Sr. Engineering Technician
Sunnyvale
Saturday, 02 May 2026
The Future Forward group within Intuitive Surgical is searching for a Senior Engineering Technician with a focus on the mechanical design of next generation surgical robot instruments. This role is an exciting opportunity to join a small and innovative team in the early phases of product development. Joining Intuitive Surgical means joining a team dedicated to using technology to benefit patients by improving surgical efficacy and decreasing surgical invasiveness, with patient outcomes as our highest priority. The Sr. Engineering Technician is responsible for supporting a team of clinical , mechanical and research engineers developing new products at Intuitive. The ideal candidate will be fully proficient in all typical instrument manufacturing processes. The candidate should be comfortable working with minimal supervision, and with minimal work instructions and be able to take ideas from R&D engineers and figure out how to build fully functional instrument prototypes. In addition, the individual will assist the research team with data collection and executing novel test methods. A strong sense of integrity, care, and attention to detail is required as well as a commitment to developing products of the highest quality. Essential Job Duties. Assisting with all aspects of early prototype builds, including procurement of material, inspection of materials and subassemblies, rework of components, assembly, troubleshooting, and repair of prototype instruments Assembling prototypes per engineering design/instructions. Assist engineers to fabricate and modify components using standard prototyping and manufacturing equipment. Assist with tissue processing and clinical research engineering activities. Assist with tissues sectioning and staining (as necessary)Debugging and performance testing of engineering prototypes Assisting engineers in benchtop and excised tissue lab evaluations of prototypes. Collecting, recording, and reporting test results Preparation of prototype instruments and accessories for benchtop testing and pre-clinical lab evaluations, organizing, overseeing, and collaborating with other groups to assemble and test prototypes. Creating prototype test and assembly fixtures, and providing input for the design of production fixtures Providing input for protocols and reports for engineering, qualification, and verification studies. Setup, organization, and maintenance of engineering lab and equipment Documenting assembly procedures and training other technicians on assembly. Assisting in knowledge transfer to other groups / teams Qualifications. Qualifications. Experience supporting a mechanical engineering group in a product development organization. Minimum Associate of Science degree, or equivalent work experience. Hands-on skills and knowledgeable in prototyping and manufacturing methods, including soldering, microscopic wire and cable stripping, use of rotary tools, drills, small hand tools and adhesive bonding. Knowledge of catheter materials and manufacturing processes including laminating, braiding, bonding, flaring, tipping. Manual dexterity to assemble small components, with microscope or similar magnification. Ability to inspect components using metrology equipment (including calipers, micrometers, vision systems, CMM)Knowledge of medical grade adhesives. Computer skills in Microsoft Office required, Solidworks experience desirable. Excellent organizational skills Able to work independently.