Manager, Release and Sustaining

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:

Intuitive Surgical manufactures the da Vinci SimNow Simulator for use in the training of the da Vinci surgical systems. The da Vinci is used in minimally invasive surgical applications. Simulation plays an important role in the improvement of robot-assisted surgeon proficiency. The Manager, Release and Sustaining, is accountable for the coordination of releases and sustaining activities related to the development and manufacturing of Simulator hardware and software. 

The successful candidate will coordinate technical support of mature & current Simulator products in the field. The manager will also manage obsolescence, provide input in customer complaints and feedback, bug fixes, and feature enhancements.

The candidate will also coordinate engineering, manufacturing, validation, field support, software release, as well as other operation functions to ensure that Simulator releases are deployed successfully to the field and to manufacturing. This may include coordinating some testing activities during the validation of the software.

The manager’s influence is critical to ensure effective cross-functional communication and coordination, and you play a key role in the prioritization and completion of key activities related to product deployment and support in the field.

The candidate will design and implement processes related to Sustaining Support, Design Transfer and Software Release management.

The position is also responsible for managing the Simulator lab by ensuring that the engineering teams have what they need to develop and test the Simulation products.

The position requires experience in medical & non-medical technology products development processes, design transfer and product support. The role requires an understanding of product development process, manufacturing, supplier management, and project management.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Release Management:
  • Coordinate with cross-functional teams to release Simulator Software and hardware cut-in to manufacturing.
  • Design and implement processes for release management, incorporating guidance and procedures from the various quality systems.
  • Communicate releases to the appropriate teams.
• Sustaining Management:
  • Track Field Complaints and feedback on quality issues.
  • Manage technical sustaining resources.
  • Manage cross-functional development teams within and across Business Units and Shared Services, providing oversight on critical projects, and ensuring teams deliver their commitments.
  • Coordinate with Digital Quality group on complaints and other field issues
  • Report out complaint & AEX return metrics to Sim Engineering and other teams.
  • Provide inputs to Sim Engineering team for features / fixes that need to be addressed for the current fleet.
  • Track End of Life (EOL) components to ensure the replacement components are implemented at the appropriate time.
  • Support the quarterly SIOP efforts.
  • Manage Simulator Lab team to ensure general lab organization and Simulator hardware tracking.
  • Help create visual dashboards for Simulator field and development metrics and milestones.
  • Design and implement processes for sustaining management for Simulator products.

Skill/Job Requirements

• Four-year degree (Bachelor’s degree or global equivalent) in a scientific field preferred; business, finance or related field will be considered in conjunction with experience. MSc/MA/MBA is a plus.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in the development and commercialization of highly technical medical devices.
• Medical device or health care experience in regulated environments are required.
• Understanding of Design Controls under US and International Regulations desired.
• Experience in managing and mentoring junior staff and consultant resources desired.
• Ability to work in a dynamic work environment.
• Proven ability to lead, influence and work well at all levels of an organization and in a cross-functional team environment.
• Executes creative/simple solutions to resolve complex project challenges.
• Steadies the team when stressed; leads by example.
• Strong relationship building, customer focus and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communication (written, verbal), presentation and documentation skills.

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

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.