Wiring Harness Mechanical Design Engineer

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

The Wiring Harness Mechanical Design Engineer is a mechanical design engineer with a current focus on wiring harness and cable system design for da Vinci platforms, from concept through production. Over time, this role may expand into broader mechanical design responsibilities across the product. This role partners closely with Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supplier Engineering to deliver reliable, manufacturable, and serviceable harness solutions.

The engineer applies strong mechanical design fundamentals and working knowledge of electrical interfaces to develop and document designs, support prototype builds, and resolve issues quickly. Success in this role comes from strong ME fundamentals, attention to detail, clear communication across functions, and the ability to execute in a fast-paced product development environment.

Essential Job Duties

• Contribute to mechanical design of components and subsystems for da Vinci platforms, with initial focus on wiring harness and cable assemblies
• Design and develop wiring harness assemblies and related mechanical components in collaboration with Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineering teams
• Create and release mechanical and harness design documentation, including drawings, schematics, and routing diagrams
• Perform electrical and mechanical analyses (wire sizing, routing constraints, bend radius, strain relief, and cable packaging within mechanical assemblies)
• Support design and architecture definition of harnesses and related mechanical subsystems with guidance from senior engineers, including routing through complex mechanical assemblies and managing interface constraints
• Apply GD&T, tolerance analysis, and materials selection to support robust mechanical designs across the product
• Design for manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, and cost in partnership with Manufacturing and Supplier Engineering
• Support vendor engagement during prototype development and fabrication of harness assemblies, and assist with build activities
• Hands-on prototyping and assembly of mechanical components, wiring harnesses, and cable assemblies using standard lab tools and processes
• Assist in planning and execution of verification and validation testing
• Troubleshoot issues during prototype builds and early production, including hands-on debug of harness assemblies, connectors, and routing issues; drive root cause and corrective actions
• Contribute to mechanical and harness design improvements using DFM feedback and failure analysis

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 3 years of mechanical design engineering experience, including at least 1 year of wiring harness or cable design experience
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals, including GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, material selection, and DFM/DFA principles (moved up)
• Working knowledge of structural analysis fundamentals, including hand calculations and basic FEA to support component design decisions (e.g., brackets, mounts, strain reliefs)
• Working knowledge of electrical fundamentals relevant to harness design (current, voltage drop, grounding, shielding)
• Understanding of harness integration considerations, including routing, strain relief, and packaging constraints
• Experience using CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) and creating detailed mechanical and harness manufacturing drawings (flattened harness drawings, BOMs, wire lists)
• Familiarity with design control processes in a regulated environment, including design verification, validation, and technical documentation practices
• Experience contributing to design risk analyses (e.g., DFMEA) and applying findings to design improvements
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineering teams
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Ability to independently plan and execute assigned work, manage multiple priorities, and communicate status proactively within cross-functional teams

Required Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field with typically 5+ years of relevant experience
• OR Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field with typically 3+ years of relevant experience

Working Conditions

• Primarily computer-based design work using CAD and documentation tools
• Regular lab work supporting prototype builds, harness routing, and testing
• Ability to safely use standard lab tools and fixtures
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds
• Occasional travel to supplier and manufacturing sites

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.