Senior Embedded Software Engineer at Intuitive
Sunnyvale, CA
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Jun 30, 2026
Sunnyvale, CA
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A senior embedded software engineering role focused on the real-time software layer of a robotic surgical system. The work centers on C++ development for a multi-processor SoC/FPGA/embedded environment, covering motion control infrastructure, audio pipelines and intercom features, data streaming, and system safety verification. The role suits an experienced embedded software engineer comfortable working across hardware and software boundaries in a regulated, safety-critical product context.
Senior level · 8+ years · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · Full-time
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Roughly 460 people in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area plausibly meet what this posting asks for (software developers). range 340–590
Applicant volume Moderate — A normal amount of company. The rare requirements below are what will separate a shortlisted application from the rest.
Rare in this occupation — lead with these, and say what you built with them.
What the occupation pays Median $217,796 (middle half $177,469–$231,052).
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (9)
The JD states no explicit job title or seniority level in the title framing; the level advertised in the title is therefore Unspecified.
The experience requirement is expressed as a matrix: 8+ years with a Bachelor's, 6+ years with a Master's, or 3+ years with a PhD. Total years minimum is set to 8 (the lowest-degree path), consistent with the minimum overall experience gate. No specific degree is hard-required because equivalent experience is explicitly accepted.
Compensation figures are referenced ('target compensation ranges are listed') but no actual numbers appear in the posting text provided — no comp range could be extracted.
Intuitive Surgical's headquarters and primary engineering site is Sunnyvale, CA; the posting does not name a specific location but this is the most probable site. The posting also notes a preference against candidates residing in a list of 14 states, suggesting a US-based (likely hybrid/on-site) role rather than fully remote.
Real-time embedded software is listed as a required domain; specific sub-domains (audio intercom/DSP, robotics, automotive, consumer electronics) are given as examples of qualifying experience ('one or more of the following areas or similar') — treated as a single must-have domain requirement.
Audio DSP / audio pipeline experience appears under Preferred Skills & Experience and is therefore marked preferred.
Python and MATLAB appear under Preferred Skills as scripting language examples for diagnostic/test automation.
FDA regulated software development experience appears under Preferred Skills & Experience.
Ignored 2 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): Real-time embedded software, FDA regulated software development.
Read the full posting
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