Sr Embedded Software Engineer

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.

About the role

The Embedded Platform Software team designs and builds the foundational software infrastructure for next-generation surgical robotic systems. We are looking for a high-energy, talented Senior Software Engineer to join the Embedded Networking Software team, within the Multiport Platform Software group. This small, focused team works on New Product Development, applying first principles thinking, data-driven decision making, and systematic planning to deliver results.

You will join the team responsible for developing our flagship product, dV5, enhancing and extending its embedded network across all 7 OSI layers while applying this expertise to new surgical robotic systems. The role offers end-to-end ownership of feature development—from concept and cross-functional requirements gathering to implementation, test, and verification.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver features across the embedded network stack, including:
  • Reliability enhancements (redundancy, fault tolerance)
  • Performance optimizations (low-latency switching, traffic shaping, queue management)
  • A distributed publish/subscribe messaging framework built on DDS-style middleware
  • Layer 5 Session APIs for seamless disconnect/reconnect of services and network nodes
• Develop and optimize Layer 2 and Layer 3 software, including network configuration, low-level Ethernet MAC/PHY drivers
• Build and tune deterministic, real-time communication paths for safety-critical data using queueing theory and PCIe constraints
• Lead board bring-up activities and collaborate with hardware teams to validate new networking designs (signal integrity, system-level validation)
• Debug complex hardware-software networking issues using JTAG, GDB, and protocol analyzers; triage race conditions and timing violations
• Partner with Field Service Engineering and Platform teams to resolve field-reported networking issues and incorporate learnings into product design
• Interface with cross-functional teams (Application Development, Algorithms, FPGA, Electrical, Clinical, Interaction Design, Manufacturing) to negotiate requirements and iterate on solutions

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years of industry experience, or Master’s degree with 4+ years of industry experience, in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline
• Strong OSI networking stack knowledge across all 7 layers, including TCP/IP internals and Ethernet switching fabric design
• Expertise in C/C++ for embedded systems development
• Deep experience developing high-speed networking software (switching, robotics, automotive, or aerospace domains), including low-level driver development for Ethernet MAC/PHY and specialized SoC subsystems (packet filtering, address lookup engines)
• Experience with Linux and embedded RTOS environments, including memory management, concurrency, and interrupt handling
• Proven ability to leverage new tools (e.g., AI coding assistants) to maximize productivity
• Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and critical thinking

Preferred Qualifications

• Hardware-software fluency: reading schematics, datasheets, and reasoning across system abstractions
• Experience configuring L2 switching (VLANs, QoS, segmentation) over SPI or in-band protocols
• Hands-on experience with TSN protocols, AVB, and high-availability redundancy on real hardware
• Implementation of IEEE 802.1 TSN/AVB (802.1AS, Qbv, Qav, Qci) on embedded systems and integration of automotive/industrial Ethernet switch ICs with vendor APIs/SDKs
• Experience with Automotive Ethernet (100/1000BASE-T1, BASE-T1S) and in-vehicle gateway/domain controller architectures
• Familiarity with RTOS (FreeRTOS, ThreadX, Zephyr, QNX, VxWorks), Linux drivers, and embedded networking stacks
• Exposure to functional safety standards (IEC 62304, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, IEC 60601, DO-178, ISO 26262, IEC 61508)
• Knowledge of embedded network security (secure boot, MACsec, IPsec, key management)

Pay

Target base salary ranges:

• Region 1: $188,600 – $271,400
• Region 2: $160,300 – $230,700

Compensation packages include base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Schedule

• Shift: Day
• Workplace Type: Set schedule with onsite work defined by the leader