Principal ElectricalSystem Engineer

Primary Function of Position

As a Principal Electrical Engineer you will set technical direction and strategy for the innovative surgical energy equipment and accessories portfolio for Intuitives da Vinci Surgical System shaping architecture and technology roadmaps across multiple products and programs. Youll thrive in a dynamic high-energy environment making sound decisions with incomplete informationtypical of cutting-edge product development. The ideal candidate has deep technical expertise a track record of successful medical product development across multiple product generations and a collaborative mentorship-driven approach that elevates engineering capability across the organization.

Essential Job Duties

       Technical Ownership:
Collaborate with Marketing Software and Clinical Engineering to define and refine product requirements across multiple programs within the Advanced Energy portfolio.

       Technical Strategy & Roadmap:
Define the multi-year technology and architecture roadmap for energy-based surgical platforms setting technical direction that spans multiple products and programs.

       System Integration:
Identify and implement methods to satisfy product specs ensuring seamless integration into effective system designs.

       Development & Testing:
Develop validate and document hardware solutions that meet clinical and environmental requirements.

       Problem Solving:
Provide technical expertise to resolve complex design manufacturing or field challenges.

       Prototyping:
Guide prototyping and feasibility studies for future product concepts directing engineers through build test and down-select decisions.

       Stakeholder Support:
Offer expert guidance on energy-based surgical products to internal company stakeholders including senior leadership and executive technical reviews.

       Organizational Influence:
Represent Advanced Energy engineering in cross-divisional and executive-level technical reviews; influence platform architecture and make/buy decisions at a business-unit level.

       Quality & Regulatory:
Define risk management strategy and process (DFMEA hazard analysis risk/benefit assessment per ISO 14971) and design verification/validation planning to ensure compliance with IEC 60601 series standards and applicable FDA/international regulatory requirements. Author or review technical documentation supporting regulatory submissions (e.g. 510(k) CE/MDR technical files).

       Clinical Collaboration & Validation:
Partner with Clinical Engineering surgeons and human factors teams to validate device performance against real-world surgical use cases including support for cadaver labs animal studies or clinical evaluations as needed.

       Risk Management Leadership:
Drive cross-functional risk analysis activities throughout the product lifecycle identifying and mitigating electrical mechanical and use-related hazards for patient and user safety across the product portfolio.

       Mentorship & Technical Leadership:
Formally mentor Staff and Senior engineers lead cross-team design reviews and drive technical communities of practice to raise engineering capability across the organization.

Qualifications :

Required Skills and Experience

• Proficient in mixed signal design embedded system design and patient-isolated PCBA design.

• Skilled in component selection lifecycle management and design for reliability/manufacturability.

• Experienced in PCB fabrication assembly and testing.

• Hardware development in fast-paced high-impact environments.

• Knowledgeable in all product development phases: design implementation debugging verification validation and manufacturing transfer.

• Team player with hands-on engineering experience.

• Demonstrated application of medical electrical equipment standards (e.g. IEC 60601-1 IECEMC IECfor HF surgical equipment) in product design and verification.

• Strong communicator able to influence and collaborate across teams and levels.

• Willingness to travel (5-10%).

• Growth mindset; eager to learn and solve tough technical challenges.

• Passion for creating robust reliable products.

• Hands-on experience with electrical safety design and testing for patient-connected circuitry.

• Direct experience with medical device design controls including risk/hazard analysis design verification and validation (V&V) planning and execution.

• Demonstrated technical leadership across multiple technical domains or product platforms with the ability to influence architecture and strategy decisions org-wide without formal authority.

• Track record of successfully developing and launching multiple products or product generations through the full product development lifecycle.

       Project leadership or mentoring experience.

Required Education and Training

       Bachelors degree (BSEE).

       15 years experience in related electrical engineering roles.

       8 years of hands-on medical device product development experience including multiple products taken through design verification/validation and regulatory clearance or approval (FDA 510(k)/PMA or equivalent).

Preferred Skills and Experience

       Advanced degree (MSEE or PhD).

       Experienced with switched-mode power supplies and transformer/magnetic component design.

       Experienced with electrical safety EMI/EMC testing and mitigation.

       Experienced with design control requirements for medical devices such as risk/failure analysis creation of product requirements design verification and validation and providing technical support for regulatory submissions.

       Experience with post-market surveillance activities including complaint investigation CAPA and field failure root-cause analysis.

       Experience influencing product or technology strategy including contributions to patents publications or industry standards bodies.

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 employeeswho 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 governments 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 employeesstart 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 candidates experience knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidates 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

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.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time