Clinical Development Engineer - Advanced Energy

Intuitive; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive is seeking a Clinical Development Engineer to define, develop, and validate clinical requirements for multi‑port and single‑port robotic platforms. The role emphasizes data‑driven clinical strategies, risk assessment, and collaboration with engineering teams to advance surgical technology.

The position requires extensive clinical and technical experience, with travel up to 50% and onsite work. Join a mission‑driven team improving patient outcomes through advanced robotic surgery.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in medical device industry; degree variants listed in requirements.
• Excellent mechanical aptitude and spatial reasoning for complex mechanical products.
• Hands‑on lab work including ex‑vivo, in‑vivo, and in‑vitro models.
• Excellent analytical capability to develop test methods and draw conclusions.

Responsibilities

• Apply in‑depth knowledge of the operating room and da Vinci Surgical Systems to become an internal clinical expert on Intuitive products.
• Provide a clinical voice to product development by defining and assessing clinical performance of new products.
• Collaborate with marketing and clinicians to identify and understand clinical needs.
• Use analytical methods to identify potential product enhancements and new ideas.

Skills

Medical device experience

Mechanical aptitude

Lab‑based hands‑on work

Analytical capability

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering

Master’s degree in related field

PhD with no experience

Job description

Clinical Development Engineer - Advanced Energy

• Full-time


• Shift: Day


• Max. Salary Region 2: 190000 USD


• Max. Salary Region 1: 223500 USD


• Ways of Working: Set Schedule - This job will be onsite weekly, the percentage of onsite work will be defined by the leader.


• Employee Type: Employee


• Min. Salary Region 1: 155300 USD


• Global Job Level (HCM): Professional 3 (9)


• Min. Salary Region 2: 132000 USD

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.

Were 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 the Position

The Clinical Development Engineer (CDE) uses their in-depth knowledge of the surgical environment and medical technology to work with engineers, clinicians, and other internal and external stakeholders to define, develop, and validate the clinical function of new products within our multi-port and single-port surgical robotic platforms. The primary focus of the CDE is to establish and validate data-driven clinical requirements to ensure a high-quality patient outcome. The individual will take an active role in the concept design team by assessing and communicating clinical risks, providing design guidance, inventing new concepts, and executing the overall clinical strategy.

• Apply in-depth knowledge of the operating room environment and of the da Vinci Surgical Systems to become an expert within the company on the clinical application of Intuitive’s products


• Provide a clinical voice to product development by defining and assessing clinical performance of new products


• Collaborate with marketing partners and clinicians to identify and understand clinical needs


• Use an analytical approach to identify potential product enhancements and new product ideas


• Take an active role in new product development teams, including contributing to design reviews, and providing design guidance to engineering design teams


• Assess and document clinical risks, and identify appropriate mitigations


• Execute clinical studies to support technology development for regulatory and reimbursement strategies


• Conduct pre-clinical testing to validate the safety and efficacy of new products


• Support regulatory documentation and submissions


• Provide subject matter expertise to user manual and training documentation development


• Support clinical evaluation of new products at key customer sites


• Maintain current knowledge of clinical applications of Intuitive’s products


• Keep Intuitive’s vision and values at the forefront of decision making


• Perform other duties as required to support the company’s overall strategy and goals

Required Skills and Experience

• 5+ years of experience in medical device industry with a Bachelor’s degree, 3 years experience with a Master’s degree, or a PhD degree without experience.Minimum of Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or similar; advanced degree preferred


• Excellent mechanical aptitude and intuition for spatial relations, including the ability to understand complex mechanical products


• Passion for hands‑on lab‑based work, including ex‑vivo, in‑vivo, and in‑vitro models


• Excellent analytical capability and practical skills to develop test methods and draw conclusions

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Excellent teamwork skills with proven ability to cultivate collaboration across multiple disciplines


• Proven success recognizing critical issues and driving them to closure by taking coordinated action


• Composed and able to react quickly under pressure


• Experience working with surgeons in an operating room environment


• Experience with on‑site clinical trial support


• Fluent in surgical terminology and sound knowledge of anatomy and surgical technique

Working Conditions

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, internationally and domestic

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.

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 employeeswho 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’sstart 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
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 [e-mail].

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.

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