Senior Engineering Assembly Technician

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 Senior Engineering Assembly Technician will be responsible for assembling, debugging, and supporting testing of prototype hardware for complex electromechanical systems. This role requires a high degree of independence, comfort working from limited documentation referencing CAD models, and evolving prototype designs. The technician will support subsystem builds, test fixture assembly, procurement of parts, basic fit tests and provide feedback to designers on fit part fit and ease of assembly. This is a hands-on role operating at the intersection of engineering development and prototyping with frequent interaction with engineers and machine shops. Ability to execute simple tests based on pre-written test procedures, ability to operate 3D printers and design simple test fixtures is highly desired.

This position reports on-site at offices in the San Francisco Bay Area CA.

Essential Job Duties

• Assemble mechanical and electrical components and subsystems referencing 3D CAD models and with limited documentation.
• Working closely with engineering, build and assemble prototype hardware, test articles, and alignment fixtures.
• Document assembly issues, assembly instructions, part-fit concerns, and ease-of-assembly feedback to engineering.
• Provide practical feedback to engineering on design improvements, tool access, and fixture usability.
• Modify parts using tools in a machine shop (lathe, mill etc.)
• Maintain organized toolboxes, standard part inventories, and tool lists.
• Interface with machine shops to support part fabrication and fixture builds.
• Organize and maintain assembly area and tool qualifications
• Support testing activities and record results

Required Skills and Experience

• 6+ years of experience as an assembly or engineering technician in a R&D or manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience assembling electromechanical systems referencing CAD models and limited documentation
• Proven ability to work without formal work instructions, using judgement and engineering intuition
• Strong organizational skills for tools, parts, and workspace management.
• Proficient use of basic hand tools both mechanical and electrical
• Ability to operate machine shop tools such as a lathe, mill and other tools
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with engineers and cross functional teams

Required Education and Training

• Technical certificate or equivalent formal technical training

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in a medical device or regulated product development environment
• Experience executing basic tests from pre-written procedures and recording results.
• Familiarity with procurement workflows using spreadsheets or CAD-based BOMs.
• Ability to design and build simple fixtures to support testing or alignment.
• Ability to operate machine shop tools
• Experience operating and maintaining a 3D printer
• Comfort providing written feedback on part design, manufacturability, and assembly flow.

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.

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 [email protected].

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.