Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Robotic Systems

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Surgical is seeking a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer to own demanding mechanical and electromechanical subsystems for robotic systems. You will lead subsystem architecture, mentor engineers, and collaborate across mechanical, electrical, controls, and quality teams.

Based in Sunnyvale, CA, the role is on-site four days a week, involves verification, design transfer, and creating manufacturing drawings with GD&T. A bachelor’s degree with extensive experience or higher is expected.

Qualifications

• Experience developing robotic or complex electromechanical products in a regulated industry.
• Working knowledge of design controls, risk management, verification and validation.
• Deep expertise in first-principles mechanics and precision mechanisms.
• Proficiency in GD&T, tolerancing, materials, DFM/DFA and manufacturing processes.
• Experience designing rotary or linear joints, sizing components, and justifying decisions through analysis; integrating actuation and sensing.
• Hands-on prototyping experience, including assembly, testing, debugging, and rapid iterations.
• Proficient with CAD, simulation, and PLM tools such as SolidWorks, ANSYS, and Windchill.
• Demonstrated technical leadership through design reviews, cross-functional decision-making, stakeholder influence and engineer mentorship.
• Experience with risk management activities including FMEA, risk mitigation, and reliability assessments.

Responsibilities

• Own subsystem development from concept through verification and design transfer.
• Lead subsystem architecture decisions and tradeoffs.
• Design precision mechanisms, joints and actuation assemblies; select motors, bearings, transmissions, brakes and sensors.
• Use first-principles calculations to establish load paths, margins, and fatigue life.
• Create and release CAD models, drawings with GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Build, test, debug and iterate prototypes; develop test methods and verify actions.
• Collaborate with suppliers, sourcing, and manufacturing to resolve issues and prepare designs for transfer.
• Coordinate with systems, electrical, controls, clinical, human factors and quality to resolve interfaces.
• Lead technical reviews and mentor engineers; plan work across functions.

Skills

Robotic/mechatronic product design

Design controls & risk management

First-principles mechanics

GD&T & tolerancing

Actuation & sensing integration

Prototyping & testing

CAD/Simulation/PLM tools (SolidWorks/…

Technical leadership & design reviews

FMEA & reliability assessments

Education

Bachelor's degree + 14 years experience

Master's degree + 10 years

PhD + 6 years

Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Windchill

Job description

Intuitive Surgical is seeking a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer to own demanding mechanical and electromechanical subsystems for robotic systems. You will lead subsystem architecture, mentor engineers, and collaborate across mechanical, electrical, controls, and quality teams.

Based in Sunnyvale, CA, the role is on-site four days a week, involves verification, design transfer, and creating manufacturing drawings with GD&T. A bachelor’s degree with extensive experience or higher is expected.