Staff Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Intuitive Surgical designs and manufactures highly complex mechanical systems for use in surgery. These systems include both capital equipment and “consumables” in the form of surgical instruments and accessories. The Staff Mechanical Engineer for Instrument and Accessory Advanced Product Development will be a member of a small team responsible for exploring and developing early product concepts and technologies that will help feed the da Vinci product pipeline. The successful candidate will lead early assessment, design, development, and testing of novel concepts for instrument and accessory related products.

The candidate will help to identify and evaluate new technologies in light of customer and company needs, establish design requirements to meet customer needs, work with suppliers and other outside companies and consultants to realize viable technical solutions, and refine designs for transfer to the New Product Development organization for commercialization. He/she/they must excel in a high-energy team environment and be capable of creative problem solving when faced with the time pressures and incomplete information typical of early-stage product development. The successful candidate must have outstanding technical depth in relevant areas and be as comfortable collaborating and leading across organizational boundaries as they are working independently.

Essential Job Duties:

Work within cross-functional project teams to create, evaluate, and prove out new product architectures and refine them for hand off to new Product Development

• Collaborate with subject matter experts to understand the clinical, usability, and other needs of users of da Vinci systems as they relate to surgical instruments and accessories. Assist with market research and surgeon discussions around concepts, approaches, and procedures.
• Develop technical requirements for designs based on an understanding of customer needs, commercial objectives (e.g. cost of goods), regulatory requirements, and feasibility constraints
• Perform conceptual design, detailed design, analytical modeling, prototyping, data analysis, and troubleshooting of novel instruments and accessories for the da Vinci robotic surgical system
• Develop and perform early performance testing, with assistance from other functions as needed. Assist with evaluation of prototypes by supporting bench, ex-vivo, and in-vivo laboratory testing with clinical experts.
• Develop and manage relationships with key partners
• Provide written protocols, reports, and presentations related to design activities on an ongoing basis
• Document product designs as needed to support successful transfer into the new product development organization

Technical leadership

• Act as technical lead on product development projects
• Mentor and train less experienced engineers in the art of product development and mechanical design
• Review mechanical engineering designs of other Intuitive engineers in both a formal and informal capacity
• Lead or assist other design engineers through brainstorming, detailed reviews, and collaborative problem-solving, resulting in compelling product architectures
• Provide detailed input to project planning, including objectives, budgets, staffing, schedules, milestones, etc.
• Make recommendations to senior management about the direction, activities, and staffing of ongoing projects, as well as recommendations and proposals for new product/project opportunities
• Identify resource gaps and make recommendations to address issues and prioritize

Other Functions

• Assess technologies from outside entities for potential licensing and adaptation to the da Vinci product line
• Identify, test, and report on new materials, manufacturing processes, and technologies that could benefit existing products or enable new product designs
• Document, prepare and review patent submissions
• May supervise or direct the activities of others

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience:

• Twelve (12) years of experience in mechanical product design, or eight (8) years with MS, five (5) with PhD
• Extensive experience taking products from concept to production. Medical and/or regulated product experience highly preferred.
• Familiarity with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, validation, qualification, and transfer
• Understanding of mechatronics, robotics, and servo-controlled systems strongly preferred. Experience developing software control algorithms a plus.
• Proven ability to apply the basic laws of physics to understand and achieve quick and reliable solutions to engineering problems
• Exceptional mechanical aptitude and visual thinking skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills such as finite element analysis, statistics, and experimental designs
• Experience with and knowledge of a wide range of prototyping processes, both rapid and conventional with a variety of metallic and non-metallic materials.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. Ability to present to a wide range of audiences, including senior executives.
• Ability to interface with customers and potential business partners in a highly professional manner
• Proven ability to work well in a team environment as well as “solo” projects. Experience managing partners and small projects.
• Proficiency using CAD to create and document mechanical designs. SolidWorks preferred.
• Proficient with electromechanical prototyping and test methods, including use of hand tools, machine shop equipment, 3D printers, soldering, and mechanical and electrical test equipment

Required Education and Training:

• BS (Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field) required, MS or PhD preferred

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience and skills in design of high volume (e.g. injection molded, MIM) components, and design for manufacturability strongly preferred