Staff FPGA Engineer (Future Forward)

About the Company

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves. Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real-world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential.

About the Role

As a Staff 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, focusing on the development of innovative electronics at the heart of Intuitive systems. As a member of the Future Forward engineering team, you will design, implement, and test complex FPGA designs and integrate them into complete surgical robot solutions, 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 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 both a user’s and engineering’s perspective are essential. A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required, as is the ability to make work fun and interesting. You will be supported by a development and management team that knows and cares about your work and wants you to succeed.

This position has responsibility for all aspects related to FPGA design for electronic boards for robotic surgical systems.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements

• Expertise in Verilog and SystemVerilog for both synthesis and verification, with a strong command of RTL design principles.
• Extensive experience in FPGA and front-end IC design, including architecture, implementation, and optimization.
• Deep understanding of FPGA architecture, covering design methodologies, timing analysis, verification strategies, and debugging techniques.
• Proficient in FPGA design tools such as Vivado, QuestaSim, and Chipscope, with hands-on experience optimizing workflows.
• Skilled in scripting languages like Python, Tcl, Perl, or Shell for automation and design flow enhancement.
• Experienced with version control systems such as Git and SVN, ensuring efficient collaboration and project management.
• Strong communication, presentation, and technical documentation skills, facilitating seamless collaboration across teams.
• Proficient in C/C++ and MATLAB, leveraging these languages for modeling, simulation, and system-level design.

Qualifications

BSc degree in Electrical Engineering or adjacent technical field with 15 years of experience, or Master’s degree with 12 years of experience, or PhD degree with 8 years of experience.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of our business and the role, 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.

Some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls. Prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status may require an export license from the U.S. Government or implementation of a Technology Control Plan (TCP). Final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the start date.

We will consider 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.

Pay

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. The target base salary ranges are:

• Region 1: $213,200 - $306,800
• Region 2: $181,200 - $260,800

Actual pay will be determined based on experience, skills, and qualifications. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of the range for the role.

Schedule

Shift: Day

Workplace Type

Onsite - This job is fully onsite.