Sr. Opto-Mechanical Engineer

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.

Primary Function of Position

The Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer plays a critical role in sustaining and enhancing the performance, reliability, and capacity of the 3D Surgical Viewer within the dV5 robotic-assisted surgery platform. This position is accountable for cost reduction initiatives, supply chain improvements, and optimizing user-facing performance, all while ensuring compliance with rigorous medical device design controls and requirements. The engineer is expected to maintain high standards of product quality and demonstrate strong technical expertise to resolve complex mechanical, materials, and manufacturing issues.

Additionally, the role supports the development, testing, and documentation of new product designs, collaborating within interdisciplinary teams to troubleshoot and address system-level challenges. Successful candidates will exhibit a hands-on approach, a sense of ownership, and commitment to shared responsibilities, actively contributing to both the sustainment of existing instruments and the advancement of new surgical technologies that meet the evolving needs of customers and the business.

Essential Job Duties

• Evaluate proposed changes to the dV5 3D Surgical Viewer opto-mechanical design based on input from users, manufacturing, supply chain and post sales surveillance including modeling, testing and other technical analysis.
• Execute select design changes within rigorous design control requirement including modification of risk analysis, models, drawings and specifications.
• Perform design verification testing and coordinate with responsible functions for design validation when needed.
• Collaborate closely with supply chain and manufacturing to ensure manufacturability, including identifying and researching new vendors/processes.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and failure analysis of failures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams affected by changes.

Required Skills and Experience

• Skill in opto-mechanical design of free-space optical systems for alignment and stability.
• Skill in the use of 3D CAD modeling and generating 2D CAD part drawings and design specifications.
• Skill in GD&T tolerance analysis.
• Experience initiating and executing design changes with rigorous design control requirements.
• Experience with kinematic mounting principles for precision optical components
• Ability to collaborate with manufacturing and suppliers to achieve cost effective and manufacturable designs.
• Knowledge of material selection and properties including metal, glass, plastic, adhesives and coatings.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, process controls, design of experiments (DOEs) and capability analysis.
• Understanding of measurement capability and control.
• Hands on experience with developing and performing engineering tests including formal design verification including fixture design, data collection, analysis and reporting.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills suitable for a regulated environment.
• Effective collaboration with cross functional teams and suppliers.

Required Education and Training

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or Opto-Mechanical Engineering or closely related field and 5-10 years work experience. 

Working Conditions

• None.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with medical device design and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) for structural, thermal and optical performance.
• Experience with characterizing optical system performance, image quality and factors affecting human visual perception.
• Solidworks, Matlab, Ansys, Zemax and Windchill experience
• Experience with optical design and modeling.
• Familiarity with electromechanical design, PCBAs, components and flexible circuits

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.

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.