Staff FPGA Engineer Future Forward

Intuitive; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 181,200 - 213,200; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive is seeking a Staff FPGA Engineer in Sunnyvale to lead the FPGA design for robotic surgical systems. You will design, implement, and verify high‑performance FPGA solutions, collaborating across teams to deliver reliable, safe products.

The role requires extensive Verilog/SystemVerilog expertise, FPGA architecture knowledge, and experience with tools like Vivado and QuestaSim. Strong documentation and cross‑functional collaboration skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Expertise in Verilog/SystemVerilog for RTL design and verification.
• Extensive FPGA/front-end IC design experience including architecture, implementation and optimization.
• Strong understanding of FPGA architectures, timing analysis and debugging techniques.
• Proficient in design tools (Vivado, QuestaSim, Chipscope) and scripting for automation.
• Version control experience (Git, SVN) and strong communication/documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a lead technical designer on projects to develop surgical robotic systems.
• Implement FPGA design in SystemVerilog for video processing, DMA, high-speed comms, sensor integration.
• Verify designs in simulation and hardware.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate, debug, and support products.
• Write design documentation and verification protocols; support quality and regulatory processes.

Skills

Verilog/SystemVerilog

FPGA design

Timing analysis

Scripting: Python/Tcl/Perl/Shell

C/C++ / MATLAB

Documentation / communication

Education

BSc in Electrical Engineering (15y)

MS in Electrical Engineering (12y)

PhD (8y)

Tools

Vivado

QuestaSim

Chipscope

Git

SVN

Job description

• Ways of Working: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.
• Employee Type: Employee
• Global Job Level (HCM): Professional 5 (13)
• Min. Salary Region 1: 213200 USD
• Min. Salary Region 2: 181200 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 a Staff FPGA Engineer, you will work with a group of talented and dedicated people to improve and extend Intuitive robotic product lines. You will contribute broadly to the Future Forward group, with focus on development of innovative electronics at the heart of Intuitive systems.

As a member of the Future Forward engineering team, you will be involved in designing, implementing, and testing complex FPGA designs and integrate them into complete surgical robot solutions and seeing these through human use and product release.

The successful candidate must excel in a high-energy small, focused team environment, be able to drive to solutions from rough requirements and methodical prototype iterations and have a commitment to high product quality that places patients first.

Quick learning and a desire to understand requirements from a user's and engineering's perspective are essential to become a valuable system developer. A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required, as is the ability to make work fun and interesting. Supporting you will be a development and management team that knows and cares about what you are doing and wants you to succeed.

This position has responsibility for all aspects related to the FPGA design for electronic board for robotic surgical systems. The Staff FPGA Engineer will:

• Serve as a lead technical designer on project teams to develop new world-class surgical robotic systems and accessories.
• Implement FPGA design using System Verilog in the following areas: video signal processing, DMA, high-speed communications, sensor integration, motor control, and modern embedded computing modules.
• Verify implemented design in simulation and hardware.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to Integrate, debug, and support the product before and after launch.
• Write detailed design documentation, including specifications and verification protocols.
• Support the quality and regulatory processes.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Expertise in Verilog and SystemVerilog for both synthesis and verification, with a strong command of RTL design principles.
• Extensive experience in FPGA and front-end IC design, including architecture, implementation, and optimization.
• Deep understanding of FPGA architecture, covering design methodologies, timing analysis, verification strategies, and debugging techniques.
• Proficient in FPGA design tools such as Vivado, QuestaSim, and Chipscope, with hands‑on experience optimizing workflows.
• Skilled in scripting languages like Python, Tcl, Perl, or Shell for automation and design flow enhancement.
• Experienced with version control systems such as Git and SVN, ensuring efficient collaboration and project management.
• Strong communication, presentation, and technical documentation skills, facilitating seamless collaboration across teams.
• Proficient in C/C++ and MATLAB, leveraging these languages for modeling, simulation, and system‑level design.

Required Education and Training

• BSc degree in Electrical Engineering or adjacent technical field with 15 years of experience, or Master's degree with 12 years of experience, or PhD degree with 8 years of experience.

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 employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed Technology Control Plan (“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.

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.