Senior Manager Mechanical Design Engineering, GI Robot

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. 

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 for use in surgery. These systems include both capital equipment and “consumables” in the form of surgical instruments and accessories. The Senior Mechanical Design Engineering Manager, Systems is responsible for leading a team of engineers that design, develop, and launch new products to the field. The candidate will lead a team to identify and evaluate new product opportunities that address new and unmet needs. The successful candidate must have technical depth in relevant areas and be as comfortable collaborating and leading across organizational boundaries as they are working independently. The new GI Robot Platform team is searching for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineering Manager to guide the development, documentation, and verification of new product designs to meet the needs of our customers. The Mechanical Engineering Manager is responsible for the functional management of a group of Mechanical Engineers and other technical personnel, which includes selecting, developing, and evaluating personnel to ensure efficient operation of the group.

Essential Job Duties

• Provide vision for technical project team and foster environment that encourages creativity, risk taking, and crisp execution
• Develop working knowledge of external customer needs/requirements to ensure product designs provide value to patients, physicians and hospitals
• Establish group objectives and individual work goals consistent with overall product development goals
• Assign tasks, set priorities, establish metrics, and track progress
• Assess employee performance and provide coaching to improve performance
• Manage, coach, and mentor engineers, technicians, and drafters as required
• Ensure design engineers follow appropriate design history file guidelines per FDA requirements and hold design reviews in accordance with product development procedures
• Provide engineering resources to support Process Development, Manufacturing, Supplier Engineering, Test Engineering, and Quality to facilitate transfer of designs
• Provide administrative leadership / control for planning, staffing, budgeting, and project/program cost tracking
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with cross-functional stakeholders including Product Management, Clinical Research, Clinical and Medical Affairs, Process Development, Testing, Supplier, Quality, Regulatory Affairs and Marketing to ensure alignment throughout product development and lifecycle management
• Serve as the primary R&D liaison to senior leadership and in cross-functional meetings, presenting technical updates, design rationale, and risk mitigation strategies

Required Skills and Experience

• At least ten (10) years of experience with mechanical product design
• Minimum 5 years of experience directly managing people
• Minimum 5 years of experience taking products from concept to production

Required Education and Training

• Minimum BS (Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field), MS or PhD preferred.

Working Conditions

NA

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Must be a selfless leader who inspires trust and commitment within their team and in the broader organization through integrity, passion, and professional excellence.
• Medical product experience preferred
• Comfortable with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, qualification, and transfer.
• Hands-on engineering manager with the proven ability to work well in a team environment.
• Ability to lead/influence cross functional teams in the design of complex surgical products.
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to present the work of their team to executive management.
• Strong people management abilities with capability to ensure team success (staffing, productivity) as well as career development of team members.
• Exceptional mechanical aptitude and visual thinking skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills such as finite element analysis, statistics, and experimental designs.
• Proficiency using CAD to design and document mechanical designs.
• SolidWorks preferred.
• Breadth of knowledge in various manufacturing techniques, including techniques for rapidly fabricating proof-of-concept and functional prototypes.
• Experience with component selection criteria, and design for reliability and manufacturability.
• Strong project management, planning, and change management skills.
• Experience designing products in a highly regulated environment.

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.

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:

Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please contact People Services at [email protected].

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.