Intuitive Surgical, Inc

Senior Vision Systems Engineer

Intuitive Surgical, Inc$130K — $155K *
Healthcare
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related discipline
  • 8+ years of engineering experience in medical devices or related fields
  • Familiarity with PCA/PCB design, signal integrity, and electromagnetic compliance (EMC)
  • Experience across various product lifecycle stages from concept to validation and sustaining engineering
  • Skilled in planning and executing experiments with modern test and measurement equipment
  • Hands-on problem-solver with a driven and analytical mindset
  • Excellent communication skills for technical presentations

Responsibilities

  • Lead investigations into product design and field performance issues
  • Conduct root cause analyses and develop corrective actions
  • Design and implement engineering solutions for product improvements
  • Develop manufacturing processes for failure diagnosis and repair
  • Utilize data analysis and problem-solving methods to drive engineering decisions
  • Participate in design reviews and risk assessments for product quality
  • Mentor junior engineers on best practices and technical knowledge

Benefits

  • Work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
  • Opportunities for professional development and mentorship
  • Engagement across the entire product lifecycle
  • Contribute to innovative and impactful product development
  • Travel opportunities for supplier and manufacturing support
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Function

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Vision Systems Engineer to join our multidisciplinary engineering team. This role offers the opportunity to work across a large portion of the product lifecycle-from development and design through verification, manufacturing, sustaining engineering, and field support.

As a hands-on technical team member, you will leverage expertise in electrical and optics to solve complex technical challenges, improve product performance, and drive continuous improvement. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to investigate field issues, enhance manufacturability and reliability, and contribute to the development of next-generation vision systems.

Success in this role requires technical depth, intellectual curiosity, strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, and a collaborative mindset. You thrive in fast-paced environments, enjoy solving challenging problems, and are passionate about delivering robust, high-quality products that make a meaningful impact.

Key Responsibilities

Product Engineering & Technical Leadership
  • Lead technical investigations spanning design, manufacturing, and field performance throughout the product lifecycle
  • Conduct detailed root cause investigations for product, manufacturing, and field issues, developing effective corrective and preventive actions
  • Design, develop, test, validate, and implement engineering solutions to improve product performance, reliability, and manufacturability
  • Develop manufacturing processes to diagnose failures and repair returned products
  • Drive engineering decisions using sound technical judgment, data analysis, and structured problem-solving methodologies
  • Participate in and lead design reviews, technical discussions, and risk assessments to ensure design robustness and product quality
  • Mentor junior engineers by sharing technical knowledge, engineering best practices, and structured problem-solving approaches

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with Optical, Electrical, Firmware, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Clinical, and Operations teams to resolve complex technical challenges
  • Contribute to new product development by providing design feedback based on lessons learned from released products and field experience
  • Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Technical Expertise
  • Design and execute engineering experiments, Design of Experiments (DOE), verification testing, and product life-cycle validation activities
  • Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and system-level issues using structured, data-driven root cause methodologies
  • Perform circuit analysis and electrical troubleshooting as required
  • Apply failure analysis techniques and collaborate with external analytical laboratories utilizing methods such as FTIR, X-ray imaging, SEM/TEM, EDS, and related technologies
  • Working knowledge of scripting or programming in Python, C, C++, C#, or JavaScript is desirable to support automation, analysis, and engineering workflows

Manufacturing & Supplier Development
  • Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Serviceability (DFS) initiatives for components and subsystems
  • Partner with suppliers to improve component quality, manufacturability, and overall product performance
  • Support supplier qualification, manufacturing transfer, production ramp-up, and yield improvement initiatives
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality Engineering to support sustaining engineering and continuous product improvements


Qualifications

Qualifications

Education and Experience
  • Bachelor degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics and Robotics or a related engineering discipline
  • Minimum 8 years of engineering experience in medical devices, robotics, imaging systems, precision electromechanical products, or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Familiarity with board level PCA/PCB design, signal integrity, and electromagnetic compliance (EMC)
  • Demonstrated experience across multiple stages of the product lifecycle, including concept development, design, prototyping, verification, validation, manufacturing transfer, and sustaining engineering
  • Skilled at planning and executing experiments using modern test and measurement equipment
  • A hands-on engineer who enjoys solving challenging technical problems
  • Curious, analytical, and driven to understand root causes rather than symptoms
  • Passionate about designing reliable, manufacturable, and high-quality products
  • Comfortable working in fast-paced, highly collaborative environments
  • An effective communicator with strong presentation skills and confidence leading technical design reviews
  • Willing to travel up to 10% as needed to support suppliers, manufacturing, or development activities


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.

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.

About Intuitive Surgical, Inc

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is an American corporation that develops, manufactures, and markets robotic products designed to improve clinical outcomes of patients through minimally invasive surgery, most notably with the da Vinci Surgical System. The company is part of the NASDAQ-100 and S&P 500. Intuitive Surgical has installed more than 5,000 surgical systems worldwide, and has more than 4,000 employees.
Learn more about Intuitive Surgical, Inc
Size
9,793 employees
Market Cap
$93.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$1 billion
Founded
1999
5 Year Trend
+16.1%
Revenue
$4.3 billion
NASDAQ

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