Industrial Engineering Intern

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 Positions

The Industrial Engineering Team's primary responsibility is to optimize the manufacturing and material flow process by leveraging a detailed understanding of the business objectives and collaborating with internal and external teams. This internship presents a unique opportunity to contribute to a world-class medical device manufacturing facility.

The Industrial Engineering intern will support work measurement studies on manual and automated production processes for operations and engineering stakeholders. This data will be used to conduct VSM exercises, optimize production processes, improve line capacity and reduce costs. Furthermore, the intern will also occasionally support layout optimization initiatives for existing line optimization and new line installations.

Essential Job Duties

• Conduct work measurement studies on manual, semi-automated and automated processes, and leverage the studies to identify bottlenecks, balance tasks and conduct value-added analysis.
• Apply lean manufacturing principles to identify and eliminate wastes from the production process, and identify continuous improvement initiatives to streamline operations.
• Collaborate and communicate with operations, engineering and EHS stakeholders to understand constraints and propose solutions.
• Participate in wider team projects and activities involving process improvements, design reviews, product transfer and startup, and new product introduction.
• Create automated dashboards and data pipelines using Excel/ /Tableau/SQL to streamline reporting and support data-driven decision-making across manufacturing and engineering teams.
• Develop layout alternatives and optimize space utilization for sustaining and NPI production lines using AutoCAD.

Required Skills and Experience

• Strong work ethic, a demonstrated desire to learn, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter able to work in a collaborative and results-oriented environment.
• Proficiency with MS Excel for data analysis and MS Powerpoint for presentation
• Understanding of basic flowcharting software (e.g. Lucidchart, Powerpoint, etc.)
• Quantitative approach to problem solving.

University Hiring Program Eligibility Requirements:

• University Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled in and returning to an accredited degree-seeking academic program after the internship.
• Internship Work Period: Must be available to work full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) during a 10-12 week period starting May or June. Specific start dates are shared during the recruiting process.

Required Education and Training 

• Current enrollment in an Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Research or related degree-seeking program at the Master’s level. Bachelor’s level students would also be considered based on specific relevant experience.

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Exposure to lean manufacturing/continuous improvement concepts
• Software: AutoCAD, SQL and Tableau

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.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay (paid at an hourly rate), benefits, and a housing allowance. 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 relevant skills and experience for this internship, degree-seeking academic program (PhD, Master’s, Bachelor’s, etc), year in school, and location. The hourly rate is prorated against the intern program salaries listed and total program compensation will be based on internship duration.