Sr. Clinical Development Engineer - Strategy

The Clinical Development Engineer - Strategy is a key member of Intuitive's early-stage innovation incubator, reporting to the Associate Medical Officer - Strategy. In this role, you will co-own the identification, evaluation, and early development of new clinical opportunities. Working alongside physicians and cross-functional partners, you will translate clinical insights into structured hypotheses, design and execute early de-risking strategies, and help determine which opportunities should advance within the innovation portfolio.

This role operates with a high degree of independence in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, contributing directly to early-stage decision-making and portfolio prioritization.

- Partner with physicians to identify and validate unmet clinical needs through clinical immersion, research, and voice-of-customer engagement

- Synthesize clinical, technical, and user insights into clear opportunity definitions and problem statements

- Co-develop clinical and technical hypotheses and translate them into structured development and experimental plans

- Lead the design and execution of early-stage de-risking strategies, including preclinical and exploratory evaluations

- Develop and refine initial procedural concepts and workflows for new technologies

- Collaborate with engineering to define early product requirements, use cases, and performance targets

- Drive early prototype and concept evaluations, translating findings into clear recommendations on opportunity viability

- Contribute to go/no-go decisions by synthesizing insights across clinical, technical, and user dimensions

- Engage with key opinion leaders and external stakeholders to inform opportunity assessment and validate insights

- Typically 8+ years of experience in medical device development, clinical engineering, or early-stage innovation

- Demonstrated ability to identify and frame complex problems in ambiguous environments

- Proven experience translating insights into structured hypotheses, development plans, or experimental approaches

- Experience working closely with clinicians and understanding clinical workflows and procedural environments

- Ability to co-own problem spaces and drive structured problem-solving in early-stage, high-ambiguity settings

- Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize diverse inputs into clear direction and recommendations

- Experience leading or contributing to clinical de-risking activities, including preclinical or early feasibility evaluations

- Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, clinical, and business teams to drive aligned development outcomes

- Experience with clinical labs, cadaveric or animal models, and early-stage evaluations

- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to concisely convey complex ideas clearly across clinical and technical audiences

- Experience in early-stage innovation, incubators, or R&D concept development preferred

- Exposure to Biodesign or needs-based innovation methodologies preferred

- Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field required

- 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 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.

Experience and Qualifications

• Typically 8+ years of experience in medical device development, clinical engineering, or early-stage innovation

• Demonstrated ability to identify and frame complex problems in ambiguous environments

• Proven experience translating insights into structured hypotheses, development plans, or experimental approaches

• Experience working closely with clinicians and understanding clinical workflows and procedural environments

• Ability to co-own problem spaces and drive structured problem-solving in early-stage, high-ambiguity settings

• Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize diverse inputs into clear direction and recommendations

• Experience leading or contributing to clinical de-risking activities, including preclinical or early feasibility evaluations

• Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, clinical, and business teams to drive aligned development outcomes

• Experience with clinical labs, cadaveric or animal models, and early-stage evaluations

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to concisely convey complex ideas clearly across clinical and technical audiences

• Experience in early-stage innovation, incubators, or R&D concept development preferred

• Exposure to Biodesign or needs-based innovation methodologies preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field required

• Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D., or equivalent) preferred Primary Function of the Position

The Clinical Development Engineer

• Strategy is a key member of Intuitive’s early-stage innovation incubator, reporting to the Associate Medical Officer
• Strategy. In this role, you will co-own the identification, evaluation, and early development of new clinical opportunities. Working alongside physicians and cross-functional partners, you will translate clinical insights into structured hypotheses, design and execute early de-risking strategies, and help determine which opportunities should advance within the innovation portfolio. This role operates with a high degree of independence in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, contributing directly to early-stage decision-making and portfolio prioritization.

• Partner with physicians to identify and validate unmet clinical needs through clinical immersion, research, and voice-of-customer engagement

• Synthesize clinical, technical, and user insights into clear opportunity definitions and problem statements

• Co-develop clinical and technical hypotheses and translate them into structured development and experimental plans

• Lead the design and execution of early-stage de-risking strategies, including preclinical and exploratory evaluations

• Develop and refine initial procedural concepts and workflows for new technologies

• Collaborate with engineering to define early product requirements, use cases, and performance targets

• Drive early prototype and concept evaluations, translating findings into clear recommendations on opportunity viability

• Contribute to go/no-go decisions by synthesizing insights across clinical, technical, and user dimensions

• Engage with key opinion leaders and external stakeholders to inform opportunity assessment and validate insights