Sr. Clinical Development Engineer - StrategyIt 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 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.Job DescriptionThe Clinical Development Engineer - Strategy is a key member of Intuitive's early-stage innovation incubator, reporting to the Associate Medical Officer - Strategy.
In this role, you will co-own the identification, evaluation, and early development of new clinical opportunities. Working alongside physicians and cross-functional partners, you will translate clinical insights into structured hypotheses, design and execute early de-risking strategies, and help determine which opportunities should advance within the innovation portfolio. This role operates with a high degree of independence in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, contributing directly to early-stage decision-making and portfolio prioritization.Essential Job DutiesPartner with physicians to identify and validate unmet clinical needs through clinical immersion, research, and voice-of-customer engagementSynthesize clinical, technical, and user insights into clear opportunity definitions and problem statementsCo-develop clinical and technical hypotheses and translate them into structured development and experimental plansLead the design and execution of early-stage de-risking strategies, including preclinical and exploratory evaluationsDevelop and refine initial procedural concepts and workflows for new technologiesCollaborate with engineering to define early product requirements, use cases, and performance targetsDrive early prototype and concept evaluations, translating findings into clear recommendations on opportunity viabilityContribute to go/no-go decisions by synthesizing insights across clinical, technical, and user dimensionsEngage with key opinion leaders and external stakeholders to inform opportunity assessment and validate insightsQualificationsExperience and QualificationsTypically 8+ years of experience in medical device development, clinical engineering, or early-stage innovationDemonstrated ability to identify and frame complex problems in ambiguous environmentsProven experience translating insights into structured hypotheses, development plans, or experimental approachesExperience working closely with clinicians and understanding clinical workflows and procedural environmentsAbility to co-own problem spaces and drive structured problem-solving in early-stage, high-ambiguity settingsStrong analytical and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize diverse inputs into clear direction and recommendationsExperience leading or contributing to clinical de-risking activities, including preclinical or early feasibility evaluationsAbility to collaborate effectively across engineering, clinical, and business teams to drive aligned development outcomesExperience with clinical labs, cadaveric or animal models, and early-stage evaluationsExcellent communication skills, including the ability to concisely convey complex ideas clearly across clinical and technical audiencesExperience in early-stage innovation, incubators, or R&D concept development preferredExposure to Biodesign or needs-based innovation methodologies preferredEducation and TrainingBachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field requiredAdvanced degree (M.S., Ph.D., or equivalent) preferredAdditional InformationWorking Conditions:Must be available to work full-time onsite in Sunnyvale, CAWill require travel to clinical sites, customer locations, or conferences (up to 25%)May involve standing or walking for extended periods during clinical observations or proceduresMust be able to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally (e.g., for transporting prototypes or equipment)Ability to meet hospital credentialing and compliance requirements for clinical site access (e.g., vaccination)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.