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

Staff, Document Specialist & Business Systems Analyst leads documentation governance, engineering change management, and product data lifecycle activities that support Engineering group. The role provides documentation and change order support for the creation, revision, and release of engineering documents, drawings, software artifacts, and Bills of Materials (BOMs) using ALM, PDM, MRP, and PLM systems.

In addition, the position leads process, data, and business systems initiatives, with a primary focus on PLM 2.0 evaluation, selection, and implementation, along with broader Engineering process improvement efforts. The role combines expertise in business systems analysis, document control, process design, and change management to improve product lifecycle processes, data quality, compliance, documentation governance, and cross-system traceability across Engineering and downstream stakeholders.

As a Staff role, this position independently leads complex cross-functional initiatives, influences senior stakeholders, contributes to company objectives, and mentors others in advancing technical and business expertise.

The position sits within the Intuitive Engineering Business Systems and not a solution (IT) position.

 

Qualifications

Roles and Responsibilities

• Document Control & Change Management: Create, revise, release, and maintain engineering documents, drawings, software artifacts, BOMs, and engineering changes (ECO/ECR) using ALM, PDM, MRP, and PLM systems while ensuring compliance, traceability, and documentation integrity.
• PLM & Business Systems Transformation: Lead PLM 2.0 evaluation, selection, implementation, and adoption activities, including requirements management, future-state process design, fit-gap analysis, testing, deployment, and business readiness.
• Product Data & Digital Thread Governance: Establish and maintain governance for product data, BOMs, master data, metadata, configuration control, and cross-system traceability across PLM, ERP, MES, QMS, and related platforms.
• Business Process Analysis & Continuous Improvement: Translate business needs into scalable processes, system requirements, reporting solutions, and implementation roadmaps that improve efficiency, compliance, and data quality.
• Strategic Program Execution: Lead cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation, including planning, resource coordination, risk management, change management, training, cutover activities, and post-go-live stabilization.
• Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Management: Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Service, IT, and global stakeholders to align priorities, resolve complex issues, and drive execution.
• Mentorship & Standards Development: Coach users and team members on document control, change management, PLM processes, business systems best practices, and compliance requirements.
• Independent Decision Making: Prioritize work, drive outcomes with limited supervision, and escalate risks and strategic decisions as appropriate.

Must-Have Qualifications

 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Systems, or related technical discipline; Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of related experience (or 12+ years with a Master's degree) in engineering, manufacturing, business systems, or regulated product development environments.
• Strong expertise in engineering document control, change management, product data governance, BOM management, traceability, and compliance.
• Experience with PLM platforms (Oracle Agile, Oracle Cloud PLM preferred; Windchill, Teamcenter, Enovia, or similar) and related business systems including ALM, CAD/PDM, ERP, or MES.
• Proven experience leading PLM implementations, migrations, process redesign, platform consolidations, or major system enhancements.
• Strong business systems analysis skills, including requirements management, process mapping, fit-gap analysis, testing, and deployment support.
• Working knowledge of FDA 21 CFR Part 11, FDA 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485, electronic records, documentation controls, and audit-ready quality systems.
• Strong understanding of Manufacturing Engineering, product development processes, CAD/PDM-controlled design data, Supply Chain, and Planning functions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, influence senior stakeholders, solve complex business problems, and operate independently.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, coaching, prioritization, and influence-without-authority skills.
• Medical device experience preferred; aerospace or other highly regulated manufacturing environments considered.

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Experience with SAP S/4HANA, SAP ME, SAP MDG, Fiori, MES, ERP integrations, or enterprise business system transformations.
• Experience with Polarion, ALM, CAD/PDM, SolidWorks, Windchill, or platforms supporting requirements, design, manufacturing, quality, and V&V data.
• Knowledge of digital thread, structured data reuse, master data governance, product data management, configuration control, and enterprise data standards.
• Experience with analytics and reporting solutions such as Tableau, Power BI, Snowflake, SAP BO/BOXI, or similar platforms.
• Experience facilitating workshops, Kaizens, solution evaluations, change impact assessments, and user adoption activities.

Ways of Working

• 4 days onsite set schedule; 1 day remote.
• Location: Sunnyvale, California.
• Travel (on need basis): 10%

Additional Information

• The Compensation Range displayed is based on an Hourly Rate

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.

Accommodation & Accessibility Notice:

Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please contact People Services at HRHelpNow@intusurg.com.

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.