Intuitive
Robotic-assisted surgery
SeniorClinicalDevelopmentEngineer-Incubator
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for mid candidates.
“Senior Clinical Development Engineer - Incubator at Intuitive. Skills: Clinical development workstream leadership, Clinical de-risking strategy and execution, Preclinical and early clinical evaluation design and execution, Translating clinical and technical insights into development plans, Risk identification and resolution. Lead the clinical development workstream for a defined opportunity. Own clinical de-risking strategy and execution”
What You'll Achieve.
Advance the program from early concept toward validated solution; Ensure that key risks are identified and resolved; Deliver the clinical evidence and workflows needed to support program advancement and investment decisions; Support validation and adoption readiness
Industry & Context.
Ability to identify risks and drive structured problem-solving to resolution; Analytical and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize findings into clear recommendations and next steps
Must be available to work full-time onsite in Sunnyvale, CA, Will require travel to clinical sites, customer locations, or conferences (up to 25%), May involve standing or walking for extended periods during clinical observations or procedures, Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally, Ability to meet hospital credentialing and compliance requirements for clinical site access (e.g., vaccination), May require proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19, May be subject to U. S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status, Final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
8+ years of experience in medical device development, translational R&D, or clinical engineering roles, Demonstrated experience in product development or clinical evaluation environments, including designing and executing experiments and translating results into development direction, Proven experience designing and executing clinical or preclinical evaluations and translating results into development direction, Experience working closely with clinicians and understanding clinical workflows and procedural environments, Ability to identify risks and drive structured problem-solving to resolution, analytical and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize findings into clear recommendations and next steps, Experience collaborating across engineering, clinical, and business teams to drive program milestones and outcomes, Experience with clinical labs, cadaveric or animal models, and early-stage evaluations, Excellent communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex ideas across clinical and technical audiences, Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
Nice to Have
Advanced degree (M. S. , Ph. D. , or equivalent), Exposure to Biodesign or needs-based innovation methodologies
What You'll Do.
Lead the clinical development workstream for a defined opportunity
Own clinical de-risking strategy and execution
Design and execute preclinical and early clinical evaluations to assess feasibility
Develop and refine procedural workflows
and clinical approaches for the target application
Identify key technical and clinical risks and drive structured plans to resolve them
Collaborate with engineering to define and iterate on product requirements
and performance targets
Lead clinical labs and external evaluations
ensuring rigorous execution and high-quality data generation
Translate findings into clear development direction and actionable recommendations
Partner with physicians to refine clinical strategy and ensure alignment between clinical intent and technical execution
Contribute to program advancement decisions by synthesizing evidence across clinical
Engage with key opinion leaders and external stakeholders to support validation and adoption readiness
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Working closely with physicians and cross-functional partners; Collaborate with engineering to define and iterate on product requirements, design inputs, and performance targets; Collaborating across engineering, clinical, and business teams to drive program milestones and outcomes; Partner with physicians to refine clinical strategy and ensure alignment between clinical intent and technical execution
Communication Scope
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex ideas across clinical and technical audiences
Process & Methodology
Owning the design and execution of clinical de-risking activities, Translating clinical and technical insights into structured development plans, Drive execution of clinical and preclinical evaluations, Ensure that key risks are identified and resolved, Responsibility for delivering the clinical evidence and workflows needed to support program advancement and investment decisions, Drive structured plans to resolve risks, Drive program milestones and outcomes
Full Job 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 surger y 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. Were 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. The Future Forward organization is Intuitive’s advanced concepts group. We explore emerging technologies, prototype next-generation solutions, and build software experiences that shape the future of robotic-assisted surgery. 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 the Position The Senior Clinical Development Engineer - Incubator is a key member of Intuitive’s innovation incubator, reporting to the project engineering lead. In this role, you will lead the clinical development workstream for a defined opportunity, owning the design and execution of clinical de-risking activities and helping advance the program from early concept toward validated solution. Working closely with physicians and cross-functional partners, you will translate clinical and technical insights into structured development plans, drive execution of clinical and preclinical evaluations, and ensure that key risks are identified and resolved. This role operates with a high degree of independence and accountability, with responsibility for delivering the clinical evid
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