Sunnyvale, CA, United States
Not Remote
Engineering
Company Description
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.
Primary Function of Position
The Senior Thermal Design Engineer is expected to use machine design and analytical skills to conceptualize, develop and verify new mechanical designs. They must utilize creativity and sound engineering judgment in the design of structures, kinematics, robotic actuation and sensing solutions. They are responsible for key system components and will interface with suppliers and manufacturing to build high-quality hardware prototypes and productize new designs. They will be expected to excel in a focused, high-energy, collaborative work environment with a team of talented engineers. They should be capable of making sound decisions when faced with the time pressures, ambiguous, and incomplete information typical of research and development.
Essential Job Duties
System thermal design, analysis and testing
Influencing assembly architecture and designing mechanical assemblies, with careful consideration for kinematics, drivetrain components, servo motors, sensors, safety mechanisms, and failure contingencies
Rapid development and iteration of full-scale prototypes of candidate architectures and mechanism designs to satisfy requirements
Create product functional requirements and design specifications, authoring concept and design documentation for a regulatory controlled environment
Perform design FMEA
Designing for reliability, cost and manufacturability
Developing and performing component verification testing and product validation testing
Supporting final product delivery by troubleshooting process, component and system issues.
Collaborating with vendors, suppliers and manufacturing in the prototype and design-transfer phase.
Providing technical guidance and mentorship for team members.
Experience/ownership with product development lifecycle phases including design, analysis, debug, verification, transfer to manufacturing, and sustainment
Background in thermal system architecture, design and analysis including associated simulation environments
Technical expertise with one or more of the following: mechanism design, servo motors, brakes, encoders, harmonic drives and alternatives, sensors, robotics
Analysis potentially including statics, dynamics, kinematics, stress, fatigue and reliability
Design, analyze and document components, structures, and mechanical assemblies in SolidWorks or similar CAD software
Strong understanding of component or material selection criteria, and design for reliability and manufacturability
Demonstrated knowledge of a wide variety of component manufacturing processes
Proficient in GD&T and tolerance stack analysis
Strong hands-on prototyping skills such as 3D Printing and machine shop equipment
Designing and executing experiments on strength or function
Capable of using MATLAB to create or modify test scripts and system software
Demonstrated excitement to learn and quickly analyze tough technical problems, thinking creatively and fundamentally about the solution
Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally
Self-driven with the ability to excel in a high-energy, small, focused team environment, to maintain a strong sense of shared responsibility and reward
Ability to lead and mentor other engineers
Required Education and Training
Minimum BSME
Minimum 8 years of relevant experience
Work experience in mechatronics, robotics, surgical or medical devices a plus. FDA or other regulated industry preferred.
Preferred Education, Skills and Experience
MS Mechanical Engineering
Surgical or medical device experience, regulated industry experience
Expertise in ANSYS, MATLAB, and PYTHON
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.
Apply on Intuitive Surgical (Canada)’s careers page