Simplify Logo
Intuitive Surgical

Intuitive Surgical

Manufactures robotic surgical systems and services

Manufacturing Mechanical Engineer

Full-Time
$115.7k - $195.9k/yr
Mid
Bachelor's, Master's
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
In Person

Periodic travel to suppliers or the Intuitive Mexicali plant is required.

About the job

Requirements
  • Strong communication skills to interface with technicians, product development, planning, purchasing, regulatory, inspection, customer support, and clinical marketing teams.
  • Strong technical analytical and troubleshooting skills.
  • Prior experience managing product and process changes.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously.
  • Prior experience with technical writing.
  • A BS or MS degree in an engineering discipline, or equivalent work experience.
  • At least 3 years of experience as a design or manufacturing engineer supporting products with significant mechanical or electromechanical content.
Responsibilities
  • Create, maintain, and improve high-volume manufacturing assembly lines, including specifying or refining bills of materials, workflow processes, manufacturing plans, and detailed work instructions.
  • Design, document, procure, qualify, implement, and improve fixtures, tools, and equipment.
  • Independently determine and analyze trends in equipment performance.
  • Analyze instrument manufacturing lines from a risk perspective using process failure mode and effects analysis to incorporate and validate critical manufacturing tests.
  • Validate and qualify manufacturing equipment and processes using standard installation qualification, operational qualification, design qualification, and performance qualification approaches.
  • Provide production-line support for day-to-day engineering issues on core instrument lines, including resolving emergency and unscheduled equipment problems and repairs.
  • Identify and implement continuous-improvement projects related to first-pass yield, cycle-time reduction, product reliability, capacity enhancement, and cost reduction.
  • Provide product and process design-for-excellence input for manufacturing and assembly to enhance the manufacturability of core instruments.
  • Maintain compliance with the medical-device quality system, including corrective-action closure, discrepant-material dispositions, and engineering change order implementation.
  • Provide technical support by analyzing and/or performing failure analysis for discrepant production components, assemblies, and field returns.
  • Travel periodically to suppliers or the Intuitive Mexicali plant.
Desired Qualifications
  • Prior responsibility for process, equipment, or product validation and verification.
  • Experience designing automated equipment; experience with complex mechanism manufacturing is a plus.
  • Computer-aided design experience, preferably with SolidWorks.
  • Knowledge of manufacturing processes such as machining, injection molding, metal injection molding, crimping, welding, optical-device testing, and fiber routing.
  • Experience in an ISO 13485, ISO 9001, or medical-device manufacturing environment.

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

Get referred to Intuitive Surgical

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

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.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
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.