R&D Manager at Intuitive Surgical

Primary Function of Position

The R&D Manager, Advanced Tissue Models will be responsible for leading a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists, tasked with designing, developing, and transferring Intuitive’s Advanced Tissue Models into production. This position will provide technical leadership, oversight and cross-functional collaboration to ensure the delivery of innovative, high-quality solutions. The manager will align team efforts with organizational priorities, foster a performance-driven and collaborative environment, and ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards.

Essential Job Duties

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers.
• Lead innovation and develop efficient, cost-effective design solutions by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and materials research.
• Collaborate with advanced product development teams and product managers to stay abreast of new Intuitive product offerings, training needs and user requirements. Collaborate with product managers to develop long-range Advanced Tissue Models product pipeline.
• Set team priorities and goals aligned with organizational strategy.
• Oversee project execution for the design, development, testing, and effective transfer to production of Advanced Tissue Models.
• Ensure adherence to new product development process and phase gate deliverables and approvals.
• Maintain individual contributor responsibilities by leading technical projects, leading research studies, and leveraging subject matter expertise to advance project objectives.
• Lead significant design iterations on released products to meet revised user needs, performance, reliability, quality, and cost targets. Lead CAPAs as applicable.
• Ensure rigorous research, prototyping, and validation processes across models and synthetic materials.
• Hire, train and develop high performing staff.
• Support the professional growth of team members through coaching, performance management, and personal development goal setting.
• Evaluate individual and team performance and provide ongoing feedback.
• Foster an environment that encourages creativity, open communication, and crisp, effective execution.
• Maintain productive and safe lab and engineering environments.
• Identify, communicate, and help the team proactively manage technical and project risks.
• Oversee resource allocation, project timelines, budgeting, and vendor management.
• Oversee adherence to regulatory requirements, quality systems, and good documentation practices.
• Proponent of voice of the customer internally through close engagement with product management and end customers, such as surgeons and customer trainers.
• Represent the department in cross-functional meetings and present technical information clearly to internal and external stakeholders.

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated leadership experience in R&D or engineering management, preferably within medical device, healthcare simulation, or related fields.
• Proven track record in engineering project management, technical leadership, and team development.
• Advanced knowledge of product design, development lifecycle, material science, and/or biomechanical engineering.
• Experience overseeing projects involving development of synthetic materials, prototyping, and transfer to production.
• Demonstrated expertise in design for manufacturing to optimize product designs that are efficient in manufacturing, supply chain and labor time.
• Strong understanding of experimental design and statistical tools and methods (eg. design of experiments, analysis of variance, and capability studies).
• Experience interacting with surgeons, physicians, and cross-functional technical teams.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to stakeholders at all levels and across disciplines. Effective communication skills include oral, written, and interpersonal.
• Experience with quality management systems, change and design control, and good documentation practices.
• Proven success in recognizing critical issues with the ability to react quickly under pressure and driving issues to closure by providing coordinated direction and problem-solving creativity.

Required Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Biomedical, Material Science, or related discipline required).
• 8+ years of progressive engineering experience with at least 3 years in a technical leadership or management role.

Working Conditions (As applicable

• Any physical requirements for the job. If not applicable, state “none”)

• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant technical or engineering discipline.
• Experience in medical device product development/realization, including materials development, product design, and transitioning from R&D to manufacturing.
• Knowledge and lab experience with human cadaver and porcine anatomy.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and cross-functional project teams.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, six sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience creating training materials, work instructions, and technical documentation.
• Familiarity with regulatory environments, including FDA and ISO, and material compliance regulations, including Ro Hs and REACH.

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.