Mechanical Engineer III, Flexible Instruments

About the role

Primary Function of Position

The Mechanical Engineer, Advanced Energy, is responsible for the technical development of advanced energy products at Intuitive. Their focus will be on the mechanical/electrical design of advanced energy catheters and instruments, contributing to the exploration of a novel system concept for a new application of surgical robotics. They will be a member of the team supporting innovative technology development and commercialization.

They will apply strong mechanical design fundamentals to address design, material, and manufacturing challenges at the component and subsystem level, with guidance from more experienced engineers on team. They will contribute to troubleshooting and root cause analysis efforts, developing their ability to work across disciplines.

They must excel in a high-energy, focused, small-team environment, and have a commitment to high quality prototypes and concepts. A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required as well as a commitment to high product quality.

Essential Job Duties

• Work in a small, cross-functional project team to design, develop and verify new concepts for advanced energy catheters and/or flexible electromechanical instruments and related accessories (e.g. medical cables)
• Develop, implement, test and document new solutions, processes, and designs according to corporate standards and departmental operating procedures, with guidance from senior engineers
• Perform hands-on assembly and testing of devices to support proof of concept, design development, pre-clinical and V&V activities; proactively communicating findings and flag issues to immediate team
• Support investigation and determine root cause of emerging design or manufacturing defects/failures.
• Development and documentation of design and manufacturing documentation including inspection procedures, assembly instructions, test methods, purchase specifications, BOMs, part and assembly drawings using appropriate change control procedures
• Collaborate with clinical engineering team to assess product concepts and support tradeoff analysis of proposed designs and feature sets
• Observe clinical cases and participate in interviews with clinical experts to inform designs; provide support for pre-clinical labs and clinical cases
• Establish individual goals consistent with overall project goals
• Performs other duties as required to support the company's overall strategy and goals

Required Skills and Experience

• Typical minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with Bachelors, minimum 3 years with a Masters
• Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional research and development teams
• Familiarity with FDA QSR 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485, ISO 14971
• Experience with rapid prototyping methods for instruments, components, and fixtures, including 3D printing and machining of plastics and metals
• Experience/exposure to flexible catheter design, including material selection and common fabrication methods to at least few of the following areas: polymer processing, reinforcement structures, adhesive/thermal/mechanical joining, electromechanical integration etc.)
• Proficiency in CAD-based mechanical design (SolidWorks preferred)
• Experience working with suppliers
• Ability to work independently under limited supervision while knowing when to escalate
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective written and verbal communication

Required Education and Training

• Minimum education: BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Biomedical Engineering or related engineering or scientific discipline, or equivalent work experience

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with flexible electromechanical device development is a strong plus
• Experience with energy delivery devices is a plus

Working Conditions

• Must be available to work full-time and commute/relocate to Sunnyvale, CA
• Up to 10% travel. Some international travel may be 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.

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.

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.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on business need and/or on the selected candidate's experience, knowledge and skills.

Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the candidate's qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

Accommodation & Accessibility Notice

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.