Sr. Automation Engineer - Mechanical

Intuitive•Sunnyvale, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Intuitive is hiring a Sr. Automation Engineer to contribute 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 encompasses evaluation, maintenance, repair, design, analysis, and continuous improvement of mechanical and electronic equipment. The engineer collaborates with machine integrators throughout specification, design, build, commissioning, and validation, and provides ongoing production support across sites. The position leads automation line specification and supplier management; designs, documents, procures, qualifies, implements, and improves assembly fixtures, tools, and equipment; and supports production to maintain equipment uptime. It develops and executes equipment and line validation protocols, analyzes performance trends, supports risk analysis, and implements improvements to reliability, maintainability, availability, cycle time, capacity, and yield. The engineer also contributes manufacturing and automation design input, integrates mechatronics and controls, maintains controlled documentation, mentors technical staff, and supports process improvements, budgets, and inter-site collaboration. This is an onsite role with periodic travel. Occasional weekend shift support may be required during commissioning or urgent repairs. The position requires a BS/MS degree in a relevant engineering field or equivalent, and at least eight years of experience as a design, manufacturing, or equipment engineer supporting products with significant mechanical or electromechanical content. Compensation is described as market-competitive, with target compensation ranges referenced but not provided in the posting.

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 electromechanical, laser, and vision-system equipment.
Experience with automated line controls, including PLCs and I/O components, motion and vision control, and mechatronics integration.
CAD proficiency; SolidWorks is preferred. Ability to read and interpret blueprints, and experience with 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 simultaneously, 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.
At least 8 years of experience as a design, manufacturing, or equipment engineer supporting products with significant mechanical or electromechanical content.
Available for an onsite role with periodic travel and occasional weekend shift support during commissioning or urgent repairs.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing automated equipment and complex mechanisms; robotics programming exposure.
Knowledge of manufacturing processes such as 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.
Ability to travel to suppliers and other Intuitive facilities.

Responsibilities

Lead creation of automation line specifications and 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, resolving emergency or unscheduled problems and repairs to ensure equipment uptime and availability.
Develop and execute equipment and automated assembly-line validation protocols, including IQ/OQ/DQ/PQ and PPQ, and maintain compliant records.
Analyze equipment performance trends and define 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 design-for-excellence input in manufacturing, assembly, automation, and reliability to design teams, and support consistency and commonality of hardware and standard part selections.
Integrate mechatronics components, including sensors, motors, and pneumatics; motion and vision control; and PLC-based line controls, and support robot programming where applicable.
Create and maintain controlled documentation, including bills of materials, workflow processes, manufacturing plans, and detailed work instructions; review peer edits.
Teach, mentor, and train technicians and engineers in specialized equipment diagnosis, repair, maintenance, and calibration, and 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.