Intuitive Surgical, Inc

Staff Clinical Applications Engineer

Intuitive Surgical, Inc$120K — $145K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Sunnyvale, CA
Healthcare
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a clinical, scientific, or engineering discipline (or equivalent allied health training); advanced degrees preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in clinical training or medical education within healthcare technology.
  • Proven experience designing and executing physician training programs across various formats.
  • Ability to engage with key opinion leaders (KOLs) to drive educational adoption.
  • Strong knowledge in minimally invasive techniques with effective communication of technical concepts.
  • Cross-functional collaboration experience with various teams to align training with product needs.
  • Exceptional presentation and facilitation skills for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and deliver tailored training curricula for physicians and staff.
  • Adapt training techniques for different learning styles and experience levels.
  • Serve as lead instructor during live training and simulation sessions.
  • Provide clinical guidance to ensure safe usage of robotic systems during procedures.
  • Synthesize feedback from users to improve training materials and strategies.
  • Collaborate with multifunctional teams to align educational efforts with product developments.
  • Mentor CAEs and trainers on adult learning and curriculum development best practices.

Benefits

  • Remote work opportunity from a primary location with travel requirements.
  • Supportive train-the-trainer initiatives to enhance global education efforts.
  • Engagement with cutting-edge robotic technologies and medical device innovation.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Function of Position

The Staff Clinical Applications Engineer (CAE) will serve as a senior individual contributor focused on developing and delivering best-in-class training for Intuitive's emerging robotic platforms. This role emphasizes enabling clinical users to transition from onboarding through independent proficiency by combining deep procedural understanding with advanced educational program design. The Staff CAE will act as a training architect and field expert, ensuring early users have the knowledge, confidence, and support to integrate robotic technology safely and effectively into practice.

Essential Job Duties

Training Program Design & Delivery
  • Develop and deliver comprehensive training curricula (workshops, labs, digital modules) tailored to physicians, staff, and internal stakeholders.
  • Adapt training methods to multiple learning styles and procedural experience levels.
  • Serve as lead faculty during live training, simulation, and case support.

Clinical & Procedural Expertise
  • Provide advanced clinical and technical guidance during procedures, ensuring safe and effective system use.
  • Capture and synthesize training feedback from early users to refine curricula and drive adoption.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with engineering, marketing, medical affairs, and commercial teams to align training with evolving product capabilities and workflow needs.
  • Contribute training insights to evidence generation and product development cycles.

Thought Leadership & Mentorship
  • Act as a senior mentor for CAEs and trainers, sharing expertise in adult learning methodologies, curriculum development, and clinical education best practices.
  • Support train-the-trainer initiatives to scale global education efforts.


Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

Required:
  • Bachelor's degree in a clinical, scientific, or engineering discipline, or completion of a physician assistant (PA) program, or a nursing degree (BSN or higher). Equivalent allied health training will also be considered. Advanced degrees (MS, PhD, MD, NP, etc.) are a plus but not required.
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in clinical training, professional education, or medical education within medical devices, healthcare technology, or related industries.
  • Proven track record in designing and executing physician training programs, including curriculum development, lab-based training, and digital education.
  • Demonstrated ability to engage with KOLs and physician faculty, driving procedure adoption through education.
  • Strong procedural knowledge in minimally invasive techniques, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical training.
  • Experience collaborating cross-functionally with R&D, marketing, sales, and medical affairs to align training with product development and commercialization strategies.
  • Exceptional presentation, facilitation, and adult learning skills; comfortable training audiences from novice to expert.

Preferred:
  • Experience leading the design and implementation of global clinical or physician education programs, including large-scale course deployment.
  • Demonstrated success in building and scaling innovative training models, such as simulation-based education, mobile learning centers, or digital learning platforms.
  • History of engaging and developing physician faculty/KOLs to serve as trainers and advocates for new technologies.
  • Recognition or awards from professional societies, industry organizations, or employers for excellence in education, training, or program innovation.

Working Conditions
  • Must be available to work full-time and commute to Sunnyvale, CA as needed.
  • Ability to travel up to 50-60%, including nights and weekends as needed; must be located near a major airline hub.
  • Primary Location: Remote


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.

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 [redacted].

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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