Sr. Supervisor R&D

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Surgical, a leader in robotic-assisted surgery, seeks an engineering technician lead for the Future Forward group. You will contribute to R&D, NPI/NPD and manufacturing activities to refine instruments, electro-mechanical assemblies, tooling, and test methods.

You will manage a small team, design and assemble components, maintain lab layouts and equipment, and ensure quality and safety compliance while driving cost improvements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in equipment maintenance; 2+ years leading or coordinating people.
• GED is the minimum education requirement.
• Leadership and communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems.
• Ability to read and interpret technical diagrams and schematics.
• PMC and Calibration (PMC) methods understanding.
• MS Office or equivalent for documentation and data analysis.
• Knowledge of quality tools (e.g., SPC).
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing environments.
• Expertise in medical device fabrication: machining, 3D printing, assembly; laser cutting/welding a plus.
• CAD proficiency; SolidWorks preferred; PDM usage.
• Electromechanical design experience; robotics preferred.
• High autonomy; works independently with limited supervision.
• Strong organizational skills; multitasking.
• Documentation and communication skills.
• Travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Work in a small cross-functional team to design, develop, and verify robotic surgical instruments.
• Lead a small team of technicians to build novel devices.
• Assemble components and mechanisms for novel devices.
• Layout engineering lab and support lab activities.
• Maintain and order lab equipment.
• Coordinate with third-party vendors to keep lab equipment in spec.
• Ensure compliance with Quality and Safety regulations.
• Monitor equipment KPIs and drive improvement projects.
• Ensure training completion on time.
• Support R&D to resolve technical problems.
• Track lab equipment expenses.
• Drive our Culture Strategy and principles.

Skills

Leadership

Mechanical systems

Electrical systems

Pneumatic systems

CAD (SolidWorks)

Lab equipment management

Documentation

Education

GED

Tools

SolidWorks

CAD tools

PDM

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.

Was 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.

The Future Forward organization is Intuitive's advanced concepts group. We explore emerging technologies, prototype next-generation solutions, and build software experiences that shape the future of robotic-assisted surgery.

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

The Future Forward group within Intuitive Surgical is searching for a highly skilled and emotionally intelligent engineering technician lead who will provide valuable contribution to R&D activities. Contribute your technical manufacturing, equipment design and project management skills to a dynamic manufacturing engineering team creating precision instruments for minimally invasive robotic surgery. The role requires active participation in the R&D, NPI and NPD and manufacturing activities to refine instruments, electro-mechanical components, assemblies, process documentation, tooling, and test methods to improve efficacy, reliability, manufacturability, and cost for surgical robotic instruments.

Essential Job Duties

• Work in a small, cross-functional project team to design, develop, and verify robotic surgical instruments and the interface between robotic instruments and systems
• Manage small team of technicians to help and build novel devices
• Assemble components and mechanisms for novel devices
• Layout engineering lab layout and support engineering lab activities
• Maintain and order lab equipment
• Perform PMC and work with third party vendors to keep lab equipment in spec and good working condition
• Ensure that assigned personnel complies with all applicable Quality and Safety regulations.
• Ensure that Equipment Events Notifications are processed in a timely manner meeting company standards. Monitor Engineering KPIs (including but not limited to Production throughput, Down Time, equipment events, MTB and MTBR) to identify equipment areas of opportunity and review with Equipment Engineering Manager to generate improvement projects.
• Ensure assigned personnel complete mandatory training on time.
• Support R&D personnel to resolve technical problems.
• Escalate or propose training requirements.
• Keep track of lab equipment expenses
• Drive our Culture Strategy by fostering our mission, founding principles, individual and leadership expectations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in equipment maintenance or other equipment related areas, plus a minimum of 2 years leading or coordinating people.
• Minimum Education Requirement: GED
• Leadership and communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems
• Ability to read and interpret technical diagrams and schematics.
• Demonstrable understanding Preventive Maintenance and Calibration (PMC) methods
• Skilled in MS office or equivalent software programs, with competency at documentation and visual workflows, preparing presentation slide decks, collecting and analyzing data using spreadsheets.
• Working knowledge of quality tools such as measuring systems repeatability and process control tools (Statistical Process Control)
• Excellent creative problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing environments.
• Expertise in medical device fabrication methods such as machining, 3d printing, and assembly required. Other methods such as laser cutting and welding, wire EDM, stamping, braiding, and coiling is a plus
• Proficiency using CAD to design parts and assemblies, creating specification drawings in a PDM environment; Solidworks strongly preferred
• Experience with electromechanical design is a strong plus (Robotics experience preferred)
• High autonomy and ability to work independently under limited supervision to determine and develop approach to solutions.
• Excellent organizational skills; Able to manage multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously
• Excellent documentation and communication skills
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time

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:

$129,600 USD - $186,600 USD

Base Compensation Range Region 2:

$110,200 USD - $158,600 USD

Shift:

Day

Workplace Type:

Onsite - This job is fully onsite.