Mechanical Engineer, Endoscope Tip and Vision

About the job

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

The Future Forward group within Intuitive Surgical is searching for a Mechanical Engineer to help design the endoscope system 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 New Product Development team, the engineer will work with team members to:

Distal Tip and Vision Mechanical Design

• Own the mechanical design of the endoscope distal tip and camera module, including housings, optical windows, lens and image-sensor mounts, illumination (LED and/or fiber-optic) integration, and sealing features
• Design miniature, high-precision machined, injection-molded / micro-molded, and MIM components; perform tolerance stack-up analysis to achieve tight optical alignment and high assembly yield
• Select materials, adhesives, and joining processes (e.g., precision bonding, laser welding, soldering) compatible with biocompatibility, sterilization, and reliability requirements

Prototyping, Test, and Supplier Development

• Rapidly build, assemble, and test prototypes; analyze results and drive fast design iterations
• Apply FEA and other modeling and simulation methods (structural, thermal, sealing) to key design elements and use results to inform design decisions
• Design tooling and fixtures for assembly, optical alignment, and test
• Work with suppliers to take parts from quick-turn prototypes to production-intent components, driving DFM/DFA, quality, and cost

Requirements, Documentation, and Design Controls

• Translate system and user needs into mechanical requirements and specifications; contribute to risk management activities (e.g., dFMEA)
• Create detailed drawings with GD&T and document designs, test protocols, and reports under design controls (ISO 13485, FDA QMSR / 21 CFR 820)
• Support design verification, clinical builds, and design transfer to manufacturing
• Generate and evaluate concepts for next-generation endoscopic and vision devices
• Electro-Mechanical and Thermal Integration
• Partner with electrical engineers to package flex / rigid-flex circuits, micro-coax cables, and connectors through the tip and shaft, managing bend radius, strain relief, and EMI shielding
• Perform thermal analysis (first-principles calculations and simulation) of the tip and camera module; design heat-spreading paths and heat sinks so that image sensors, patient-contacting surfaces remain within component and IEC 60601 temperature limits
• Plan and execute thermal characterization tests (e.g., thermocouples, IR thermography) and correlate results with models