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Intuitive Surgical

Intuitive Surgical

Manufactures robotic surgical systems and services

Manufacturing Equipment Engineer

Full-Time
$105.5k - $178.7k/yr

+ Incentives + Equity

Mid
Bachelor's
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Remote

Periodic travel up to 25% is required, including visits to the production plant in Mexicali, Mexico and suppliers.

About the job

Requirements
  • A Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and a minimum of 3 years of related experience.
  • Three-dimensional computer-aided design capability is required.
  • Experience with product lifecycle management software, engineering change orders, and bill of materials creation and management.
  • Familiarity with programmable logic controller systems, sensors, and manufacturing equipment.
  • Strong analytical skills, including failure mode and effects analysis, tolerance analysis, and statistical methods.
  • Familiarity with regulated quality systems, especially medical device regulations, is advantageous.
  • Ability to travel periodically up to 25%.
Responsibilities
  • Specify requirements for and manage the creation of manufacturing equipment designed and fabricated by third parties.
  • Jointly develop custom tooling based on the product form factor.
  • Evaluate, redesign, upgrade, and optimize existing production equipment.
  • Design and build proprietary or complex manufacturing tooling components internally.
  • Duplicate existing manufacturing equipment, including orders, inventory, assembly, installation, and production validation.
  • Recommend and implement improvements to equipment documentation, functionality, and assembly to optimize cost, performance, consistency, and delivery speed.
  • Qualify manufacturing equipment through IQ/OQ/PQ validation and verification activities and create and execute quality documentation.
  • Develop and manage supplier and factory acceptance test protocols.
  • Develop production processes and automation parameters for electronic controls, pneumatics, laser welding, laser marking, heat staking, ultrasonic welding, crimping, pressing, thermoforming, and tray sealing.
  • Perform engineering studies to characterize equipment process windows.
  • Determine troubleshooting, maintenance, consumables, spares, and calibration procedures for equipment.
  • Train relevant personnel to perform and manage equipment troubleshooting, maintenance, consumables, spares, and calibration procedures.
  • Document equipment requirements, design, operation, and qualification in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices.
  • Improve equipment quality and reliability using design for excellence, Six Sigma, statistical process control, Gauge R&R, and similar quality tools.
  • Provide equipment-related technical support for ongoing production operations, including maintenance, spare parts, repairs, and support documentation.
  • Advocate world-class equipment and tooling design techniques for manufacturing, assembly, and product testing.
  • Support product cost reductions derived from manufacturing equipment and tooling.
  • Travel to the production plant in Mexico to support technology transfer to Mexicali personnel and occasionally travel domestically and internationally to suppliers.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience developing complex integrated equipment or products.
  • Proficiency with SolidWorks.
  • Experience with PTC Windchill.

About the company

Intuitive Surgical designs, manufactures, and sells robotic surgical systems and provides related services and accessories for minimally invasive surgery. The core product helps surgeons perform operations with enhanced precision by guiding robotic arms controlled from a console, allowing procedures to be done through small incisions. Instruments and consumables are used with the systems and are supported by service contracts, creating a recurring revenue stream. Compared to competitors, Intuitive has a large installed base and focuses specifically on robotic-assisted surgery, combining devices, disposable instruments, and ongoing services to support hospitals and surgical centers. Its goal is to improve patient outcomes by enabling safer, less invasive procedures while expanding the use and capabilities of robotic surgery for more procedures and providers.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Sunnyvale, California

Founded

1995

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue rose 19% to $2.89 billion, with 468 da Vinci placements.
  • Intuitive opened a 316,000-square-foot Penang plant, creating 1,200 jobs by 2032.
  • Direct Italy-Spain-Portugal distribution expanded March 2, 2026, strengthening European control.

What critics are saying

  • FDA logged a February 18, 2026 class-2 recall for da Vinci 5 software crashes.
  • Johnson & Johnson's Ottava won FDA approval in summer 2026, attacking Intuitive's core.
  • Medtronic Hugo and J&J Ottava commoditize robotics, breaking da Vinci's moat by 2028.

What makes Intuitive Surgical unique

  • da Vinci 5 won FDA cardiac clearance on January 26, 2026.
  • Ion and da Vinci generate recurring instruments, accessories, and service revenue.
  • da Vinci SP earned CE mark expansion on September 15, 2026.

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Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

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6 month growth

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Yahoo Finance
Sep 17th, 2026
Intuitive Surgical, IonQ, and Accenture hold billions in net cash for growth

Investors seeking financial stability often look to companies with more cash than debt, as these businesses have greater flexibility for growth investments, buybacks, and dividends. Intuitive Surgical holds $5.22 billion in net cash. The robotic surgery pioneer achieved 20.7% annual revenue growth over the past two years, whilst its earnings per share increased 17.4% annually over five years. IonQ maintains $2.06 billion in net cash, representing 14.1% of its market capitalisation. The quantum computing company posted 181% annual revenue growth over two years and expects 163% growth next year. Accenture has $1.78 billion in net cash. The professional services firm employs approximately 774,000 people across more than 120 countries. Companies with strong balance sheets can navigate uncertain markets whilst pursuing expansion opportunities without the burden of significant debt obligations.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 23rd, 2026
Thermo Fisher vs Intuitive Surgical: which premium healthcare stock justifies valuation?

Thermo Fisher and Intuitive Surgical both delivered strong recent quarters, but their premium valuations rest on different foundations. Thermo Fisher's case depends on recovery in life sciences spending after the pandemic slowdown. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment saw reported revenue climb 13% year-over-year, with organic revenue up 3%. The Analytical Instruments business returned to growth after nearly two years of weak demand, suggesting laboratory spending is normalising. Intuitive Surgical maintains its premium through business model strength. The company's non-GAAP gross profit margin reached 70.0%, whilst its non-GAAP operating margin expanded 330 basis points year-over-year to 42.1%. Recurring revenue streams constitute roughly 85% of total sales. Intuitive placed 468 da Vinci surgical units in fiscal Q2, marking 18% year-over-year growth, indicating continued hospital investment in robotic surgery platforms.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 19th, 2026
Abbott beats Q2 estimates with 13% sales growth as diagnostics surge 42%, while Intuitive Surgical posts 19% revenue rise

Abbott Laboratories reported strong fiscal Q2 2026 results, with sales rising 13% on a reported basis and 4.8% on a comparable basis, beating estimates and prompting the company to raise its annual profit forecast. The diagnostics segment was particularly strong, growing 42% to $3.09 billion, driven by its cancer diagnostics business following the Exact Sciences acquisition. Intuitive Surgical also exceeded expectations in Q2 2026, with revenue growing 19% to $2.89 billion and adjusted EPS of $2.80, beating forecasts by $0.30. The company placed 468 da Vinci units during the quarter, an 18% year-over-year increase, whilst maintaining a non-GAAP gross margin of 70.0%. The companies present contrasting investment cases: Abbott offers diversified healthcare portfolio resilience, whilst Intuitive Surgical relies on its robotic surgery ecosystem with recurring revenue comprising approximately 85% of total sales.

PR Newswire
Aug 17th, 2026
Intuitive leases 316,000-sq-ft facility in Penang to manufacture surgical instruments, create 1,200 jobs by 2032

Intuitive, the global leader in minimally invasive care and pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery, has signed a lease agreement with Penang Development Corporation for a new manufacturing facility in Malaysia. The 316,000-square-foot site in Bandar Cassia Technology Park will produce surgical instruments and electromechanical devices for Intuitive's da Vinci surgical system. The facility is expected to begin operations in 2028 and create 1,200 highly skilled jobs by 2032. The investment reflects Intuitive's commitment to Asia Pacific, where its da Vinci systems have treated more than 2.5 million patients across 13 markets over two decades. The expansion aims to support growing demand for robotic-assisted surgery across the region and strengthen Penang's position as a MedTech manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 16th, 2026
Oppenheimer upgrades Intuitive Surgical to 'Outperform' with $500 price target

Oppenheimer upgraded Intuitive Surgical from "Perform" to "Outperform" with a $500 price target, implying a 24.6% upside. The analysts expect the medtech company to maintain its leading position in robotic surgery despite increasing competition. Intuitive reported strong Q2 results, with revenue rising 18.5% year-over-year to $2.89 billion, surpassing analyst expectations. Non-GAAP earnings per share climbed 27.9% to $2.80, beating the $2.50 estimate. The company placed 468 da Vinci surgical systems and 55 Ion endoluminal systems during the quarter. Combined da Vinci and Ion procedures rose approximately 16% globally. Wall Street maintains a "Strong Buy" consensus rating on the stock, with 22 of 31 analysts recommending a strong buy. The consensus price target of $480.93 represents a 19.85% upside.