Staff Clinical Development Engineer - Incubator

About the role

Primary Function of the Position The Staff Clinical Development Engineer - Incubator is a key member of Intuitive's innovation incubator, reporting to the project engineering lead. In this role, you will lead the clinical development workstream for a defined opportunity, owning the design and execution of clinical de-risking activities and helping advance the program from early concept toward validated solution. Working closely with physicians and cross-functional partners, you will translate clinical and technical insights into structured development plans, drive execution of clinical and preclinical evaluations, and ensure that key risks are identified and resolved. This role operates with a high degree of independence and accountability, with responsibility for delivering the clinical evidence and workflows needed to support program advancement and investment decisions. Essential Job Duties Lead the clinical development workstream for a defined opportunity, owning clinical de-risking strategy and execution Design and execute preclinical and early clinical evaluations to assess feasibility, usability, and performance Develop and refine procedural workflows, use cases, and clinical approaches for the target application Identify key technical and clinical risks and drive structured plans to resolve them Collaborate with engineering to define and iterate on product requirements, design inputs, and performance targets Lead clinical labs and external evaluations, ensuring rigorous execution and high-quality data generation Translate findings into clear development direction and actionable recommendations Partner with physicians to refine clinical strategy and ensure alignment between clinical intent and technical execution Contribute to program advancement decisions by synthesizing evidence across clinical, technical, and user dimensions Engage with key opinion leaders and external stakeholders to support validation and adoption readiness Experience and Qualifications Typically 10+ years of experience in medical device development, translational R&D, or clinical engineering roles Demonstrated experience in product development or clinical evaluation environments, including designing and executing experiments and translating results into development direction Proven experience designing and executing clinical or preclinical evaluations and translating results into development direction Experience working closely with clinicians and understanding clinical workflows and procedural environments Ability to identify risks and drive structured problem-solving to resolution Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize findings into clear recommendations and next steps Experience collaborating across engineering, clinical, and business teams to drive program milestones and outcomes Experience with clinical labs, cadaveric or animal models, and early-stage evaluations Excellent communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex ideas across clinical and technical audiences Exposure to Biodesign or needs-based innovation methodologies preferred Education and Training Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field required Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D., or equivalent) preferred Working Conditions: Must be available to work full-time onsite in Sunnyvale, CA Will require travel to clinical sites, customer locations, or conferences (up to 25%) May involve standing or walking for extended periods during clinical observations or procedures Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally (e.g., for transporting prototypes or equipment) Ability to meet hospital credentialing and compliance requirements for clinical site access (e.g., vaccination) We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. 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 fro

Your Match

How well this role fits your profile.

Company Intel

What employees say

Worked at Intuitive? Share your experience