Staff Ultrasound Engineer

Job Description

Primary Function of Position
The Endoluminal design group at Intuitive is a dynamic and multidisciplinary team developing technologies for the next generation of minimally invasive surgical robotics.  

We are seeking a Staff Ultrasound Engineer with expertise in ultrasound technology to support development of the next generation of minimally invasive robotic flexible instruments.

This role sits at the intersection of acoustics, electronics, and system performance, and is critical to ensuring high image quality, product reliability, and successful product development. The engineer will be responsible for transducer design and platform integration efforts from concept through verification and scaled manufacturing, including management of external design partners. The successful candidate will have both a desire to be hands-on and the technical depth to resolve complex electro-mechanical, signal processing and manufacturing design issues.

This is a high-impact technical leadership role requiring the skills to lead an interdisciplinary team to develop ultrasound platforms from concept through commercialization, including development of a roadmap to reach the next leap in clinical imaging technology.

Essential Job Duties

Design and Development

• Own the ultrasound transducers and electrical interfacing design from concept to commercialization. Design and test ultrasound transducers including simulations, fabrication, and limit testing to enhance image performance

• Provide hands-on imaging support during laboratory, preclinical, and clinical activities

• Collaborate with hardware and software engineers on front-end electronics, data acquisition, and system integration. Work closely with product development partners to ensure cohesive system development.
• Drive continual improvement of image quality and reliability through troubleshooting, design and process ideation, product implementation, verification, and clinical validation.

• Partner with systems team to develop and optimize signal processing and system parameter tuning, including management of external design partners.
• Conduct or advise on finite element modeling (FEM) and acoustic simulations (e.g., COMSOL, ANSYS/PZFlex, OnScale) to optimize acoustic stacks, backing, and matching layers.

Subject matter expert:

• Provide transducer and acoustic technical expertise to cross functional groups including operations, regulatory, and clinical teams especially in technical explanation and root cause analysis. Build ultrasound imaging literacy across business unit.
• Collaborate with Research, Marketing and Product Management organizations to define new feature requirements to meet specific clinical applications and market needs. Develop and participate in medical ultrasound feasibility and research projects to support research and development 
• Provide technical guidance on design decisions that impact ultrasound image quality performance across the full system

Technical Leadership:

• Set technical direction for external design partners, including transducer, beamforming, and system requirements; review implementations, independently evaluate delivered image quality, and drive partner work to program objectives.
• Define the technical architecture and multi-year imaging roadmap for the business unit.
• Inform product development strategies for ultrasound development programs. Manage the development and implementation of new ultrasound imaging capabilities, including identifying risks and contingency plans and defining integration strategy. 

Medical Device Development

• Collaborate with clinical to translate customer imaging needs into product design solutions

• Establish objective image quality methodology — such as contrast, contrast-to-noise ratio, resolution, penetration, SNR, frame rate, and Doppler sensitivity — using phantoms, tissue models, and clinical data, and convert it into acceptance criteria
• Own imaging-related design control deliverables and support regulatory strategy, including requirements, risk and hazard analysis, verification, and alignment with applicable IEC 60601-2-37 and FDA guidance.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• 12+ years industry experience with a focus on ultrasound imaging, acoustics, or signal/image processing. Advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for a portion of the required experience.
• Expertise in ultrasound physics and beamforming fundamentals including a working knowledge of the full ultrasound signal chain, from transmit sequencing and beamforming through demodulation, detection, scan conversion, and display.
• Strong experience with transducer characterization (impedance, acoustic tank, pulse-echo, force balance, transmitting voltage response) and testing (hydrophone testing, phantom studies)
• Demonstrated ability to set technical direction for and manage the deliverables of external OEM and internal engineering teams.
• Ability to work with minimal day-to-day direction, structuring your own work across commercial support, feature development and future technology exploration, surfacing decisions and risks early.
• Knowledge of design for manufacturing, from feasibility through transfer to production
• Knowledge in Solidworks and Finite Element Analysis.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Familiarity with acoustic standards (IEC 60601-2-62, IEC 60601-2-37, 21CFR1050.10, MIL-STD-1376)

Required Education and Training

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Acoustics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline. Advanced degree preferred.

Preferred Skills and Experience  

• Experience in medical device development, including design controls, V&V, and regulatory documentation
• Medical device product development experience under design controls (ISO 13485, 21 CFR 820), including driving features through verification and validation in support of regulatory submissions.
• Experience with therapeutic ultrasound systems (histotripsy, HIFU, or lithotripsy) and with imaging in the presence of acoustic cavitation.
• Development of Endoluminal imaging applications.
• Knowledge and practice of different bonding technologies a plus

Additional Information

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.

Accommodation & Accessibility Notice:

Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please contact People Services at [email protected].

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.

Min. Salary Region 1: 196800 USD
Min. Salary Region 2: 167300 USD
Max. Salary Region 2: 240700 USD
Max. Salary Region 1: 283200 USD