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Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sr Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$143K - $189K/yr

... Intuitive . As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care , our ... We're a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery ...

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$122K - $162K/yr

... Intuitive . As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care , our ... Comfortable with execution of design verification/validation test protocols, assessing risk (FMEA ...

Manufacturing Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$85K - $110K/yr

... Intuitive . As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care , our ... Keeps the line running; trouble-shooting equipment and fixture errors, test failures, and general ...

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$122K - $162K/yr

Primary Function of the Position Intuitive Surgical (ISI) has established a preeminent position in ... Partner with product development teams and NRTLs (Nationally Recognized Test Labs) to achieve ...

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$122K - $162K/yr

Primary Function of the Position Intuitive Surgical (ISI) has established a preeminent position in ... Partner with product development teams and NRTLs (Nationally Recognized Test Labs) to achieve ...

... Intuitive . As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care , our ... The Senior Test Engineer will work with a team of dedicated individuals within a product ...

... Intuitive . As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care , our ... The Senior Test Engineer will work with a team of dedicated individuals within a product ...

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Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer information

See salary details

$11K

$109.6K

$183.5K

How much do intuitive surgical test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for intuitive surgical test engineer in the United States is $109,565.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $143,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer vs Medical Device Quality Assurance Engineer?

AspectIntuitive Surgical Test EngineerMedical Device Quality Assurance Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Quality or related field; knowledge of testing methodsBachelor's in Engineering, Quality, or Life Sciences; familiarity with regulations
Work EnvironmentManufacturing and R&D settings focused on surgical devicesQuality assurance labs, manufacturing, and compliance departments
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in medical device companies like Intuitive SurgicalAcross various medical device manufacturers and healthcare companies

The Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer focuses on developing and executing tests for surgical robotic systems, ensuring functionality and safety. In contrast, the Medical Device Quality Assurance Engineer oversees compliance with regulations and quality standards across the product lifecycle. Both roles require similar credentials and work environments but differ in their primary focus—testing versus quality compliance.

What are some common challenges faced by Intuitive Surgical Test Engineers when validating complex robotic systems?

Intuitive Surgical Test Engineers frequently encounter challenges related to the complexity and integration of robotic surgical systems, including troubleshooting unexpected hardware-software interactions and ensuring compliance with rigorous regulatory standards. They often work closely with multidisciplinary teams—such as mechanical, electrical, and software engineers—to design test protocols, analyze failures, and iterate on solutions quickly. Adapting to evolving project requirements and maintaining thorough documentation for FDA and other regulatory submissions are also critical aspects of the role. This environment fosters strong problem-solving skills and offers opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth.

What does an Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer do?

An Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and executing tests to ensure the safety, functionality, and reliability of surgical robotics systems, such as the da Vinci Surgical System. They work closely with design, software, and manufacturing teams to create test plans, troubleshoot issues, and validate product performance against regulatory standards. Their work is crucial for making sure that complex medical devices operate safely and effectively before reaching healthcare professionals and patients.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, test method development, and experience with medical device standards, typically supported by a degree in electrical, mechanical, or biomedical engineering. Familiarity with test automation tools, data acquisition systems, and regulatory compliance software such as LabVIEW or MATLAB is often required. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and clear communication skills are essential for collaborating with cross-functional teams and documenting results. These skills ensure the reliability and safety of surgical products, which is critical for meeting stringent industry regulations and supporting patient outcomes.
Infographic showing various Intuitive Surgical Test Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 1% As Needed, 90% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,565 per year, or $52.7 per hour.

Manager, Vision Hardware Engineering

Intuitive Surgical

Sunnyvale, CA

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago


Intuitive Surgical rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Company Description

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

The Future Forward group within Intuitive Surgical is searching for a Manager, Vision Hardware Engineering, to lead the team developing camera and illumination hardware for a novel robotic surgical platform.  As an early member of the team, this role is an exciting opportunity to help define the eventual product from early prototypes through clinical trials and into product launch.

Essential Job Duties

As part of the Vision New Product Development team, the manager will:

  • Lead the Vision Hardware Engineering team of mechanical and electrical engineers to execute design work from early stage prototypes through product launch by:
  • Setting appropriate goals and milestones
  • Providing technical guidance to engineers
  • Driving schedule and budget planning and execution
  • Divide work among team members based on individual skills and capacity
  • Grow the team by identifying gaps and filling roles with top talent
  • Coach, develop, and mentor team members to support their growth within the organization
  • Work with peer managers and cross-functional organizations to develop plans and organizational solutions
  • Support documentation of risks, requirements, specifications, and test results within Intuitive Quality system
Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

  • 8 years experience as individual contributor in design engineering role
  • 3 years experience managing engineers
  • Participation in full design cycle from concept through launch
  • Solid mechanical engineering fundamentals, technical proficiency in mechanism design and electro-mechanical assemblies
  • Translation of product requirements into engineering specifications and verifying design performance to requirements
  • Failure mode analyses, designing mitigations to failure modes, and verifying performance of mitigations
  • Strong communication skills and ability to create effective presentations
  • Department planning, scheduling, and budgeting, as well as tracking and managing performance to plan

Required Education and Training

  • BS in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field

Working Conditions

  • none

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Managing Staff-level mechanical engineers
  • Vision, camera, imaging, or opto-mechanical design experience
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.

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.

Base Salary Range Region 1:$176,300 - $253,700
Base Salary Range Region 2: $149,900 - $215,600
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.