Senior Hardware Test Engineer

Intuitive; California (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive is seeking a Senior Test Engineer in California to ensure quality and reliability for their robotic-assisted surgery systems. This role involves developing and executing test protocols, conducting design verification, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in medical device verification, a strong background in mechanical or biomedical engineering, and familiarity with tools like SolidWorks and MATLAB. Work in a lab environment with potential exposure to biological samples is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6+ years experience in engineering or research team environment.
• Understanding of design controls used in Medical device development.
• Experience using tools (Force Gauge, Calipers, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Develop high-level test plans for various projects.
• Execute test protocols using da Vinci surgical system.
• Identify and report problems during verification testing.

Skills

Medical Device Verification/Validation

Mechanical engineering calculations

Critical thinking

Biological sample handling

Education

BS in Mechanical, Biomedical Engineering or similar degree

Tools

SolidWorks

MATLAB

Arduino

Job 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.

Primary Function of the Position

The New Product Verification Department is devoted to assuring safe, reliable, and effective products that exceed patient, surgeon, and hospital expectations. The department plays a vital role in product and process quality, in new product development and production, and in the quality of da Vinci and Ion robotic product lines, including diagnostic systems, endoscopic instrumentation, and supporting accessories. The Senior Test Engineer will work with a team of dedicated individuals within a product development team to assure the quality of new designs, to identify issues related to new designs and processes, and to work with other Test Engineers to develop harmonized test methods.

Essential Job Duties

Test Protocol Development, Execution & Reporting

• Develops high level test plans for instrument, accessories, endoluminal, and vision projects
• Generates and takes ownership of test protocols for Design Verification and Life/ Reliability tests
• Develops clinically relevant test methods ensure design requirements are sufficiently verified by collaborating with appropriate cross functional partners
• Executes test protocols for clinically-based surgical simulation and automated testing utilizing da Vinci surgical system, Ion Systems and/or other test equipment
• Identifies, reports and negotiate problems that arise during feasibility and design verification testing, and escalates new or persistent failure modes to appropriate engineering teams
• Proactively engages with appropriate engineering teams and leads failure investigation and root cause analysis
• Clearly documents test results and observations in test report.

Test Fixture Development

• Designs test fixtures and other test aids needed to perform Design Verification and Life/ Reliability tests
• Proactively identifies and develops processes and test methods that could benefit from new or updated fixture designs by engaging with design and test engineers

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply critical thinking to solve problems while leading cross-functional, technical teams in making decisions.
• Ability to influence technical stake holders and suggest process improvements
• Ability to understand and work on complex products and processes

Other Responsibilities

• Ability to collaborate with cross functional teams and contribute to the development of product requirements and risk documents
• Effective technical communication across various levels of the organization at core team meetings and design reviews.
• Ensures successful, on-time completion of department and core team projects; communicates constraints and recommends preferred mitigation to direct management when successful project completion is at risk
• Complies with company Department and Standard Operating Procedures
• Effectively translate the functional requirements into appropriate acceptance criteria for testcases and test methods.
• Train test technicians on test methods and procedures

Required Skills and Experience

• Medical Device Verification/Validation experience is required
• Understanding of design controls used in the Medical device development is required.
• Ability to perform mechanical engineering calculations needed to support equipment design, including dimensional analysis.
• Experience using tools and measuring equipment (Force Gauge, Calipers, Instron, Oscilloscopes etc.).

• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to multitask, and handle tasks with competing priorities effectively.
• Ability to work with biological samples, including blood, tissue and organs.
• Familiar with GDP skills.
• Accepting and adhering to high ethical, moral, and personal values in decisions, communications, actions, and when dealing with others

Required Education and Training

• Minimum of 6+ years experience working in an engineering or research team environment.
• Minimum BS in Mechanical, Biomedical Engineering or similar degree. MS preferred.

Working Conditions

• The employee will spend time at their desk in front of the computer as well as work in a lab environment.
• Lab environment will have exposure to animal blood and tissue; there will also be exposure to detergents and other chemicals used for reprocessing medical devices.
• Hands on testing includes but not limited to using the robotic systems, mechanical test fixtures, microscopes, electrical test fixtures etc.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Prefer experience within medical device or pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience with working through various phases of medical device product development process (concept through launch) is preferred.
• Experience with SolidWorks or similar CAD software.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, Arduino is highly preferred.
• Experience working with electro-mechanical systems is a plus.
• Experience with Test Method Validation is highly preferred.
• Experience in Reliability Engineering is a plus.

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 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.