Reprocessing and Sterilization Development Engineer

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:
Intuitive designs and manufactures highly complex systems for use in robotic-assisted surgery
and minimally invasive lung biopsy. These systems employ a combination of reusable and
single-use devices for each procedure. The primary function of the Development Engineer is to act
as a central company resource for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization testing and validation
of reusable devices. This person will work with cross-functional teams to provide design inputs
that enable effective cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of new reusable medical devices.
The Development Engineer will conduct cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization validation testing
on-site or in cooperation with external laboratories to support domestic and international
regulatory submissions. This person must have a good working knowledge of domestic and
international standards related to reprocessing. This role may include interaction with final users
to understand central reprocessing procedures, help streamline workflows, and improve
instructions for use.
The successful candidate must excel in a high-energy, high capacity, and fast-paced
environment working with multidisciplinary teams to drive solutions from early design
requirements to product launch and support. Essential to this role is a high commitment to
product quality and the ability to learn rapidly and create innovative solutions. A strong sense of
shared responsibility and shared reward is required, as is the ability to make work fun and
interesting. Supporting this role is a management team that is invested in what you do and
wants you to succeed.
 

Roles and Responsibilities
• Lead multiple validation and verification studies including cleaning, disinfection, and
sterilization involving rigorous data analysis with focus on the safety and efficacy of new
robotic medical devices.
• Maintain reprocessing instructions for use (IFU) requirements including design control
activities, harmonization of content across platforms, and continuous improvement.

• Concurrently oversee multiple projects requiring frequent communication and
collaboration between internal departments and outside services (vendors and
laboratories).
• Define reprocessing test approach and test plans to ensure safety and efficacy for new
instrument and accessory products across the company’s product platforms. Provide
subject matter expert input for design, materials, and product requirements for optimized
reprocessing output.
• Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs to support domestic and international regulatory
submissions and approvals
• Collaborate with Product Management to integrate user needs into reprocessing
instructions.
• Develop and maintain procedures and best practices to ensure compliance with
applicable domestic and international cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization standards.
• Optimize cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization control processes, systems, and
procedures.
• Support development of harmonized reprocessing manuals for end users, minimizing
reprocessing complexity and ensuring compliance with AAMI and ISO standards for
medical devices.
• Good working knowledge of medical device industry standards and guidance for medical
device reprocessing.
• Support field teams and other global teams across the organization on technical
inquiries related to reprocessing
• Support field visits to central reprocessing customer sites and make recommendations
for improvements to streamline reprocessing workflows
• Participate in AAMI working groups in the development of new standards in this field
• Other duties as assigned

Skill/Job Requirements
• Competency is based on: education, training, skills, and experience. To adequately
perform the responsibilities of this position the individual must have:

• BS in Engineering, Life Science, Microbiology or technical equivalent; Masters is
preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the medical device field
• Familiarity with US and international medical device cleaning, disinfection, and
sterilization standards such as AAMI TIR 12, AAMI ST98, AAMI ST91, ISO 15883, ISO
17665, and ISO 17664
• Superior verbal/written communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills to work
across multiple constituents.
• Self-starter with ability to lead in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to prioritize and manage multiple projects and focus execution
• Hands-on experience with proven ability to work well in cross-functional team
environment and meet project goals
• Attention to detail along with flexibility to support various projects
• Well versed in MS Office Suite including statistical analysis tools.
• Ability to travel to customer or laboratory sites (10%), including international travel.
We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer.
We will consider for employment 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

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.