Intuitive
Staff Embedded Software Engineer - Future Forward
Intuitive, Sunnyvale, California, United States, 94087
Staff Embedded Software Engineer - Future Forward
Join to apply for the
Staff Embedded Software Engineer - Future Forward
role at
Intuitive .
Base pay range $181,200.00/yr - $260,800.00/yr
Company Description At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible. Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves. Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long‑term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential. Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let's advance the world of minimally invasive care.
Primary Function of Position As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer in the Future Forward organization, you will work at the forefront of innovation, rapid prototyping, and new product development. You’ll collaborate with talented cross‑functional teams—including engineers, clinicians, and product managers—to advance Intuitive’s robotic surgical platform, driving the entire product lifecycle from concept to launch.
In this role, you will architect and develop embedded and platform software that connects and supports key system components—such as hardware, firmware, control algorithms, vision pipeline, user interfaces, and test infrastructure—with fault injection mechanisms and diagnostic tools. Your work will be pivotal—not only to timely product delivery, but also ensuring safe and reliable operation for patients worldwide.
Success in this role requires excelling in an agile, small‑team environment—transforming initial concepts into robust prototypes, methodically iterating designs, and consistently maintaining exceptional product quality with a patient‑first mindset.
Essential Job Duties
Design and develop robust embedded software to enable system infrastructure, including OS drivers, hardware interfaces, real‑time data pipelines, inter‑processor communication, error handling, and user/test applications.
Collaborate cross-functionally throughout the product lifecycle with key stakeholders to address clinical needs and safety requirements.
Translate early requirements into prototype implementations to evaluate, iterate, and advance novel robotic systems.
Lead unit testing and code integration efforts to ensure exceptional system reliability and robustness.
Act as a software subject matter expert, conducting hazard and failure mode analysis, identifying risks, and defining effective mitigation strategies.
Refine and iterate designs, balancing technical requirements, feasibility, schedules, and resource constraints.
Produce clear and compliant supporting documentation in alignment with Intuitive's development and quality guidelines.
Ensure all designs meet rigorous quality and safety standards per the Intuitive Quality Management System.
Qualifications Required Education, Skills & Experience
Minimum 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8 years with a Master’s degree; or 5 years with a PhD.
Highly proficient in developing C/C++ embedded and real‑time software for multi‑core, multi‑processor systems, especially on embedded Linux and QNX.
Demonstrated experience with board bring‑up, device driver development, and integration of new hardware components.
Skilled in version control systems and collaborative development environments, supporting efficient, iterative improvement.
Familiarity with a wide range of communication protocols—including TCP/IP, CAN, I2C, SPI—and serialization standards such as protobuf.
Strong problem‑solving skills and debugging capabilities for complex embedded software and electromechanical systems.
In‑depth understanding of failure mode and risk analysis, with a track record in safety‑critical, product‑focused designs.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction across all organizational levels.
Demonstrates passion for innovation, continuous learning, and developing solutions that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.
Preferred Skills And Experience
Experience with robotics and embedded software for complex electro‑mechanical systems.
Knowledgeable in Python or Matlab for automation, diagnostics, and testing.
Familiarity with FPGA development and interfaces.
Familiarity with CUDA programming and memory management concepts.
Cybersecurity concepts such as secure boot, authentication and encryption.
Hands‑on engineering experience with proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Experience in all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, troubleshooting, verification, validation and transfer to manufacturing.
Experience designing software products in a regulated industry or for mission‑critical applications; comfort with concepts of design input, design output, traceability, risk analysis, and mitigations.
Additional Information Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID‑19. Details can vary by role.
Equal Employment Opportunity 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.
Export Controls Disclaimer U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status. Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf. For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date.
Location & Salary Base Salary Range Region 1: $213,200 - $306,800
Base Salary Range Region 2: $181,200 - $260,800
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite – This job is fully onsite.
Job Metadata
Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Engineering and Information Technology
Industries: Medical Equipment Manufacturing
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Staff Embedded Software Engineer - Future Forward
role at
Intuitive .
Base pay range $181,200.00/yr - $260,800.00/yr
Company Description At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible. Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves. Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long‑term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential. Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let's advance the world of minimally invasive care.
Primary Function of Position As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer in the Future Forward organization, you will work at the forefront of innovation, rapid prototyping, and new product development. You’ll collaborate with talented cross‑functional teams—including engineers, clinicians, and product managers—to advance Intuitive’s robotic surgical platform, driving the entire product lifecycle from concept to launch.
In this role, you will architect and develop embedded and platform software that connects and supports key system components—such as hardware, firmware, control algorithms, vision pipeline, user interfaces, and test infrastructure—with fault injection mechanisms and diagnostic tools. Your work will be pivotal—not only to timely product delivery, but also ensuring safe and reliable operation for patients worldwide.
Success in this role requires excelling in an agile, small‑team environment—transforming initial concepts into robust prototypes, methodically iterating designs, and consistently maintaining exceptional product quality with a patient‑first mindset.
Essential Job Duties
Design and develop robust embedded software to enable system infrastructure, including OS drivers, hardware interfaces, real‑time data pipelines, inter‑processor communication, error handling, and user/test applications.
Collaborate cross-functionally throughout the product lifecycle with key stakeholders to address clinical needs and safety requirements.
Translate early requirements into prototype implementations to evaluate, iterate, and advance novel robotic systems.
Lead unit testing and code integration efforts to ensure exceptional system reliability and robustness.
Act as a software subject matter expert, conducting hazard and failure mode analysis, identifying risks, and defining effective mitigation strategies.
Refine and iterate designs, balancing technical requirements, feasibility, schedules, and resource constraints.
Produce clear and compliant supporting documentation in alignment with Intuitive's development and quality guidelines.
Ensure all designs meet rigorous quality and safety standards per the Intuitive Quality Management System.
Qualifications Required Education, Skills & Experience
Minimum 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8 years with a Master’s degree; or 5 years with a PhD.
Highly proficient in developing C/C++ embedded and real‑time software for multi‑core, multi‑processor systems, especially on embedded Linux and QNX.
Demonstrated experience with board bring‑up, device driver development, and integration of new hardware components.
Skilled in version control systems and collaborative development environments, supporting efficient, iterative improvement.
Familiarity with a wide range of communication protocols—including TCP/IP, CAN, I2C, SPI—and serialization standards such as protobuf.
Strong problem‑solving skills and debugging capabilities for complex embedded software and electromechanical systems.
In‑depth understanding of failure mode and risk analysis, with a track record in safety‑critical, product‑focused designs.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction across all organizational levels.
Demonstrates passion for innovation, continuous learning, and developing solutions that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.
Preferred Skills And Experience
Experience with robotics and embedded software for complex electro‑mechanical systems.
Knowledgeable in Python or Matlab for automation, diagnostics, and testing.
Familiarity with FPGA development and interfaces.
Familiarity with CUDA programming and memory management concepts.
Cybersecurity concepts such as secure boot, authentication and encryption.
Hands‑on engineering experience with proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Experience in all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, troubleshooting, verification, validation and transfer to manufacturing.
Experience designing software products in a regulated industry or for mission‑critical applications; comfort with concepts of design input, design output, traceability, risk analysis, and mitigations.
Additional Information Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID‑19. Details can vary by role.
Equal Employment Opportunity 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.
Export Controls Disclaimer U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status. Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf. For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date.
Location & Salary Base Salary Range Region 1: $213,200 - $306,800
Base Salary Range Region 2: $181,200 - $260,800
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite – This job is fully onsite.
Job Metadata
Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Engineering and Information Technology
Industries: Medical Equipment Manufacturing
#J-18808-Ljbffr