Analytical Development, Senior Manager

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. in; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 252,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. in Sunnyvale is seeking an experienced Analytical Development Senior Manager (Finance) to provide strategic and technical leadership for late‑stage small molecule programs progressing toward regulatory submission.

The role leads external analytical resources, ensures method transfer/validation, and contributes to IND/NDA/IMPD filings, aligning with ICH/cGMP and QbD throughout the process. Ideal candidates hold a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry or related field with 10+ years in industry.
• Experience with Small Molecule DS/DP in late-stage development.
• Proven track record coordinating with CDMOs/CMOs.
• Expert knowledge of ICH Q1–Q14 and cGMP.
• Strong technical writing for Module 3 submissions.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight of external analytical resources at CDMOs.
• Lead transfer, optimization, and validation of analytical methods for DS and DP.
• Review CDMO protocols, reports, and data for validation and stability studies.
• Assess risks related to analytical control and impurity profiling.
• Draft and edit Module 3 sections for regulatory submissions.
• Respond to health authority IRs on analytical topics.
• Ensure QbD alignment and regulatory expectations.

Skills

Analytical chemistry expertise

CDMO/CMO management

Late-stage development (Phase 3)

ICH guidelines (Q1–Q14)

Regulatory filing support (IND/NDA)

Technical leadership

Education

Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry

M.S. in Analytical Chemistry

Tools

cGMP knowledge

Quality by Design (QbD)

Job description

Analytical Development, Senior Manager (Finance)

Analytical Development, Senior Manager (Finance)

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

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced analytical chemistry professional to provide strategic and technical support for small molecule programs progressing through late-stage development toward regulatory submission.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in analytical method development and validation, CMC documentation, and management of analytical activities at contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) for both Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product (DP), with significant experience in late-stage development (Phase 3 to Commercialization).

You will serve as the primary technical liaison for our CDMO partners, ensuring robust method validation, seamless technology transfer, and rigorous quality control. Additionally, you will play a hands‑on role in authoring CMC sections for global regulatory filings (IND/NDA/IMPD).

Key Responsibilities - Expectations

• Provide technical oversight of external analytical resources at CDMOs, acting as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting and deviation resolution.
• Manage the transfer, optimization, and validation of analytical methods for both DS and DP, ensuring compliance with ICH guidelines and GMP requirements.
• Review and approve CDMO protocols, reports, and raw data for method validation, stability studies, and release testing.

• Assess and mitigate technical risks related to analytical control strategies, degradation pathways, and impurity profiling (including genotoxic impurities).
• Review and interpret analytical data, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and regulatory compliance.
• Participate in risk assessments related to analytical control and product quality.

• Lead the design and execution of late-stage method validation strategies (Phase 3/PPQ readiness) to ensure methods are commercially viable and robust.
• Oversee forced degradation studies and stability‑indicating method development for complex small molecule formulations.
• Establish specification justifications for DS and DP based on clinical batch data, stability trends, and regulatory expectations.

• Draft, review, and edit analytical CMC sections (Module 3) for regulatory submissions, including IND amendments, NDA/MAA filings, and briefing books.
• Author and review responses to Information Requests (IRs) from health authorities (FDA, EMA) regarding analytical topics.
• Ensure analytical control strategies align with Quality by Design (QbD) principles and current regulatory expectations.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry or related field with 10+ years of industry experience (or M.S. with 15+ years).
• Extensive experience with Small Molecule therapeutics in both Drug Substance and Drug Product is mandatory
• Proven track record in late-stage development, specifically Phase 3 to Commercial launch.

• Expert knowledge of ICH guidelines (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q6, Q7, Q14) and cGMP requirements.
• Demonstrated experience managing external partners (CROs/CMOs) and holding them accountable to timelines and quality standards.
• Experience overseeing analytical work at CDMOs/CROs, including protocol and report review, data trending, and deviation management.
• Solid understanding of GMP principles, data integrity standards, and regulatory expectations for analytical control strategies.

• Hands‑on experience authoring and reviewing Module 3 (Quality) sections for NDAs/MAAs.

• Passionate about enabling and leading a collaborative, transparent culture and integrating quickly into cross-functional teams (Process Chem, Formulation, QA/RA).
• Strong technical writing skills and the ability to explain complex data to non-analytical stakeholders.

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.

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.

Base Compensation Range Region 1: $168,000 USD - $252,000 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $0 USD - $0 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.