{"id":258525,"url":"https://alion.io/job/intuitive-surgical-validation-engineer-sterility-assurance","title":"Validation Engineer, Sterility Assurance","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":63,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":30,"computed_at":"2026-11-09T06:03:00Z"}},"role":"MedTech","role_family":"MedTech","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Sunnyvale, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":116000,"max_usd":223000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":43},"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-04T14:25:09Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-04","last_verified_at":"2026-11-09T05:55:33Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":96,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":96},"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 the Position\nIntuitive Surgical designs and manufactures highly complex systems for use in surgery. These systems employ a combination of reusable and single use surgical instruments and accessories for each surgical procedure. The primary function of the Validation Engineer, Sterility Assurance is to support sterilization processes of existing and newly developed single-use products. This person will act as an interface between internal project teams (e.g. Research and Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Engineering, Quality Engineering, etc.) and external laboratories and sterilizers.\nThe successful candidate must excel in a high-energy, high transaction, small and focused team environment, be able to drive to solutions from rough requirements, and have a commitment to high product quality and compliance. The ability to understand project goals and communicate test plans required to achieve those goals is essential. A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required, as is the ability to make work fun and interesting. Supporting this role will be a technical and management team that knows and cares about what you are doing and wants you to succeed.\nEssential Job Duties\nManage routine Ethylene Oxide (EO) and radiation bioburden testing, coordinate with cross-functional teams, sterilizers, and laboratories and drive projects to completion.\nSupport Intuitive’s internal microbiology lab, following validated test methods as required.\nApply technical expertise to the bioburden program (e.g. interpretation of results, investigation of excursions, etc.).\nSupport the bioburden program, involving rigorous data analysis with focus on the safety and efficacy of single-use daVinci® surgical instruments and accessories for new products and sustaining projects (e.g. cost reduction, process improvements, etc.).\nConcurrently oversee multiple projects requiring frequent communication and collaboration between internal departments and outside services (sterilizers, suppliers, and laboratories).\nProvide technical support to routine sterilization release activities.\nMaintain Intuitive Surgical bioburden procedures based on recognized standards.\nImplement projects per approved budget and schedule.\nWith support from the sterilization team, conduct, review and approve incident investigations. Review corrective actions and develop reliable preventative actions related to sterilization as a result of any nonconformity.\nAssist with compliance audits for external facilities as required to support quality management system.\n Required Skills and Experience\nMust have microbiology lab experience or good working knowledge of sterility assurance test requirements.\nWorking knowledge of international medical device sterilization standards, such as ISO 11135 and ISO 11137.\nExcellent verbal and written communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills to work across multiple constituents.\nSelf-starter with ability to take leadership in a fast-paced environment.\nAble to prioritize and smoothly manage multiple tasks.\nAble to manage project risk and timely escalate issues to senior management and team.\nHands-on engineering skills with the proven ability to work well in a team environment and drive individual projects.\nAbility to focus, and attention to detail along with a strong track record of continuous improvement initiatives.\nWell versed in MS Office Suite.\nAbility to travel to supplier, sterilizer, or laboratory sites, including international travel.\nRequired Education and Training (As applicable - Specific education and training that an individual must possess in order to successfully perform in job)\nMinimum Education: Bachelors of Science in Microbiology, Engineering, Life Science, Chemistry or technical equivalent; Masters is preferred\nMinimum of 4 years of professional experience with Ethylene oxide; radiation sterilization experience is also desired.\nWorking Conditions\nAbility to work hands-on in a laboratory environment\n 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.\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.\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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