Senior Mechanical Engineer - Wire Harness Design

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.

Primary Function of Position

The Systems Mechanical Engineering team is responsible for the development of multiport da Vinci Surgical Systems from product concept through market launch and initial product stabilization.

The Mechanical Engineer will design medical capital equipment components for volume manufacturing processes. They are expected to use creativity and analytical skills to develop, document, and verify new mechanical wiring harness designs. They will interface with multiple functions including, but not limited to, electrical engineering, systems engineering, manufacturing, procurement, supplier engineering, quality, and regulatory.

The Mechanical Engineer, Wiring Harness Design is expected to use first-principles design methodology and analytical skills to conceptualize, develop, and verify new mechanical wiring harness designs. The Mechanical Engineer must utilize creativity and sound engineering judgment in the design of medical capital equipment components for volume manufacturing processes. They are responsible for key system components and will interface with suppliers and manufacturing to build high-quality hardware prototypes and productize new designs. They will be expected to excel in a focused, high-energy, collaborative work environment with a team of talented engineers. The Mechanical Engineer should be capable of making sound decisions when faced with time constraints and ambiguous or incomplete information typical of research and development.

This role can be up-leveled to align with candidates with significantly more relevant work experience.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Working with mechanical engineering and electrical engineering to design the interfacing cabling and wiring harness design
• Author and release harness design documentation including: drawings, schematics, routing diagrams, etc.
• Perform and review electrical analysis including wire sizing, voltage drop, shield grounding, and derating
• Working within multi-disciplinary teams to define requirements for new and current designs
• Designing for manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, and cost
• Selecting and managing vendors in the prototype phase
• Collaborating with manufacturing to create product assembly tooling, fixtures, and instructions
• Developing and performing component verification testing and product validation testing
• Supporting production of final product by troubleshooting process and component problems
• Providing engineering support to Manufacturing, Materials, Test Engineering, and Service to facilitate transfer of designs
• Developing mechanical wiring harness assemblies with an appropriate FOS that is proportional to the risk associated with the specific part
• Rapid development and iteration of full-scale prototypes of candidate architectures to satisfy requirements
• Drive design improvements through DFM and failure analysis
• Mentor and coach other engineers in problem solving

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or similar
• 5+ years of experience with mechanical design or machine design in a regulated industry (medical device, aerospace, spacecraft, defense, etc.)
• Broad understanding of design controls: design inputs & outputs, risks, design verification, and change control
• Passion for details in creating robust and reliable machines designed for mission-critical applications
• Ability to apply knowledge of engineering materials and component selection criteria to product designs through strong concept development, design analysis, hands-on prototyping, and reliability testing skills
• Proficiency using CAD, analysis, and finite element simulation tools to design mechanical assemblies
• Excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to receive and implement performance feedback
• Self-driven with the ability to excel in a high-energy, small, focused team environment, to maintain a strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward, and to make work fun and interesting

Preferred

• 2+ years of experience in electrical harness design for robotic, automotive, aerospace, spacecraft, or defense applications
• Surgical or medical device product experience
• Ability to elevate the group knowledge of wiring harnesses design best practice
• Understanding of grounding, shielding, EMI/EMC principles in medical devices
• Familiarity with IEC 60601
• Comfortable with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, qualification, and transfer
• Experience designing for volume manufacturing processes such as metal castings, injection molding, sheet metal stamping, compression molding, thermoforming, etc.
• Experience with harness design tools
• SolidWorks experience

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.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on

business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.

Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the

candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

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.