Staff FPGA Engineer (Future Forward)

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

Job summary

Intuitive is seeking a Staff FPGA Engineer in Sunnyvale to help advance robotic surgical systems. You will design and test FPGA hardware, focusing on SystemVerilog-based solutions for video processing, motor control, and high-speed data paths within the Future Forward group.

You will lead technical design efforts, verify via simulation and hardware, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure robust, compliant products for patient use.

Qualifications

• Experience designing FPGA for complex systems, preferably in medical robotics.
• Ability to drive results in a fast-paced, collaborative team.
• Strong experience with SystemVerilog and FPGA verification methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical designer on project teams developing surgical robotic systems.
• Implement FPGA designs using SystemVerilog for video, DMA, high‑speed interfaces, sensor integration, motor control, and embedded modules.
• Verify designs in simulation and hardware.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to integrate, debug, and support before/after launch.
• Prepare design documentation including specs and verification protocols.
• Support quality and regulatory processes.

Skills

FPGA design

SystemVerilog

Digital design

HDL

Verification

Embedded computing

Video signal processing

DMA

High-speed communications

Sensor integration

Motor control

Team collaboration

Job description

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.