Senior Clinical Development Engineer - Advanced Energy

Intuitive; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 186,000 - 268,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive, a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery, seeks a Senior Clinical Development Engineer to define and validate clinical requirements for next‑generation products. You will collaborate with engineers and clinicians to translate clinical needs into data‑driven specifications, guiding risk assessment and product development.

The role emphasizes hands-on clinical testing, regulatory support, and cross‑functional teamwork across R&D and commercial teams, with onsite work in the Sunnyvale

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years in medical device industry with a Bachelor's, 6 years with a Master's, or 3 years with a PhD.
• Proven experience in supporting a medical product from design to launch.

Responsibilities

• Define, develop, and validate the clinical function of new products within multi-port robotic platforms.
• Establish and validate data-driven clinical requirements for high-quality patient outcomes.
• Assess clinical risks and provide design guidance to engineering teams.
• Execute clinical studies to support regulatory and reimbursement strategies.

Skills

Clinical development

Medical device experience

Regulatory knowledge

Education

BS in Mechanical/Biomedical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Senior Clinical Development Engineer - Advanced Energy

• Full-time
• Shift: Day
• Max. Salary Region 2: 227700 USD
• Max. Salary Region 1: 267900 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: 186100 USD
• Global Job Level (HCM): Professional 4 (11)
• Min. Salary Region 2: 158200 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 Senior 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 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

• Minimum of Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or similar; advanced degree preferred
• 8+ years of experience in medical device industry with a Bachelor’s degree, or 6 years experience with a Master’s degree, or 3 years with a PhD degree
• Proven experience in supporting a medical product from design to launch

referred Skills and Experience

• Experience with on‑site clinical trial support
• Excellent analytical capability and practical skills to develop test methods and draw conclusions
• 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
• 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 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 [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.