Staff Mechanical Design Engineer

Company Description

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.

Job Description

Primary Function of the Position

The Multiport Endoscope R&D group at Intuitive is a dynamic and multidisciplinary team developing next-generation 2D and 3D endoscopic vision systems that push the boundaries of human perception, surgical precision, and robotic imaging.

We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer to serve as a technical authority driving the mechanical architecture, precision mechanisms, and component development for advanced robotic endoscopes. This role shapes system-level mechanical strategy across product generations, defines critical cross-functional decisions, and ensures mechanical robustness from concept through verification and scaled manufacturing. Staff engineers in this group elevate technical standards, mentor engineering teams, and help chart the future of robotic imaging technologies.

Key Responsibilities

System Architecture & Technical Leadership

• Own and define the mechanical architecture for new endoscope platforms, ensuring performance across optics, illumination, mechanics, electronics, sealing, sterilization, and thermal domains.
• Lead cross-functional teams (Optics, EE, FW, SW, Manufacturing, Reliability, Test, Materials) through critical design decisions, risk tradeoffs, and architecture reviews.
• Bring clarity to ambiguity by naturally framing complex issues, identifying key trade-offs, and driving rapid, well-reasoned decisions.
• Champion best-in-class mechanical design practices, precision engineering, tolerance-driven design, and robust system integration.

Mechanism, Component, & Subsystem Design

• Design novel precision mechanisms, components, and assemblies that meet demanding imaging, manufacturability, sterilization, and reliability constraints.
• Create product functional and design specifications and develop clear documentation supporting system and subsystem requirements.
• Develop fixtures, alignment tools, calibration methods, and assembly processes enabling high-accuracy optical and mechanical integration.
• Lead DOEs, verification strategies, statistical analyses, and durability assessments that validate design intent over product lifetime.

Prototyping, Testing & Data-Driven Engineering

• Build and iterate on proof-of-concept and high-fidelity prototypes.
• Perform detailed 2D/3D tolerance analysis, FEA/simulation, and statistical modeling to ensure robust design margins.
• Troubleshoot component and prototype performance issues with speed, rigor, and cross-functional collaboration.

Manufacturing, DFM/DFA, and Supplier Engagement

• Lead DFM/DFA/DFS for the product line and ensure scalable design transfer to Manufacturing.
• Partner closely with suppliers to develop advanced fabrication and joining methods (precision machining, molding, casting, metal injection molding, coating, optical bonding, etc.).
• Influence long-term supplier capabilities, jointly develop new materials or processes, and guide supplier qualification.
• Support transition to manufacturing, ramp-to-production, and lifecycle reliability improvements with Manufacturing, Materials, Test Engineering, and Service.

Cross-Functional Influence & Program Impact

• Mentor mechanical engineers and elevate technical standards across the organization.
• Help attract and evaluate top engineering talent.
• Navigate complex technical and programmatic challenges, driving clear, timely decisions.

Documentation & Compliance

• Develop specification documents, mechanical drawings, tolerance analyses, Generate engineering documentation including drawings, tolerance analyses, specifications, and Design History File (DHF) content.
• Support intellectual property creation and technical documentation.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and quality-system requirements.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Experience

Technical Depth

• Proven expertise designing precision mechanisms and high-tolerance assemblies for opto-mechanical or electro-mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks 3D CAD and best practices for complex assembly definition, GD&T, and functional dimensioning.
• Strong command of 2D/3D statistical tolerance analysis, system stack-up modeling, and mechanical simulation tools.
• Demonstrated experience leading DFM/DFA/DFS initiatives for high-volume or complex assemblies.
• Hands-on understanding of mechanical–optical integration, PCB and electronics packaging, stray-light and thermal considerations, and sterilization-driven design constraints.
• Experience developing fixtures, jigs, metrology methods, and calibration process development for precision assemblies.

Leadership & Execution

• Ability to influence without authority and guide teams through high-pressure design cycles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including cross-functional presentation and executive-level technical communication.
• Excellent organizational skills; able to manage multiple fast-paced efforts simultaneously while maintaining clarity of goals and priorities.

Education & Experience Requirements

• BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 12+ years of mechanical design experience, including ownership of mechanical architecture for complex products in medical, robotics, imaging, or similarly demanding fields.
• Demonstrated accomplishments across the full product lifecycle: concept → design → prototyping → verification → transfer to manufacturing → sustaining.
• Medical device experience preferred but not required.

Additional Information

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.