysis, statistics, and experimental designs.
• Experience and skills in design of high volume (e.g. injection molded, MIM) components.
• Strong understanding of design for reliability and manufacturability.
• Proven ability to work well in a team environment and drive individual projects.
• Experience managing suppliers and small projects.
• Act as technical mentor to Mechanical Engineers on multiple projects
• Proficiency using CAD to design and document mechanical designs.
• SolidWorks preferred.
• Comfortable with hands-on development work: Comfort operating standard machine shop equipment for prototyping (mill, lathe, etc.).
• Proficient with techniques for rapidly fabricating proof-of-concept and functional prototypes.
• Comfortable with standard mechanical and electrical measurement and test equipment.
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.