Primary Function of Position

The Software Build team at Intuitive is seeking a Software Engineer Intern to work on a time-boxed, high-impact project focused on build observability in a large-scale Bazel-based build system.

Our organization supports 350+ software developers working on safety-critical surgical robotics software. Small changes to build files (e.g., BUILD, WORKSPACE, macros, rules) can unintentionally cause large regressions in build performance, memory consumption, artifact size, or embedded platform footprint.

The goal of this internship is to make the impact of a pull request on the build system visible and actionable before it lands, enabling early detection of regressions and violations during code review rather than after integration into the main development branch.

This role is intentionally scoped for a 10–12 week engagement, with a clear problem statement, measurable outcomes, and organization-wide impact.

Essential Job Duties(

• Design and implement build observability for Bazel-based workflows, focusing on PR-level impact analysis.

• Examples of impact signals include:Changes in number of actions

• Critical path duration

• Memory usage

• Disk / artifact size growth

• Impact on embedded platform images or deployable outputs

• Collect, analyze, and visualize Bazel build metrics using available build event data (e.g., BEP), remote execution/cache signals, or custom instrumentation.

• Integrate observability into the developer workflow, such as:CI pipelines

• Pull request checks

• Build dashboards or reports

• Automated guardrails that flag regressions or policy violations

• Define and validate meaningful thresholds or heuristics that distinguish acceptable change from harmful regression.

• Deliver a minimum viable product (MVP) within the internship period and:Integrate it into at least one real developer workflow

• Measure and communicate its impact to the build and software engineering organization

• Collaborate closely with senior build engineers during problem definition, architecture, integration, and evaluation, while maintaining strong individual ownership of execution.

Required Skills and Experience

University Hiring Program Eligibility Requirements:

• University Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled in and returning to an accredited degree-seeking academic program after the internship.
• Internship Work Period: Must be available to work full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) during a 10-12 week period starting May or June. Specific start dates are shared during the recruiting process.

Required Education and Training

• Current enrollment in a Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or related technical degree-seeking program at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate level.
• Strong interest in one or more of the following areas:Distributed build systems
• Build tools and compilers
• Large-scale CI systems
• Performance analysis and observability
• Experience developing software in one or more of the following languages:Python
• Rust
• C or C++
• Ability to work independently on a well-defined technical problem and communicate design decisions, tradeoffs, and results clearly.

Working Conditions

• None

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with Bazel concepts such as:Build graph and actions
• Remote execution and caching
• Build Event Protocol (BEP)
• Custom rules or macros
• Exposure to Nix / NixOS / Nix packaging, large monorepos, or hermetic build systems.
• Experience with metrics collection, data analysis, or developer-facing tooling.

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.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay (paid at an hourly rate), benefits, and a housing allowance. 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 relevant skills and experience for this internship, degree-seeking academic program (PhD, Master’s, Bachelor’s, etc), year in school, and location. The hourly rate is prorated against the intern program salaries listed and total program compensation will be based on internship duration.

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.