Automation engineer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

Company Description

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.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

Contribute your technical manufacturing, equipment design, automation, and project management skills to a dynamic team creating high-volume automated assembly lines for precision instruments and accessories used in minimally invasive robotic surgery. The role spans evaluation, maintenance, repair, design, analysis, and continuous improvement of mechanical/electronic equipment; close collaboration with machine integrators through specification, design, build, commissioning, and validation; and ongoing production support across sites.

Essential Job Duties

• 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; resolve emergency/unscheduled problems and repairs to ensure equipment uptime and availability.

• Develop and execute validation protocols (IQ/OQ/DQ/PQ and PPQ) for equipment and automated assembly lines; maintain compliant records.

• Determine and analyze equipment performance trends; define and implement improvements to maintainability, reliability, availability, cycle time, capacity, and first-pass yield.

• Perform and/or support PFMEA for accessories manufacturing lines; incorporate and validate critical tests used in manufacturing.

• Provide DFx input (Manufacturing, Assembly, Automation, Reliability) to design teams; ensure consistency/commonality of hardware and standard part selections.

• Integrate mechatronics components (sensors, motors, pneumatics), motion/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/engineers in specialized equipment: diagnosing, repairing, maintaining, calibrating; improve installation, repair, and upkeep documentation.

• Conduct SAP transactions relevant to process/equipment operations; plan resources and budgets for product/process improvements, tooling, and testing.

• Identify and implement continuous improvement projects for product reliability and cost reduction; proactively seek technologies to improve production processes.

• Support inter-site collaboration (e.g., suppliers and Mexicali plant) and periodic travel.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Strong communication skills to interface cross-functionally with technicians, product development, planning, purchasing, regulatory, inspection, customer support, and clinical marketing.

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for complex electro-mechanical/laser/vision system equipment.

• Experience with automated line controls (PLC, I/O components), motion/vision control, and mechatronics integration.

• CAD proficiency (SolidWorks preferred); blueprint reading and interpretation; GD&T and tolerance stack analysis.

• Experience managing product/process changes and executing equipment/process validation.

• Organizational skills to manage fast-paced projects simultaneously; prior technical writing experience.

• Experienced with ISO 13485/9001 medical device manufacturing environments.

Required Education and Training

• BS/MS degree in Mechanical, Electrical/Electronics, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent.

• 8+ years’ experience as a design/manufacturing/equipment engineer supporting products with significant mechanical/electromechanical content.

Working Conditions

Onsite role with periodic travel; may require occasional weekend shift support during commissioning or urgent repairs.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience designing automated equipment and complex mechanisms; robotics programming exposure.

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes: machining, injection molding, transfer molding, MIM, crimping, ultrasonic/laser welding, optical testing, fiber routing.

• Experience with high-volume automated assembly of plastic forming/joining processes.

• Leadership experience or a background in cross-functional team coordination.

• Spanish language proficiency; ability to travel to suppliers and other Intuitive facilities.

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.

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.

Base Salary Range Region 1:$156,400 - $225,000
Base Salary Range Region 2: $132,900 - $191,300
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.