{"id":2864115,"url":"https://alion.io/job/intuitive-surgical-staff-machine-control-engineer","title":"Staff Machine Control Engineer","company":{"id":3128,"name":"Intuitive Surgical","domain":"intuitive.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/intuitive","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SmartRecruiters","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":71,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.986,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":30,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"Robotics","role_family":"Robotics","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["San Carlos, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":162000,"max_usd":320000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":54},"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C#","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Computer Vision","optional":true},{"name":"OpenCV","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-19T16:33:33Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-19","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T07:06:21Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"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.\nWe’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.\nThe 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.\nIf you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.\n Primary Function of Position\nWe are looking for an experienced machine controls engineer to lead the development of advanced mechatronic instrumentation for patient care applications. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of architecting and developing control and sensing software for medical robots or diagnostic instrumentation from prototype to commercialization. A strong skillset in experimental design, empirical data collection, and data analysis/visualization is critical. Experience in low-latency machine controls, high-precision optical control, and biological sample handling applications is highly desired. This position reports on-site at offices in the San Francisco Bay Area CA.\nWhat You'll Do\nArchitect, design, and implement control and sensing software for advanced mechatronic instrumentation\nWork hands-on with mechatronic hardware daily in system bring-up, calibration, operation, experimentation, and debugging\nLead system optimization and debugging activity with thoughtful experimental design, execution, and data analysis/visualization\nInterface with embedded systems engineers and electrical engineers to develop appropriate software interfaces to lower-level controllers and firmware\nWork closely with systems engineering and mechanical engineering to architect, select, and optimize electrical control boards, motors, sensors, and other hardware components\nWrite clean, structured and maintainable code, document software designs for various instrument configurations, inclusive of error recovery\nWrite and execute unit tests ensuring excellent test coverage for software code\nUse scripting languages (e.g. Python) for bringing up various hardware prototypes, for test automation, and for data analysis/visualization\nGenerate detailed software requirements, design specifications, and software test protocols for the company’s Quality System\nWork closely with a multidisciplinary engineering team and company leadership to deliver key technical milestones\nPrioritize and debug reported software issues/bugs\n Required Skills and Experience\nBS/MS in Computer Science or related field with 8+ years industry experience, or PhD degree with 5+ years industry experience in systems control and sensing\nStrong knowledge across programming languages for real-time and pseudo-real-time control (C#, C, C++) on Linux OS\nDemonstrated experience in architecting and writing motion control, sensing, and state machine code for one or more diagnostic instruments or medical robots that have reached production\nExperience in low-latency machine controls for time-sensitive applications\nStrong experimental design, empirical data collection, and analysis/visualization skills to support design iteration and optimization using scripting languages such as Python\nExperience developing medical device software per FDA requirements including software risk analysis and cybersecurity through all phases of product development lifecycle (design, implementation, debug, verification, validation and transfer to manufacturing)\nStrong analytical skills and a creative mindset\nRequired Education and Training\nBachelors, Master or PhD in Computer Science or related field\nPreferred Skills and Experience\nExperience controlling high-speed precision optics\nExperience with instrumentation involving biological sample processing\nExperience using OpenCV for camera sensing / computer vision applications\nStrong background in performance optimization to ensure deterministic execution of pre-defined software protocols\nExperience developing / interfacing with backend software for instrument data storage and network transmission\nDue 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.\nIntuitive 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.\nMandatory Notices\nU.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.\nCertain 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).\nFor 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.\nWe will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.\nPreference 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.\nThis position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on\nbusiness need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.\nCompensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the\ncandidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.\nAccommodation & Accessibility Notice:\nIntuitive 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 .\nWe 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. 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