Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - 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 designs and manufactures highly complex mechanical systems (including instruments and accessories) for use in robotic-assisted surgery. The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer is responsible for developing, documenting, verifying and validating new product designs, as well as improving existing designs to meet the needs of our customers.

A successful candidate will have strong technical depth in key areas for mechanical design, the ability to interpret data, and the energy to support simultaneous projects. The candidate will also technically manage projects across cross-functional groups and vendors.  A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required as well as a commitment to high product quality.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and document components and assemblies for robotic laparoscopic stapler instruments and reloads
• Utilize engineering fundamentals to analyze a problem, brainstorm potential solutions and conduct empirical confirmation of designs.
• Lead root cause analysis investigations as the subject matter expert and align cross-functional team on path forward
• Develop testing fixtures to perform verification and validation testing of a production-level components and products.
• Collaborate with supplier engineers and vendors to optimize component DFM (injection molded and machined).
• Create and maintain engineering drawings to company and international drafting standards.
• Participate in clinical lab testing to understand product’s performance; implement clinical feedback into product’s requirements and design.
• Guide projects through the design control process (risk analysis, design specification, design review, etc.).
• Investigate and establish root cause of both latent and emerging design, manufacturing or material defects.
• Assess field reliability data to evaluate and improve existing product designs.
• Provide mechanical engineering sustaining support for resolution of manufacturing and field issues.
• Review regulatory standards changes and evaluate impact to product.
• Perform technical design reviews to solicit feedback on design progress.
• Mentor and train less experienced engineers in the art of mechanical design; guide or assist other design engineers through brainstorming, prototyping, and detailed reviews.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Experience with all phases of the product development lifecycle, including design, debugging, verification, qualification, implementation, and transfer.
• Excellent analytical aptitude with an emphasis on theoretical fundamentals, experimental design, and data analysis.
• Prior experience leading focused brainstorming sessions.
• High proficiency using software to design and analyze components and mechanisms; SolidWorks preferred (3D design & surfacing), MATLAB and Minitab (numerical analysis), Finite Element Analysis (such as Ansys/Simulation).
• Proficiency at failure analysis, including root cause analysis techniques (e.g., fishbone, 5 Whys, etc.).
• Understanding of component selection criteria and design for reliability and manufacturability.
• Experience collaborating with manufacturers to optimize component DFM and DFA.
• Understanding concepts of design input, design output, requirement traceability, and FMEA risk analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to create and execute an engineering test plan and write engineering test reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) across functions, including presenting to a technical audience.
• Comfortable operating machine shop, measurement, and test equipment.
• Prior experience working in a regulated industry (medical device preferred).

Skill/Job Requirements:

• Minimum BSME with at least 8 years experience in a regulated industry designing commercial mechanical products; preferably medical device products, MSME with 6 years experience, or PhD with 3 years experience
• Experience with all phases of the product development lifecycle, including design, debugging, verification, qualification, implementation, and transfer.
• Excellent analytical aptitude with an emphasis on theoretical fundamentals, experimental design, and data analysis.
• Prior experience leading focused brainstorming sessions.
• High proficiency using software to design and analyze components and mechanisms; SolidWorks preferred (3D design & surfacing), MATLAB and Minitab (numerical analysis), Finite Element Analysis (such as Ansys/Simulation).
• Proficiency at failure analysis, including root cause analysis techniques (e.g., fishbone, 5 Whys, etc.).
• Understanding of component selection criteria and design for reliability and manufacturability.
• Experience collaborating with manufacturers to optimize component DFM and DFA.
• Understanding concepts of design input, design output, requirement traceability, and FMEA risk analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to create and execute an engineering test plan and write engineering test reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) across functions, including presenting to a technical audience.
• Comfortable operating machine shop, measurement, and test equipment.
• Prior experience working in a regulated industry (medical device preferred).
• Strength in designing DOEs and understanding root cause analysis techniques
• Excellent cross-functional written and communication skills
• Comfortable with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, validation and transfer
• Mechanical design and analysis skills, including statics, dynamics, kinematics, strength of materials and stress analysis
• Good communication and documentation skills
• Comfortable operating test, measurement and machine shop equipment
• Strong understanding of component selection criteria, and design for manufacturability, assembly and reliability
• Proficiency in standard business software (MS Office, etc.)
• Proficient at process development and creation of assembly instructions
• We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated knowledge of component manufacturing processes such as high-volume injection molding, machining, MIM, and heat treatment.
• Mechanical analysis, including statics, dynamics, and strength of materials.
• Familiarity with sterilization processes and designing for biocompatibility.
• Programming in PYTHON or C++ to interface and control electromechanical assemblies.
• Project Management experience a plus.

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.