Senior Full Stack Engineer - Robotics

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); Remote; USD 160,000 - 271,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design and build backend services, APIs, and customer-facing web applications that support the Ion endoluminal system.

You will develop scalable, testable software and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure quality, security, and compliant operations. The role emphasizes distributed systems, container orchestration, and data-driven workflows, with remote-friendly work options and a focus on high-assurance software in

Qualifications

• 6+ years of software engineering experience, including backend/API development.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or related field.
• Experience with automated testing, Gitlab CI/CD, and AWS-based deployment practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop backend services and APIs supporting robotic fleet and application workflows.
• Implement unit, integration, and end-to-end testing in CI pipelines.
• Contribute to CI/CD, observability, and operational practices for frequent, high-confidence releases.
• Ensure services and APIs have documentation, health endpoints, and uptime monitoring.
• Collaborate with embedded, infrastructure, and data teams to deliver data-driven solutions.
• Coordinate with design and product teams to refine and develop user experiences.
• Work with security and quality teams to meet compliance and operational requirements.

Skills

Backend APIs

TypeScript/JS

Go

Python

Java

Frontend frameworks

React

Vue

Svelte

GraphQL APIs

REST APIs

GRPC APIs

PostgreSQL

CI/CD

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

ECS

EKS

Observability

Incident management

Security compliance

Education

CS degree (Bachelor's/Master's)

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

PostgreSQL

Job description

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

Primary Function of Position:

The Ion endoluminal system is Intuitive's robotic platform for minimally invasive biopsy in the peripheral lung, with an initial goal of improving the early diagnosis of lung cancer. We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to build backend services, APIs, and customer-facing web applications that support our robotic fleet and associated application workflows. The successful candidate will design and build software that is scalable, testable, maintainable, and easy to integrate with internal and external systems.

Essential Job Duties

• Develop backend services and APIs that support our robotic fleet and associated application workflows.
• Implement comprehensive unit, integration, and end-to-end testing within CI pipelines.
• Contribute to CI/CD, observability, and operational practices that support small, frequent, and high-confidence releases.
• Ensure services and APIs include first‑class documentation, health endpoints, and uptime monitoring.
• Partner with embedded, infrastructure, and data teams to deliver solutions that are useful and data‑driven.
• Coordinate with design and product teams to refine, scope, and develop delightful user experiences.
• Collaborate with security and quality teams to ensure solutions meet compliance and operational requirements.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Strong experience building backend services and APIs in one or more languages such as TypeScript/JavaScript, Go, Python, Java, or similar.
• Strong experience in front‑end development with modern frameworks, like React.js, Vue.js, Svelte, or similar.
• Experience designing GraphQL, REST, or GRPC APIs with clear contracts, documentation, versioning, and backward compatibility.
• Experience with relational databases such as Postgres, service‑side data modeling, and transactional system design.
• Experience with automated testing, Gitlab CI/CD, and AWS‑based deployment practices for backend services.
• Experience with containerized deployment and orchestration technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, Amazon ECS, or Amazon EKS.
• Solid understanding of distributed systems concerns such as reliability, failure handling, observability, and operational support.
• Strong troubleshooting and incident management skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and a collaborative mindset.

Required Education and Training

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years relevant experience in software engineering, including backend services or API development.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience working with medical devices or other regulated industries.
• Experience with defining and implementing data privacy requirements.
• Experience in third‑party API & data integrations, particularly with EMR systems.
• Experience in mobile application development

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.

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 (email protected) .

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:

$188,600 USD - $271,400 USD

Base Compensation Range Region 2:

$160,300 USD - $230,700 USD

Shift:

Day

Workplace Type:

Remote - This job will be remote and/or the job is designed to be performed outside of the office. Employees will come onsite when requested by the leader.