Sr. Automation Engineer - Mechanical

Intuitive•Sunnyvale, CA

4h•$132,900 - $225,000•Onsite

About The Position

Contribute technical manufacturing, equipment design, automation, and project management expertise to a team creating high-volume automated assembly lines for precision instruments and accessories used in minimally invasive robotic surgery. The role includes evaluating, maintaining, repairing, designing, analyzing, and continuously improving mechanical and electronic equipment. It involves close collaboration with machine integrators from specification and design through build, commissioning, and validation, as well as ongoing production support across sites. The position leads automation line specification and supplier management, designs and qualifies fixtures and equipment, supports production uptime, and develops equipment and line validation protocols. It also analyzes equipment performance, contributes manufacturing and automation input to product design, integrates mechatronic and controls components, maintains controlled manufacturing documentation, mentors technical staff, and supports continuous improvement and inter-site collaboration. This is a fully onsite role with periodic travel and occasional weekend support during commissioning or urgent repairs.

Requirements

Strong communication skills for cross-functional work with technicians, product development, planning, purchasing, regulatory, inspection, customer support, and clinical marketing.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for complex electro-mechanical, laser, and vision-system equipment.
Experience with automated line controls, including PLC and I/O components, motion and vision control, and mechatronics integration.
CAD proficiency; blueprint reading and interpretation; GD&T and tolerance stack analysis.
Experience managing product and process changes and executing equipment and process validation.
Organizational skills to manage multiple fast-paced projects and prior technical writing experience.
Experience in ISO 13485/9001 medical device manufacturing environments.
BS/MS degree in Mechanical, Electrical/Electronics, Mechatronics, or Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent.
8+ years of experience as a design, manufacturing, or equipment engineer supporting products with significant mechanical or electromechanical content.

Nice To Haves

SolidWorks proficiency.
Experience designing automated equipment and complex mechanisms; robotics programming exposure.
Knowledge of machining, injection molding, transfer molding, MIM, crimping, ultrasonic/laser welding, optical testing, and fiber routing.
Experience with high-volume automated assembly of plastic forming and joining processes.
Leadership experience or a background in cross-functional team coordination.
Spanish language proficiency and ability to travel to suppliers and other Intuitive facilities.

Responsibilities

Lead creation of automation line specifications; source, evaluate, and manage equipment suppliers and machine integrators through design, build, FAT/SAT, and shipment.
Design, document, procure, qualify, implement, and improve fixtures, tools, and equipment for high-volume assembly.
Provide daily production line support and resolve emergency or unscheduled problems and repairs to ensure equipment uptime and availability.
Develop and execute IQ/OQ/DQ/PQ and PPQ validation protocols for equipment and automated assembly lines, and maintain compliant records.
Analyze equipment performance trends and implement improvements to maintainability, reliability, availability, cycle time, capacity, and first-pass yield.
Perform or support PFMEA for accessories manufacturing lines; incorporate and validate critical manufacturing tests.
Provide Manufacturing, Assembly, Automation, and Reliability design input to design teams, and promote hardware consistency, commonality, and standard part selection.
Integrate sensors, motors, pneumatics, motion and vision control, and PLC-based line controls; support robot programming where applicable.
Create and maintain controlled documentation, including BOMs, workflow processes, manufacturing plans, and detailed work instructions; review peer edits.
Teach, mentor, and train technicians and engineers in equipment diagnosis, repair, maintenance, and calibration; improve installation, repair, and upkeep documentation.
Conduct SAP transactions relevant to process and equipment operations; plan resources and budgets for product and process improvements, tooling, and testing.
Identify and implement continuous improvement projects for product reliability and cost reduction, and seek technologies to improve production processes.
Support inter-site collaboration, including with suppliers and the Mexicali plant, and travel periodically.