The role
From Intuitive Surgical Operations's own posting.
The Ion™ endoluminal system is Intuitive's new robotic platform for minimally invasive biopsy in the peripheral lung, with an initial goal of improving the early diagnosis of lung cancer. As an algorithms engineer on the Ion project, you will join a team of robotics and software experts. You will play a lead technical role, working to conceptualize, design, and evaluate new aspects of a guidance software solution. This role focuses on the processing and fusion of diverse imaging modalities—including CT, CBCT, X-ray fluoroscopy, and real-time camera video streams—to improve surgical navigation and clinical outcomes.
Drive the full cycle of the development of medical imaging analysis software, from clinical requirement analysis to production-ready code.
Understand complex clinical requirements and develop detailed technical specifications.
Design, prototype, and implement user-facing software and advanced algorithms for medical imaging, computer vision, and machine learning.
Apply state-of-the-art techniques such as nnUnet, Vision Transformers (ViTs), DINO, Diffusion models, and Vision Language Models (VLMs) to endoluminal navigation challenges.
Support the development of AI/ML features in alignment with Good Machine Learning Practice (GMLP) principles, ensuring data representativeness and model transparency.
Support system integration and testing while generating formal design documentation and patent applications
MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
5+ years of hands-on experience in algorithm development with a specialization in medical imaging and computer vision.
Proficiency in Python and C++, with a deep understanding of modern software component design.
Expert knowledge of ML frameworks including PyTorch and OpenCV.
Practical experience with specialized libraries including MONAI, SimpleITK, and VTK/ITK.
Hands-on experience with CUDA and model optimization tools such as TensorRT or ONNX.
Deep understanding of GMLP guiding principles, including separation of training/test sets and performance monitoring for AI-enabled medical devices.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective cross-functional collaboration with clinical and engineering teams.
Candidates at all experience levels are encouraged to apply, as the seniority level of the position may be adjusted based on the applicant.
Learn more about the compelling, collaborative work environment of the Ion Software Engineering Team here .
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.
We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.
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 salary ranges are listed.
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.
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.