Staff Software Engineer (Embedded)

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position 

The Staff Software Engineer will play a critical role in building and evolving the embedded networking and connectivity software that underpins Intuitive’s surgical robotic platforms. This role sits within the IoMT & Platform Integration team and focuses on the system-side software that enables secure, reliable communication between robotic systems, adjacent platform components, and cloud services. 

This is a Staff-level role requiring deep embedded systems expertise, strong networking fundamentals, and the ability to operate as a technical lead—owning designs, solving complex production issues, and guiding other engineers through influence and mentorship. The work spans both new capability development and support of released, in-market systems. 

Essential Job Duties 

• Embedded Networking & Systems Development 
  • Design, develop, and maintain embedded networking software running on robotic or IoT systems
  • Implement and evolve communication mechanisms using protocols such as TCP/IP, HTTP, WebSockets, MQTT, gRPC, or pub/sub models
  • Contribute to system architecture that balances performance, reliability, security, and long-term maintainability across hardware generations 
  • Support fielded products, including root cause analysis and resolution of complex production issues 
• Platform & Cloud Integration 
  • Enable robust device-to-platform and device-to-cloud integration, primarily with AWS-based infrastructure 
  • Collaborate with partner teams to ensure embedded systems integrate cleanly with backend services 
  • Design connectivity with awareness of latency, bandwidth, uptime, and operational constraints typical of embedded systems 
• Security, Quality & Reliability 
  • Design software that meets security, safety, and reliability expectations appropriate for surgical systems 
  • Implement secure communication mechanisms (e.g., encryption, authentication, authorization) 
  • Participate in risk analysis activities (e.g., FMEA) and implement software mitigations as needed 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration 
  • Work closely with QA, Product Management, Cybersecurity, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical teams 
  • Support the full software development lifecycle, from requirements through verification and release 
  • Communicate design intent, tradeoffs, and risks clearly across technical and non-technical audiences 
• Staff-Level Technical Leadership 
  • Act as a technical lead on complex problems and initiatives 
  • Provide mentorship and guidance to other engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and day-to-day collaboration 
  • Drive clarity and alignment in ambiguous or evolving problem spaces 

Required Education, Skills & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field (Master’s preferred) 
• 8+ years of hands-on experience developing software for embedded, robotic, or IoT systems 
• Strong proficiency in Python, with meaningful experience in C/C++ for system services, tooling, or integration 
• Solid experience with network protocols and system design patterns 
• Proven ability to debug and support production systems 
• Strong communication, documentation, and collaboration skills 

Preferred Skills & Experience 

• Experience with embedded Linux or RTOS environments (e.g., Yocto, QNX, VxWorks)
• Experience integrating embedded systems with AWS or similar cloud platforms
• Experience with asynchronous and multi-threaded systems
• Exposure to cybersecurity concepts (TLS/SSL, PKI, certificates, secure transport) 
• Experience working in regulated or safety-critical industries (medical devices, telecom, aerospace, industrial systems) 

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.

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.