Senior Mechanical Design Engineer (Instruments, Future Forward)

Intuitive; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive in Sunnyvale, CA seeks a hands-on Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to deliver complex mechanical, electromechanical, and robotic instrument designs for next-generation surgical platforms. You will contribute across the product lifecycle, from concept through verification, working closely with software, electrical, systems, clinical, and manufacturing teams.

This individual contributor role emphasizes deep technical excellence, rapid prototyping, testing, design reviews, and IP-to-keep

Responsibilities

• Design and develop robotic surgical instruments.
• End-to-end engineering process: translate user requirements into design solutions through concept generation, prototyping, testing, pre-clinical and verification/validation activities.
• Generate and execute test methods to characterize prototypes and diagnose defects.
• Create product requirements and functional specifications for safety, performance, and durability of robotic instruments and subsystems.
• Provide documentation: protocols, reports, presentations, and design reviews.
• Create and maintain SolidWorks CAD databases including assemblies and drawings.
• Lead technical reviews and risk analyses; support regulatory compliance activities.
• Collaborate with software, electrical, systems, clinical, and manufacturing teams.
• Observe clinical procedures to inform design and use requirements; support pre-clinical and clinical labs.
• Prototype rapidly to evaluate design solutions and contribute to IP strategy.

Job description

Job Description

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands-on, deeply technical individual contributor who delivers complex mechanical design solutions for next-generation surgical robotics instruments platforms. This Senior Mechanical Design Engineer role within our Future Forward team requires strong technical fundamentals, hands‑on problem‑solving ability, and a collaborative mindset. You will make significant individual contributions across the product lifecycle, from concept generation through human cases, while helping to raise the technical bar of those around you.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical System Architecture & Design

• Work in a cross-functional project team to design and develop robotic surgical instruments.
• Design and develop complex mechanical and electromechanical and robotic systems' instruments for surgical applications.
• Execute the end‑to‑end engineering process: translating user requirements and technical specifications into design solutions through concept generation, hands‑on prototyping, testing, pre‑clinical and verification/validation activities.
• Contribute to sound technology and design decisions, balancing system reliability, manufacturability, risks, and clinical needs.
• Generate and execute test methods to characterize product prototype designs and to determine root cause of design, manufacturing, or material defects. Critically analyze test results and make design changes or recommendations to the design team.
• Generate product requirements and functional specifications that drive product safety, performance, and durability for robotic instruments, subsystems, and systems.
• Provide written protocols, reports, presentations, and perform technical design reviews to solicit feedback on design activities.
• Development and documentation of mechanical design and manufacturing documentation including: inspection procedures, assembly instructions, manufacturing processes, test methods, purchase specifications, BOMs, component / assembly drawings per the company’s operating procedures.
• Create and maintain SolidWorks CAD databases, including assemblies, components, and detailed drawings.

Project & Technical Leadership

• Actively contribute to multi‑disciplinary R&D projects, taking ownership of assigned technical workstreams across the product lifecycle.
• Provide technical guidance and informal mentorship to junior engineers within the team, reviewing technical output and sharing best practices.
• Participate in and lead technical reviews and risk analyses within your area; support regulatory and standards compliance activities.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with software, electrical, systems, clinical, and manufacturing teams throughout product development.
• Observe clinical procedures and collaborate with clinicians to inform design and use requirements.
• Provide support for pre‑clinical and clinical labs.
• Present complex concepts and data clearly to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Rapidly develop and iterate functional prototypes to evaluate design solutions and validate key technical assumptions.
• Contribute to patent development and IP strategy.
• Observe clinical cases and participate in interviews with clinical experts to inform designs.

• Stay abreast of technological advancements and facilitate knowledge sharing across the team.