Research Engineer, Advanced Energy

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

Primary Function of Position

The Research Engineer, Advanced Energy, is responsible for supporting investigations of complex system behaviors related to new advanced energy applications at Intuitive. Their focus will be on conducting experiments to support design and development of novel advanced energy instruments, contributing to the exploration of a novel system concept for new applications in surgical robotics. They will be a core member of the Advanced Research team responsible for supporting innovative technology development and commercialization. They will possess the ability to deeply understand individually complex mechanical, electrical, and biological systems while also working effectively within an interdisciplinary team to analyze higher-level system interactions and outputs. They must have exceptional technical depth in relevant areas and have a track record of successful research within a product development framework. Using their subject matter expertise, exceptional communication skills, and resourcefulness, they will identify key questions, and will design and execute experiments to support evidence-based development of advanced energy systems for novel clinical applications.

They will thrive in a high-energy, fast-paced environment, bringing an exceptional commitment to quality research and development. Key attributes include curiosity, critical thinking, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset. They must excel in a small-team setting, with a shared sense of responsibility and reward, and must consistently deliver high-fidelity results.

Essential Job Duties

• Work within a small, cross-functional project team to identify and prioritize research foci based on clinical, product and business needs
• Develop solutions to diverse engineering problems requiring use of ingenuity and creativity. Leverage internal/external resources as necessary to achieve project targets.
• Design/execute efficient and targeted experiments related to electro-mechanical systems, components, and sub-assemblies using computational, benchtop, ex vivo, and in vivo models
• Compile and analyze experimental results; distill findings and implications clearly to stakeholders
• Generate quantitative evidence in support of product and functional requirements
• Document research findings in whitepapers and technical documents following standard engineering and scientific practice, Intuitive DOPs, etc.
• Collaborate with immediate team and broader business to effectively utilize available company resources (facilities and personnel) throughout the research process
• Work with mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical engineers to investigate and perform root cause analyses of emerging technology, design, manufacturing, or material defects
• Hands-on testing of equipment, fixtures and devices to support proof of concept, design development, pre-clinical and V&V activities
• Review and critically interpret academic literature and prior art to inform research path, documentation, and conceptualization of new experimental systems
• Utilize statistical methods to inform experimental design and data analysis
• Observe clinical cases and participate in interviews with clinical and subject matter experts to inform research focus
• Contributes to an exceptional team culture around high expectations and high performance
• Keeps the organization’s vision and values at the forefront of decision making and action
• Performs other duties as required to support the company's overall strategy and goals

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Typical minimum of 5-8 years of relevant work experience, 3+ years with a Master’s, or a relevant PhD and minimal to no experience
• Demonstrated exceptional cross-functional collaboration, ability to influence without authority, and project/task management enabling highly effective teams
• Demonstrated experience leading the design and execution of experiments, development of test methods, and analysis of results within a medical device or scientific R&D setting
• High autonomy and ability to work autonomously under limited supervision to determine and develop solutions
• Ability to differentiate between low-level and critical issues and communicate them fluidly with all stakeholders
• Hands-on experience in the application of both mechanical and electrical principles in a research and setting
• Experience with bench and hybrid tissue test methods and test method development
• Ability to write basic scripts to support data analysis, deduct inferences, and visualize experimental data; Matlab or python preferred
• Familiarity with basic circuits and electrical equipment such as oscilloscopes
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, oral) across all levels and organizations

Required Education and Training

• Minimum education: BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science or related engineering or scientific discipline, or equivalent work experience

Working Conditions

• Must be available to work full-time and commute/relocate to Sunnyvale, CA
• Up to 10% travel. Some international travel may be required.
• Primary Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Preferred Skills and Experience

• PhD in Biomedical Engineering or similar discipline
• Experience with standard molecular biological testing such as flow cytometry, ELISA, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and gel electrophoresis
• Hands-on experience with electrosurgical or other electromechanical surgical or minimally invasive non-surgical instruments
• Runs towards critical issues, ambiguous requirements, or loosely defined challenges.
• Familiarity with medical device design controls and associated standards including 21 CFR 820.30 and ISO 14971
• Understanding and familiarity with basic statistical methods for sample size calculations, experimental design, blocking, model fitting, regression-based analyses, etc.
• Familiarity the product development lifecycle

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.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

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 salary ranges are listed.

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

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.

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 salary ranges are listed.

Base Salary Range Region 1:$127,100 - $182,900
Base Salary Range Region 2: $108,100 - $155,500
Shift: Day
Travel: 10% of the time
Workplace Type: Set Schedule - This job will be onsite weekly, the percentage of onsite work will be defined by the leader.