Senior Mechanical Engineer, Robotic Accessories
Intuitive · San Francisco Bay Area
📍 Sunnyvale, CA, usvia smartrecruitersPosted 2026-09-04
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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.
Were 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.
The Future Forward organization is Intuitive’s advanced concepts group. We explore emerging technologies, prototype next-generation solutions, and build software experiences that shape the future of robotic-assisted surgery.
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 Surgical designs and manufactures highly complex mechanical systems (including instruments and accessories) for use in robotic surgery. This role is on a new platform development team designing a flexible GI Robotic System. 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.
Essential Job Duties
Lead project development teams on accessory development projects or portions of large architectural development projects
Design and document components and assemblies for accessories and related mechanisms for robotic surgical systems
Investigate clinical requirements
Create product functional and design specifications
Create product architectures
Analyze and test product prototype designs
Develop and perform component verification testing and product validation testing
Develop suppliers to manufacture components
Develop initial tooling, fixtures and processes to assemble prototype components
Develop initial product assembly instructions
Support pilot production of final product by troubleshooting process and component problems
Provide engineering support to Manufacturing, Procurement, Test Engineering, and Customer Service to facilitate transfer of designs to production.
Develop Design History Files per FDA requirements
Act as technical mentor to Mechanical Engineers
Serve as Mechanical / Design Engineering member of Design Review Boards
Document, prepare and review patent submissions
Review regulatory submissions
Assess field reliability data and improve existing product designs as necessary
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum 8 years experience designing commercial mechanical products; preferably medical device products
Proficiency using CAD to design and document mechanisms; SolidWorks preferred
Hands-on engineering with the proven ability to work well in a team environment and drive individual projects
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
Required Education and Training
BSME required, MSME preferred
Working Conditions
NA
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,
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