Senior Technical Editor

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. seeks an experienced Services Technical Publications editor to lead quality initiatives for hardware and software documentation used by field service technicians.

You will develop a comprehensive quality metrics program, coach writers in minimalist, task-based authoring, and integrate tools like Acrolinx, Congree, and Grammarly into guided workflows, collaborating with product, UX, and localization teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 7+ years of professional editing in technical communications.
• Expert editing of DITA-authored content for hardware and software.
• Proficiency with IXIA or similar CCMS.
• Experience developing editorial guidelines and content standards.
• Ability to coach authors and influence without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Edit hardware and software docs for clarity, accuracy, and usability.
• Edit in IXIA with reviewers to implement changes end-to-end.
• Develop and own a quality metrics program to show ROI.
• Design scalable content quality processes and guidelines.
• Lead training and coaching initiatives for writers.
• Integrate content quality tools into workflows (Acrolinx, Congree, Grammarly).
• Collaborate with product, UX, localization, and publishing teams.

Skills

DITA editing

IXIA CCMS

Minimalist writing

Task-based authoring

Editorial coaching

Content QA tools

Collaborative leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Acrolinx

Congree

Grammarly

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

Services Technical Publications provides the foundation for every procedure performed on Intuitive's advanced medical devices by the global Field Service team. Our content is authored in DITA and delivered through guided workflows, which progressively discloses content for field service technicians install, maintain, and repair Intuitive systems.

In this role, you will combine expert editing skills with strategic thinking to develop and implement a comprehensive quality metrics program. You will work directly with technical writers, product teams, and stakeholders to ensure that hardware and software documentation meets our highest standards for clarity, accuracy, consistency, and usability within guided, step-by-step workflows.

As an individual contributor with significant influence and authority, your success will be measured by your ability to drive quality improvements and positive outcomes through collaboration, coaching, and strategic program development-not through direct management, but through leadership and expertise.

Essential Job Duties

• Edit hardware and software technical documentation for clarity, accuracy, consistency, voice, tone, and usability. Champion minimalist, task-based writing principles to ensure content serves the immediate needs of field service technicians. Work directly with authors and SMEs to improve content quality across the publication lifecycle.
• Make edits directly in IXIA, our component content management system, collaborating with technical writers and subject matter experts through the review workflow to implement changes efficiently. Comfort navigating the system and driving content improvements end-to-end.
• Develop and own a quality metrics program that establishes baselines, identifies improvement opportunities, and measures impact. Use data-driven insights to guide editorial strategy and demonstrate ROI of editing services.
• Design and implement best practices for technical content quality. Create scalable processes, guidelines, and checklists that enable teams to self-serve and maintain consistency without bottlenecking editorial review.
• Lead training and coaching initiatives. Educate writers on minimalism, task-based authoring, topic-based writing principles, style, and grammar standards. Establish regular office hours, workshops, or feedback sessions to build writer capability and confidence.
• Configure and integrate content quality tools (Acrolinx, Congree, Grammarly, or similar) into the publication workflow. Recommend technology solutions that enhance quality without creating friction for authors.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams-including product, UX, localization, and publishing-to align on quality standards and resolve editorial challenges.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• 7+ years of professional editing experience in technical communications, with demonstrated expertise editing DITA-authored content for both hardware and software products.
• Deep expertise in minimalist and task-based, topic-based authoring approaches. Demonstrated ability to coach authors on these principles and evaluate content for adherence to minimalist standards.
• Proficiency with IXIA or similar component content management systems (CCMS). Ability to navigate the system, make edits directly, and move content through review workflows independently.
• Experience developing or implementing editorial guidelines, style guides, or content quality standards. Comfort with creating scalable, repeatable processes.
• Proficiency with quality assurance tools such as Acrolinx, Congree, Grammarly, or equivalent. Ability to evaluate tools and troubleshoot configuration issues.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both in written and spoken formats. Skill in explaining complex editorial feedback in a way that educates rather than demoralizes.
• Experience working with metrics, data collection, or quality measurement. Comfort with analyzing trends and using data to support recommendations.
• Ability to influence and drive outcomes without direct authority. Success collaborating with subject matter experts, product teams, and writers who may not report to you.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with medical device, surgical instrument, or other regulated/high-stakes technical documentation.
• Familiarity with content management systems, publishing workflows, or localization processes.
• Experience training or coaching other writers or editors.
• Understanding of how DITA-authored content serves guided workflows with progressive disclosure, and how editing decisions impact both user experience and compliance.

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.

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 base compensation ranges are listed.

Base Compensation Range Region 1: $147,600 USD - $212,400 USD

Base Compensation Range Region 2: $125,500 USD - $180,500 USD

Shift: Day

Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.