Senior Research Software Engineer – Embedded

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

We seek a Senior Research Software Engineer to join the Future Forward Research group at Intuitive Surgical and help explore new, promising technologies for future products and services in the emerging computer- and robot-assisted medical interventions field. As a Senior Software Engineer, you will work on the design and development of novel embedded system software and digital applications.

The successful candidate must excel in an agile, focused, small-team environment and commit to high-quality research studies, functional prototypes, and system integration. This role requires a broad software engineering background, versatility across multiple domains, and a strong interest in building innovative, exploratory solutions. Success in this role requires strong technical skills, the ability to break down complex problems, and a structured approach to proposing and iteratively refining solutions.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Design, build, debug, and deploy embedded applications using multiple programming languages on various platforms, including real-time operating systems.
• Develop and prototype embedded software that interfaces with hardware and cloud systems, ensuring technical feasibility and defining product roadmaps.
• Adapt to project needs by initially exploring a broad range of software technology stacks and delve deeper into specific areas as the project evolves.
• Contribute to and lead software architecture discussions, code reviews, and cross-functional requirement analysis, with a focus on both technical and clinical needs.
• Develop prototypes from early requirements to rapidly iterate and create a functional product for research studies, employing systems thinking to integrate technology, users, and workflows.
• Apply strong software engineering practices, including writing maintainable code, modular architecture, testing, and documentation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop functional prototypes and contribute to a culture of innovation and rapid iteration.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies to enhance workflows and propose solutions for complex technical challenges.

Skill/Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a similar technical field. Advanced degrees are preferred.
• A minimum of 8 years (or 5 years with a Ph.D.) of working experience in developing embedded systems software, including at least 2+ years in an R&D, innovation, or exploratory environment.
• Proficiency in multiple programming languages (e.g., C, C++, Python, Matlab).
• Experience with multi-threaded and multi-processor/multi-core systems.
• Proven track record in building real-time applications and/or embedded software.
• Experience with industrial embedded OS (e.g., Yocto, QNX), interfaces, and the latest tech stack for embedded software development.
• Expertise in building AI/ML-based embedded solutions using the latest tech stack, frameworks, and tools to achieve desired performance through hardware acceleration and other techniques.
• Hands-on experience with integrating the latest AI/ML models to develop embodied AI applications.
• Proficiency in profiling and debugging system software to optimize performance.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to structure and iterate on solutions in ambiguous contexts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience in applying software innovation within healthcare, robotics, or other complex technology sectors.
• Track record of contributions to research publications, patents, or open-source projects.
• Demonstrated ability to swiftly adapt to new technologies and domains, using curiosity and creativity to solve problems.
• Proven capability to apply systems thinking in the design and evaluation of complex solutions.

Additional Information

• Location: Sunnyvale, CA (onsite).
• Travel: Up to 10%, including lab and preclinical environments.
• Compensation: Competitive salary, equity, annual bonus, and comprehensive benefits.
• Intuitive is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair-chance laws.

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.