Staff Optical Engineer
Intuitive
Summary
Surgeons need to see clearly in order to heal their patients. Surgeons use the daVinci Surgical System for extended continuous duration under the intense stress of a surgical environment. Visual clarity and precise representation of the surgical field along with ease of use and optical comfort across the broad spectrum of surgeons are pillars of Intuitive's vision products.
Job description
The primary responsibility of this position is to model, test and demonstrate new display concepts developed by the Viewer Engineering team for the DaVinci system. This position will perform hands-on modeling and experimental validation of all of the key display metrics that the Viewer must deliver: brightness and contrast, image sharpness and resolution, white point and color gamut.
It is desired that this position maintain an awareness of developing optical imaging techniques related to surgical imaging, augmented reality, and human perception. This role will provide critical technical assistance when working with outside development partners for custom components and sub-assemblies. Strategic development of the supply chain must be a priority.
Requirements
- Masters Degree with 5 years of experience or PhD with 3 years of experience in Optical Engineering or Sciences, EE or Physics
- 3 years of display industry experience
- Skill in the use of at least one standard optical CAD package such as Zemax or Code V
- Experience in optical and opto-mechanical tolerance analysis
- Experience in designing molded plastic optics and light pipes, using non-sequential ray trace CAD tools
- Familiar with light sources such as LEDs and laser diodes and designing optics to process those light sources
- Understanding of standard lens fabrication technologies and their limits
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to meaningfully engage deeply technical individual contributors on specific activities
- Experience in practical lab methods to test optical phenomena associated with light sources, spatial light modulators, and complex optical systems
- Experience in data acquisition methods for gathering critical empirical data on prototypes of 3D display systems
- Basic familiarity with human visual perception, sources of visual discomfort in 3D vision systems and evaluation methods
Benefits
- Market-competitive compensation
- Incentives
- Benefits
- Equity
Company overview
Intuitive Surgical, Inc., commonly known as Intuitive, is a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, the company has revolutionized surgical procedures through its flagship da Vinci Surgical System and Ion endoluminal system. As a publicly traded company on NASDAQ (ISRG), Intuitive has established itself as the dominant player in robotic surgery, with over 15,000 employees worldwide and an installed base of thousands of surgical systems across more than 60 countries. The company's innovative platforms enable surgeons to perform complex procedures with enhanced precision, flexibility, and control through minimally invasive techniques. Intuitive's technology portfolio includes advanced vision systems, wristed instruments, and intelligent software that work together to optimize surgical outcomes. The company continues to expand its product offerings and geographic presence while maintaining a strong focus on clinical evidence, physician training, and patient safety. With annual revenues exceeding $8 billion, Intuitive represents a transformative force in modern healthcare, driving the adoption of robotic-assisted procedures across multiple surgical specialties including urology, gynecology, general surgery, and thoracic surgery.