Sr. Embedded Software Engineer

Intuitive; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to join the Future Forward organization in Sunnyvale. You’ll design, develop, and integrate embedded software across a robotic system, collaborating with engineers, clinicians, and product managers to advance Intuitive’s surgical platform from concept to launch.

You will contribute to real-time data pipelines, hardware interfaces, control algorithms, and validation, ensuring safety-focused, high-quality solutions for patients worldwide.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in developing and supporting embedded systems; or 3+ with a Master’s; or 1+ with a PhD.
• Proficient in C/C++ embedded/RT software for multi-core systems on embedded Linux/QNX.
• Experience with board bring-up, device drivers, hardware integration.
• Strong debugging, problem-solving, and safety-critical design experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop robust embedded software for system infrastructure (OS drivers, interfaces, data pipelines).
• Collaborate across the product lifecycle with engineers, clinicians, and PMs.
• Translate requirements into prototypes to evaluate and advance robotic systems.
• Perform rigorous unit testing to ensure reliable integration.
• Contribute to hazard analysis and risk mitigation.
• Iterate designs balancing requirements, feasibility, schedules, and resources.
• Produce clear documentation aligned with quality guidelines.

Skills

C/C++ Embedded

Real-time software

Linux / QNX

Device drivers

Job description

• Ways of Working: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.
• Employee Type: Employee
• Min. Salary Region 1: 188600 USD
• Global Job Level (HCM): Professional 4 (11)
• Min. Salary Region 2: 160300 USD

Company Description

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.

As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves.

Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential.

Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let's advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Job Description

As an Embedded Software Engineer in the Future Forward organization, you will work at the forefront of innovation, rapid prototyping, and new product development. You’ll collaborate with talented cross-functional teams—including engineers, clinicians, and product managers—to advance Intuitive’s robotic surgical platform, driving the entire product lifecycle from concept to launch.

In this role, you will design, develop, and integrate embedded and platform software across a complex robotic system, interfacing with hardware, firmware, control algorithms, vision pipelines, user interfaces, and test infrastructure, including fault-injection and diagnostic frameworks. You will contribute to the architecture, implementation, and system-level integration of advanced functionalities into complete surgical robotic platforms, supporting product release and validated human use. Your work will be critical to meeting delivery milestones while ensuring safe, reliable, and compliant operation for patients worldwide.

Success in this role requires excelling in an agile, small-team environment—transforming initial concepts into robust prototypes, methodically iterating designs, and consistently maintaining exceptional product quality with a patient-first mindset.

• Design and develop robust embedded software to enable system infrastructure, including OS drivers, hardware interfaces, real-time data pipelines, inter-processor communication, error handling, and user/test applications.
• Collaborate cross-functionally throughout the product lifecycle with key stakeholders to address clinical needs and safety requirements.
• Translate early requirements into prototype implementations to evaluate, iterate, and advance novel robotic systems.
• Conduct rigorous unit testing to support system integration and ensure reliable, robust system operation.
• Contribute to hazard and failure mode analysis, defining appropriate mitigations.
• Refine and iterate designs, balancing technical requirements, feasibility, schedules, and resource constraints.
• Produce clear and compliant supporting documentation in alignment with Intuitive's development and quality guidelines.
• Ensure all designs meet rigorous quality and safety standards per the Intuitive Quality Management System.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5years of experience in developing and supporting embedded systems; or 3years with a Master’s degree; or 1yearwith a PhD.
• Highly proficient in developing C/C++ embedded and real-time software for multi-core, multi-processor systems, especially on embedded Linux and QNX.
• Demonstrated experience with board bring-up, device driver development, and integration of new hardware components.
• Skilled in version control systems and collaborative development environments, supporting efficient, iterative improvement.
• Familiarity with a wide range of communication protocols—including TCP/IP, CAN, I2C, SPI—and serialization standards such as protobuf.
• Strong problem-solving skills and debugging capabilities for complex embedded software and electromechanical systems.
• In-depth understanding of failure mode and risk analysis, with a track record in safety-critical, product-focused designs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrates passion for innovation, continuous learning, and developing solutions that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with robotics and embedded software for complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Knowledgeable in Python or Matlab for automation, diagnostics, and testing.
• Familiarity with FPGA development and interfaces.
• Familiarity with CUDA programming and memory management concepts.
• Cyber-security concepts such as secure boot, authentication and encryption.
• Hands-on engineering experience with proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Experience in all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, validation, and transfer to manufacturing.
• Experience designing software products in a regulated industry or for mission critical applications; comfort with concepts of design input, design output, traceability, risk analysis, and mitigations.

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.

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 employeeswho 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’sstart 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 [e-mail].

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.