Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, MP Systems

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 Position

The Staff Mechanical Engineer reports to a Manager of Mechanical Design Engineering and plays a key role in the development, stabilization, and scaling of da Vinci robotic platforms. This individual applies broad experience and professional judgment to resolve complex mechanical and manufacturing challenges, with a focus on new enhancement integration, complex root cause investigation and solutions and product scalability. Success in this role depends on the ability to independently assess variable factors, drive decisions that align with program goals, and deliver high-quality, innovative engineering solutions that support Intuitive’s mission to advance minimally invasive care.

Essential Job Duties 

• Work in or lead cross-functional project teams to design, develop and verify modifications to robotic or other complex mechanisms.
• Lead mechanical design of components and subsystems for da Vinci systems, with emphasis on new enhancements, electromechanical integration, thermal design
• Lead root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methods (e.g., 8D, DMAIC); support CAPA activities per quality system procedures.
• Drive cross-functional decision-making aligned with program goals, collaborating with Engineering, Clinical, Human Factors, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality, and Regulatory.
• Partner with suppliers and Supplier Engineers to assess capabilities, resolve process issues, and ensure parts meet design specifications.
• Mentor junior engineers in mechanical design principles, structured problem-solving techniques, and documentation best practices to support team development.
• Identify and implement best practices between teams and engineering departments
• Generate and maintain design control documentation.
• Deliver impactful technical presentations to staff, leadership, and cross-functional teams, articulating trade-offs and design rationale.
• Contribute to risk management activities through structured risk analysis, mitigation planning, and reliability assessments using FMEA and other methods.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 12 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 10 years with a Masters or PhD. 
• Strong foundation in mechanical design and analysis, including tolerance stack-ups, GD&T, FEA, materials selection, and DFM/DFA, with demonstrated ability to apply these principles to deliver robust, production-ready designs.
• Proficient with CAD, simulation, and PLM tools such as SolidWorks, ANSYS, Windchill.
• Demonstrated ability to lead root cause investigations.
• Effective communicator with experience influencing technical and business decisions through cross-functional presentations.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring junior engineers and collaboration across various functions.
• Candidates with strong mechanical fundamentals and a genuine interest in Intuitive’s mission and values are encouraged to apply—especially those eager to grow within the medical device industry and thrive in a purpose-driven, collaborative culture.

Required Education and Training 

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
• Preferred: Master’s or PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline

Working Conditions

• May involve extended periods of computer-based design and analysis work.
• Must be comfortable occasionally working in lab environments, including prototype assembly, mechanical testing, and safe use of standard mechanical tools and fix