Primary Function of Position

This role is focused on system-level and PCA execution—bringing up hardware, debugging complex issues across subsystems, and driving problems to resolution as products transition from prototype to production.

You will operate in a fast-paced, startup-like environment within Intuitive, where designs are still maturing and many critical issues only surface during integration. You’ll be relied upon as a go-to problem solver—someone who steps into ambiguity, diagnoses issues across electrical, firmware, and system interactions, and gets hardware working reliably.

This is an electrical-first role, with meaningful exposure to embedded/software interfaces (e.g., C++-based platform interactions), but your core strength should be hands-on hardware debugging and system integration.

Essential Job Duties

Electrical Bring-Up & Systems Integration

• Lead bring-up of electrical subsystems & PCAs within complex robotic platforms

• Bring-up & integrate PCAs, harnessing, sensors, etc. into functional systems

• Debug issues between subsystems (i.e. electrical, software, and system behavior)

• Develop deep understanding of real-world system performance and limitations

Debugging & Root Cause Ownership

• Serve as a primary “fixer” for complex, ambiguous hardware and system issues

• Drive structured root cause analysis across electrical, firmware, and integration domains

• Perform hands-on debugging (probing, rework, instrumentation, signal tracing)

• Own issues end-to-end: from initial symptom through validated fix

• Characterize electrical performance in-system (noise, power integrity, signal behavior)

Process & Manufacturing Support

• Partner with design and production teams to transition hardware from prototype to production (i.e. end-to-end NPI to Sustaining ownership)

• Identify testing gaps in coverage and proactively drive additional validation onsite and/or at vendor

• Troubleshoot build issues, yield problems, and field-relevant failure modes

• Support supplier interactions and resolve electrical/integration issues during builds

• Balance rapid iteration with the rigor required for a regulated medical device

• Own process and quality documentation to support manufacturing release (i.e. NCs, EEs, VRs, MPIs, MLS, pFMEAs)

Cross-Functional Execution

• Work closely with firmware/software teams (including C++ platform layers) to debug system interactions

• Translate system-level issues into actionable insights for design teams

• Participate in design and integration reviews with a focus on robustness and testability

• Mentor & train team members in debugging, manufacturing & test processes, and structured problem-solving

Required Skills and Experience

• Strong hands-on experience in board bring-up, debugging, and electrical integration.

• Proficient with lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, DMMs, logic analyzers) and PCB rework.

• Solid foundation in analog, digital, and power systems, including low-level signal debugging.

• Proven ability to diagnose and resolve complex, cross-functional hardware and embedded system issues.

• Uses a structured, hypothesis-driven approach to root cause analysis and problem-solving

• Experience supporting NPI and/or sustaining manufacturing phases, including yield issues. and early manufacturability & test considerations.

• Communicates technical findings clearly, takes ownership, and drives solutions with cross-functional teams.

Require Education and Training

• BS, MS, or Ph

D in Electrical Engineering or related field:

• Typical experience:

• BS + 7 years, or

• MS + 5 years, or

• PhD + 3 years

• Equivalent hands-on industry experience strongly considered

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with robotic or electromechanical systems.

• Familiarity with embedded systems and debugging software/hardware interactions (C++ exposure preferred).

• Experience in regulated industries (medical devices, aerospace, automotive).

• Experience with Python for test automation or data analysis.

• Background in high-reliability or safety-critical systems.

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

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.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).

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

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.