Sr. Human Factors Design Engineer

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. seeks a Human Factors Design Engineer (HFDE) to maximize usability and safety of robotic systems.

You will work with product managers, clinicians, engineers, and regulatory teams to translate formative research into user‑interface requirements for future da Vinci devices and accessories. The role requires 5+ years in industry, a BS/MS in a related field, and a focus on user‑centered design, usability engineering, and documentation.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in industry.
• Experience with medical devices or regulated industry is a plus.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 25%.
• Excellent technical communication (verbal, written) and business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Develop, position and execute formative research plans within product development.
• Synthesize data to generate insights on user interaction with Intuitive products.
• Represent Intuitive in interactions with clinicians and customers across markets.
• De-risk design strategies by identifying root causes affecting usability and safety.
• Analyze workflows and UI designs to prevent use errors and improve usability.
• Author and manage usability design inputs for regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate on prototypes and communicate design recommendations to stakeholders.
• Advocate for safety, usability and desirability while balancing project risks.
• Coordinate usability efforts across subsystems and provide status updates.

Skills

Technical communication

Synthesis & analysis

Robotic systems knowledge

Human-robot interaction

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS/MS in Human Factors Engineering or related field

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

The Human Factors Design Engineer (HFDE) is part of the Human Factors (HF) organization that aims to maximize usability and desirability of Intuitive products while minimizing risk through scientific research and usability engineering. HFDE is focused on research and design within product development of new robotic systems, instruments and accessories. This role works closely with product managers, clinical engineers, mechanical engineers, computer scientists, industrial/ interaction designers, regulatory affairs, quality and design controls, and other cross functional teams. HFDE helps de-risk design strategies within product development through a range of formative research activities and hands‑on design engineering activities that inform the definition of user requirements and user interface design requirements underlying the user experience of Intuitive products.

The HFDE position reports to a Manager within the broader HF organization at Intuitive.

Essential Job Duties

• Develop, position and execute end-to-end formative research plans within product development that are inclusive of user research, human performance research, as well as explorative co‑creation and usability evaluations with prototypes of varying fidelity and resolution.
• Plan, collect and synthesize data to generate insights on how and why users interact with Intuitive products through various techniques including interviews, simulations, direct observations, task analysis, human performance research, persona development, usability testing, mixed methods research, discovery from known use problems, etc.
• Represent Intuitive during interactions with end‑user clinicians and customers in multiple international markets to gather design insights in a highly professional manner, during formative research activities.
• De‑risk design strategies by identifying root causes that account for human performance influencers underlying the user experience.
• Analyze, define and evaluate workflow and user interface designs. Negotiate design recommendations and improvements to prevent hazardous situations related to use errors and improve usability.
• Accountable for establishment, authoring and management of usability design inputs. Translate findings from formative research activities into insights that are used to define evidence‑based user requirements and user interface design requirements to inform user interface design, labeling and training.
• Collaboratively develop conceptual prototypes that reflect performance influencers for showcasing and translating for stakeholders.
• Advocate for safety, usability and desirability of the user experience while balancing tradeoffs associated with project risks and product risks related to user needs and business needs.
• Analyze complaints from on-market products, identify, analyze and manage usability risk analysis, and elevate usability‑related issues as necessary.
• Author and maintain human factors engineering documentation in support of design controls and regulatory submissions.
• Coordinate human factors efforts across projects involving several sub‑systems.
• Manage usability engineering activities within development projects and provide schedules and status to product managers and engineering project managers.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5+ years relevant experience in industry.
• Excellent technical communication skills (verbal, written, and formal presentation) and business acumen.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize large volumes of information into simple, accessible, and meaning communications to stakeholders.
• Knowledge and ability in one or more complex robotic systems, including mechanical design (kinematics/ mechanisms), sensing and perception, control systems, software engineering (programming/ simulation) and human‑robotic interaction.
• Ability to work with and across various groups and levels of management within the organization, including other engineering groups, marketing, clinical engineering, and regulatory.
• Ability to apply user-centered design and usability engineering principles to product research, development, and design.

Required Education and Training

• Minimum BS or MS in Human Factors Engineering, Cognitive Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Human‑Computer Interaction, Human‑Centered Design, or a related field with an emphasis in user experience design and human‑robotic interaction.

Working Conditions

• Ability to travel internationally as well as domestically (up to 25%).
• Primarily office‑based set schedule working model.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in medical device, or similar regulated industry, a plus.
• Experience with design engineering in product development.
• Ability to empathize with people and to understand the human condition.
• Ability to interface with clinical experts (e.g., surgeons) in a highly professional manner.

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.

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 (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 compensation ranges are listed.

Base Compensation Range Region 1: $170,600 USD - $245,400 USD

Base Compensation Range Region 2: $145,000 USD - $208,600 USD

Shift: Day

Workplace Type: Set Schedule - This job will be onsite weekly, the percentage of onsite work will be defined by the leader.