Demo

Sr. Principal/Principal Engineer

Intuitive
Sunnyvale, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 10/29/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/29/2025
Company Description

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.

As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves.

Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential.

Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let's advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Job Description

Primary function of position:

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. produces the da Vinci® Surgical System, a minimally invasive robotic surgery system that uses highly complex mechanics, replaceable instruments and accessories, and enhanced three-dimensional visualization to extend surgical technique and precision beyond the limits of the human hand. The Sr. Principal/Principal Engineer will strive to create the safest and highest quality devices for minimally invasive surgery though rigorous and robust technical analysis. They must excel in a high-energy team environment and be a quick learner. The successful candidate must have exceptional technical depth and experience in advanced energy surgical and imaging technology to support the development of surgical devices for the da Vinci Surgical System.

We are seeking a skilled Advanced Energy Technology Expert to join our team, focusing on the development and application of advanced energy surgical devices for Robotic Assisted Surgery. The successful candidate will have an exceptional background in radio frequency, ultrasonic technology and other modalities, with specific expertise in designing and optimizing vessel sealing, dissection and tissue visualization & interactions with these devices.

  • Design, develop, and test advanced energy devices tailored for sealing and dissection applications.
  • Innovate and improve existing technologies to enhance precision, efficiency, and safety.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to incorporate ultrasonic solutions into product lines.
  • Work closely with the Electrical, Software, Mechanical and Clinical engineering teams to implement requirements, iterate through prototypes, analyze performance and ensure design outputs are successfully integrated into effective system designs.
  • Develop simulation or characterization methodologies to model system behavior and performance
  • Support robotic instrument and capital equipment development across multiple platforms.
  • Perform risk analysis and implement safety mitigations. This includes documentation of risks, requirements, and test protocols to support requests for approval by regulatory agencies such as the FDA.
  • Provide technical support/mentorship to engineering staff on ultrasonic technology challenges & design principle.
  • Provide support for resolution of field and manufacturing issues.

Qualifications

Skill/Job Requirements:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Minimum 15 years of medical device experience with a focus on ultrasonic technology.
  • Proven experience in the development and application of advanced energy devices for medical devices, and well regarded in the industry or academia as a subject matter expert.
  • Knowledge of materials science as it pertains to radio frequency generators, ultrasonic transducers, ultrasound imaging and other modalities for advanced energy applications.
  • Experience defining product requirements that are informed by unmet clinical needs and KOL feedbacks.
  • Experience developing products compliant with safety standards and regulatory requirements for ultrasonic devices.
  • Lead by having a breadth of technical knowledge that enables a top-level view of the entire project. Using this perspective, act as an interface between various technical specialties. Take ownership of issues that cross disciplinary boundaries to ensure the success of the project.
  • Contribute to design documentation throughout the entire product lifecycle such as risks, specifications, test protocols, results and regulatory materials.
  • Interested in working at a fast paced, high transaction environment providing solutions throughout the entire product lifecycle.
  • Hands-on engineering experience with a proven ability to work well in a team environment.
  • Proven expertise and desire to coach engineers to share knowledge and impart best practice
  • Ability to communicate effectively (written, oral) across all levels and organizations.
  • Desire to learn and get to the bottom of complex and challenging engineering problems.
  • 25% domestic/international travel and can be a remote position

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.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

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 salary ranges are listed.

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

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 salary ranges are listed.

Base Salary Range Region 1:$200,400 - $300,600

Base Salary Range Region 2: $170,300 - $255,500

Shift: Day

Travel: 25% of the time

Workplace Type: Purposeful Onsite - This job requires being onsite for leader-defined events and activities which could be monthly/annually. Onsite frequency may increase based on business need.

Salary : $170,300 - $300,600

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