Sr. Manager Mechanical Engineering

Intuitive•Sunnyvale, CA

About The Position

The Manager of Mechanical Engineering for Instruments and Accessories leads a small to medium-sized group of mechanical design engineers developing instrument and accessory products for use on the da Vinci system. The role guides the team through the product lifecycle, from early feasibility through development, launch, and post-market improvements, and contributes to cross-functional project teams. It also ensures effective team operations and employee development while aligning group objectives with business needs and project goals. The manager leads design and development activities, translates customer needs and business strategies into product proposals and project plans, and coordinates with product management, clinical engineering, human factors, regulatory, business development, industrial design, process and supplier engineering, manufacturing engineering, and other functions. The role oversees requirements, concept and detailed design, prototyping, testing, refinement, design verification, design reviews, documentation, and design transfer. It also manages team staffing, schedules, budgets, performance, career development, lab equipment, and resources, while supporting intellectual property creation and protection.

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience designing mechanical products or relevant R&D experience.
At least 5 years of experience as a people manager or leading teams through project management or team leadership efforts.
Experience in medical device product development or a similar highly regulated environment.
Hands-on engineering manager with a proven ability to work collaboratively.
Familiarity with all phases of the product development lifecycle, including design, implementation, debug, verification, qualification, and transfer.
Strong design and analysis skills, and knowledge of CAD and analysis tools.
Professional communication skills, including the ability to present effectively to leaders and cross-functional groups.
Project management, planning, and change-management skills.
Ability to lead and influence direct reports and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
People management abilities to ensure team success through staffing, productivity, and development.
B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field.

Nice To Haves

M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
Experience taking one or more commercial products through the full design, development, and launch cycle.
Knowledge and experience working on surgical instruments or similar products, such as catheters or implants.
Experience with robotic systems, including sensors, motors, and drive trains.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and limited launch of new instruments and robotic systems.
Collaborate with key functions to create product roadmaps and project plans addressing customer and business needs.
Work with Product Management, Clinical Engineering, and Human Factors Engineering to understand customer requirements for da Vinci surgical instruments and accessories.
Translate customer needs and business strategies into product proposals and project plans with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders.
Lead direct reports and participate in cross-functional project teams throughout product development to deliver high-quality products on schedule.
Apply and teach Intuitive’s product development processes.
Guide creation of design requirements and solutions, including concept design, detailed design, prototyping, testing, and refinement.
Motivate, train, and oversee direct reports to ensure quality and quantity of output.
Coordinate team activities with product management, business development, regulatory, clinical engineering, human factors, industrial design, and process and supplier engineering.
Lead the team through ambiguity, challenges, and setbacks; distill complex information and set objectives for project success.
Develop staffing plans, schedules, budgets, and goals for the direct team.
Ensure project documentation complies with Intuitive’s Quality Management System, including design requirements, design outputs, FMEAs, design verification, and design reviews.
Support the creation and protection of intellectual property.
Facilitate design transfer by engaging downstream functions, including manufacturing engineering and supplier engineering.
Recruit, develop, and retain talented team members.
Assign tasks, set priorities, and establish metrics to track progress toward group and individual goals.
Manage drafters, technicians, and other support personnel as required.
Assess employee performance, provide regular coaching and feedback, and promptly address performance issues.
Support staff career development through assignments and training opportunities.
Manage lab equipment and resources to support effective team operations.