Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - job 2 of 4

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 the Position

The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer works in and/or leads cross-functional teams to maintain and improve the design, production, and service of the da Vinci® Surgical System.  This role reports to a Manager or Senior Manager of Mechanical Engineering.  They determine root cause of complex problems with electro-mechanical components, manufacturing process and system performance.  They identify mechanical design and manufacturing process solutions to improve performance, cost, and reliability, and perform the development, documentation, verification and implementation of these solutions.  

Essential Job Duties

• Work in or lead cross-functional project teams to design, develop and verify modifications to robotic or other complex mechanisms.
  • Investigate and determine root cause of latent and emerging design, manufacturing or material defects
  • Develop, design, test, document, and implement solutions for these defects according to corporate standards and departmental operating procedures

• Identify, develop and implement alternate part fabrication methods and sources to reduce hardware cost and/or improve strength of supply chain
• Develop and execute design verification/validation test protocols and document results in test reports
• Provide mechanical engineering support for resolution of field and manufacturing issues
• Support and/or provide leadership to product risk assessments, Corrective and Preventive Actions, and quality/regulatory audits as required
• Provide advice, mentoring, coaching and guidance to advance the technical and business expertise of colleagues
• Identify and implement best practices between teams and engineering departments

• Establish individual and team goals consistent with overall project goals

Required Skills and Experience 

• Comfortable with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, analysis, debug, verification, transfer to manufacturing, and sustainment.
• Understand concepts of design input, design output, requirement traceability, and FMEA risk analysis
• Technical expertise with mechanism design, robotics and medical products
  • Design, manufacture, and troubleshooting of electromechanical components and assemblies including brushless DC motors, brakes, encoders and other sensors
  • Design, manufacture, and troubleshooting of precision mechanical components including bearings, gears, ball screws and linear actuators
  • Component selection and design for reliability and manufacturability
  • Mechanical analysis, including statics, dynamics, kinematics, stress, fatigue, thermal, and reliability
  • Design, analyze and document components, structures, and mechanical assemblies in SolidWorks or similar CAD software
  • Release designs following good documentation principles and configuration control methods
  • Manufacturing process development and creation of assembly instructions
  • Proficiency at failure analysis
  • Fluency in ASME Y14.5 GD&T and tolerance stack analysis
• Demonstrated knowledge of a wide variety of manufacturing processes
  • Metallurgical heat treatment, stress relief, grinding/lapping
  • Component fabrication methods including CNC machining, wire EDM, brazing, and surface coatings
  • High-volume fabrication methods including plastic injection molding, metal-injection molding, stamping, aluminum and steel casting (sand, investment, die)
• Capable of using MATLAB to create or modify test scripts and system software
• Experience with Statistical Process Control in a Mass Production environment
• Comfortable operating machine shop, measurement and test equipment

Required Education and Training 

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.  Biomedical or other engineering discipline may be acceptable with appropriate mechanical experience
• Minimum 8 years of experience designing and manufacturing electromechanical products. Work experience in an FDA or other regulated industry preferred.

Working Conditions 

• None

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Experience providing inputs to regulatory agency approval including UL, CE and FDA
• Excel in a fast paced, high transaction, mass-production environment
• Utilize deep technical knowledge and broad expertise to achieve company objectives in creative and effective ways
• Some experience leading departmental and cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives from concept through completion 
• Capacity to lead multiple complex projects
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, oral) across all levels and organizations
• Ability to lead and mentor other engineers
• Demonstrated excitement to learn and quickly analyze tough technical problems
• Passion for creating robust, reliable products with a strong commitment to quality
• Sense of shared responsibility and reward

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.