Sr FPGA Designer

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:

As a Sr FPGA Engineer, you will work with a group of talented and dedicated people to improve and extend Intuitive robotic product lines. You will contribute broadly to the Future Forward group, with focus on development of innovative electronics at the heart of Intuitive systems.

As a member of the Future Forward engineering team, you will be involved in designing, implementing, and testing complex FPGA designs and integrate them into complete surgical robot solutions and seeing these through human use and product release.

The successful candidate must excel in a high-energy small, focused team environment, be able to drive to solutions from rough requirements and methodical prototype iterations and have a commitment to high product quality that places patients first.

Quick learning and a desire to understand requirements from a user’s and engineering’s perspective are essential to become a valuable system developer.  A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required, as is the ability to make work fun and interesting. Supporting you will be a development and management team that knows and cares about what you are doing and wants you to succeed.

Essential Job Duties

This position has responsibility for all aspects related to the FPGA design for electronic board for robotic surgical systems. The Sr. FPGA Engineer will:

• Serve as a lead technical designer on project teams to develop new world-class surgical robotic systems and accessories.
• Implement FPGA design using System Verilog in the following areas: video signal processing, DMA, high-speed communications, sensor integration, motor control, and modern embedded computing modules.
• Verify implemented design in simulation and hardware.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to Integrate, debug, and support the product before and after launch.
• Write detailed design documentation, including specifications and verification protocols.
• Support the quality and regulatory processes.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Proficiency with Verilog (preferably System Verilog) for both synthesis and verification.
• Expert in FPGA design or front-end IC design
• In-depth knowledge of FPGA architecture, design, timing analysis, verification, and debug.
• Extensive Experience with FPGA design tools (such as Vivado, Questa Sim, ChipScope)
• Familiarity with at least one of the scripting languages such as Python, Tcl, Perl or Shell
• Proficient with version control systems such as GIT or SVN.
• Strong communication, presentation, and documentation skills.
• Comfortable with C/C++ and Matlab.

Required Education and Training

• BSc degree in Electrical Engineering or adjacent technical field with 8 years of experience, or Master’s degree with 6 years of experience, or PhD degree with 4 years of experience.

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.