New Platforms Leader

Primary Function of the Position

The New Platforms Business Lead will report to the VP, Corporate Strategy in the Future Forward organization. Future Forward is responsible for integrating new technologies and capabilities into new and existing Intuitive products aligned with our patient first mission.  This is a unique opportunity to lead cross-functional leaders focused on developing new products and business models to address significant unmet patient, care team, provider and payer needs. The New Platforms Business Lead will work cross-functionally to drive product definition and formative development activities in support of new or emerging applications, with the specific responsibility to successfully manage programs out of research to product incubation. In addition to being a proven people leader, success in this role will require strong patient-focused product definition and engineering acumen within the area of medical robotics and instrumentation. Previous experience successfully managing the development of medical technologies from early concept to product readiness is essential for success in this role.  

Key Responsibilities

• Cross-Functional Orchestration: Serve as the strategic lead across the product development lifecycle from concept through FIH, owning the connective tissue between clinical strategy, engineering execution, regulatory planning, and commercial readiness. Accountable for ensuring the program team operates with shared clarity on scope, milestones, and go/no-go criteria at each development gate, and for leading a matrixed team to develop the regulatory, reimbursement, and clinical evidence generation strategies for new products and platforms.
• Architect and Own the multi-generational opportunity roadmap across product/platform generations, establishing the strategic framework that governs investment sequencing, capability build, and adjacency decisions, balancing desirability, viability, and technical feasibility with the company’s multi-year strategic objectives.
• Drive Business Justification: Author and defend investment cases for platform programs, including TAM/SAM/SOM modeling, NPV analysis, build-vs-buy frameworks, and reimbursement pathway assessment.
• Market Intelligence: Own and continuously update a structured competitive intelligence framework spanning device platforms, digital health, AI/ML-enablement and disruptive entrants. Translate landscape signals into strategic recommendations for platform differentiation, partnership prioritization, and BD opportunity assessment.
• Contribute with senior leadership to define the direction for new products, processes, standards, and operational plans based on business strategy.
• Develop program plans and budgets. Implement best practices for resource management.  Provide regular updates to senior leadership through informal and formal meetings and communication.

Required Skills and Experience

• 15+ years of professional experience with 8+ years specifically in medical device product management.
• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-year product programs and navigating the regulatory, clinical, and commercial nuances of medical technology portfolios.
• Experience defining and managing market and product requirements for medical devices, including ownership of mark requirements (MRDs) and product requirements (PRD) through full development cycles.
• Track record of building strong commercial and KOL partnerships to inform product strategy and support a value-driven portfolio narrative.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership, executive stakeholders, and customers.
• Able to take initiative and lead in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with multiple competing priorities.
• Strong ability to prioritize and manage across multiple programs and workstreams simultaneously.
• Agility to pivot focus in response to evolving clinical, commercial, and customer needs.
• Proven ability to work across disparate parts of an organization — including engineering, clinical, regulatory, and commercial functions — to deliver results.

Working Conditions

• Ability to work in pre-clinical labs, surgical labs and hospital patient care areas is required.
• Ability to travel 30%. Some international travel will be required.
• The position is located at Intuitive Headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Masters degree in life science, engineering or MBA preferred.

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.

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.