Staff Software Engineer Embedded UI

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position:

As a Staff Software Engineer Embedded UI on the Future Forward team, you will develop innovative digital solutions to extend Intuitive’s robotic product lines. Collaborating with experts in robotics, imaging, and software, you will build innovative and Intuitive digital interfaces for novel robotic platforms. This role spans the entire development cycle—from prototyping approximate requirements to delivering high-quality production code. The ideal candidate is an independent problem-solver with a broad technical scope (software, graphics, robotics) who learns quickly and thrives in a collaborative environment.

Essential Job Duties

• Drive development of world-class digital interfaces using Qt/QML and C++ in a resource-constrained embedded environment to support physicians in the use of a novel robotic system

• Build and maintain effective working relationships across the organization, including software engineering, clinical engineering, design, human factors, and regulatory teams

• Partner with cross-functional teams to define technical architecture, decompose requirements, and deliver robust, production-quality solutions

• Own the medical device software lifecycle end-to-end, including requirement definition, risk assessment, prototyping, development, verification, and release

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field

• Minimum of 8 years of industry experience; or Master’s degree and 6 years of experience; or a PhD and 3 years of experience, with a proven track record of shipping production-quality UI software to products

• Strong working knowledge of C++ (11/14/17+) and object-oriented design principles

• Strong communication skills and ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders

• Previous experience as a tech lead (formal or informal), with demonstrated ability to drive projects from initial concept to fully implemented solutions

• Demonstrated experience across phases of the product lifecycle, including design, implementation, debug, verification, and maintenance

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with Qt and/or QML

• Experience with 3D graphics frameworks (Qt3D, OpenGL, Vulkan, etc.)

• Familiarity with development in a Linux environment

• Proven ability to design interfaces that balance user delight, performance constraints, and patient safety

• Experience working in a regulated software environment (medical device, aerospace, automotive, etc.)

• Experience working with software development methodologies (Agile, IEC 62304, etc.)

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.

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.

Mandatory Notices

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 (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

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, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on

business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.

Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the

candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.