Interaction Design Intern

Intuitive • Sunnyvale, CA

8h

About The Position

Primary Function of Position Interaction Design is a key role at Intuitive Surgical, with responsibilities that cut across multiple technical disciplines. We bring a human-centered design process to healthcare innovation and the development of physical and digital interfaces that are safe, effective, and delight our users. As an Interaction Design Intern on the da Vinci Single-Port team, you will collaborate with the User Experience Design team to craft and refine innovative, user-centered experiences for your assigned project. This role will work closely with senior-level designers who will provide day-to-day mentorship and guidance. Over a 10–12 week period, the intern will assist with creating user flows, wireframes, and prototypes, participate in design critiques and cross-functional collaboration, and help translate research insights into design improvements. In this role, you will work on solving complex interactions at the intersection of hardware and software, helping to create seamless experiences that connect physical devices and digital interfaces.

Requirements

• University Hiring Program Eligibility Requirements:
• University Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled in and returning to an accredited degree-seeking academic program after the internship.
• Internship Work Period: Must be available to work full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) during a 10-12 week period starting May or June 2026. Specific start dates are shared during the recruiting process.
• Coursework or project experience specifically focused on interaction design, user experience design, or human-computer interaction (A portfolio is required)
• Ability to create user flows, wireframes, and prototypes to communicate ideas
• Foundational understanding of human-centered design principles and usability best practices
• Working familiarity with a modern design and prototyping tool such as Figma
• Ability to explain design decisions and incorporate feedback during reviews and critiques
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple tasks in a collaborative environment
• Willingness to work in surgical environments
• Current enrollment in a Product Design, User Experience Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (or equivalent) degree-seeking program at the Bachelor’s level.

Nice To Haves

• Experience creating all levels of fidelity prototypes and interactive flows
• Familiarity with usability testing methods and synthesizing feedback into design iterations
• Working knowledge of Figma components, auto layout, and prototyping features
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional partners (Engineering, Product, Research, etc.) in academic or project settings
• Comfort working in ambiguous problem spaces and iterating as requirements evolve
• Strong visual design sense , including layout, typography, color, and the ability to create visually clear and effective designs
• Curiosity, attention to detail, and eagerness to learn
• Growth mindset and proactiveness to seek feedback
• Experience designing for 3D, AR, or VR environments is a plus

Responsibilities

• Support the design of user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes for an assigned project, contributing to the development and iteration of user experience solutions under the guidance of senior designers
• Participate in design critiques, reviews, and cross-functional meetings, incorporating feedback from design, clinical, human factors, product, and engineering partners into iterative design work
• Conduct or assist with user research and usability activities (e.g., preparing materials, observing sessions, synthesizing findings), and help translate insights into design improvements
• Present design work regularly throughout the internship to the design team and other stakeholders, culminating in a final presentation that summarizes key contributions, learnings, and design outcomes

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern