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# Sr Software Test Engineer - Future Forward Team

- **Company:** Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
- **Location:** Sunnyvale, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $198,600.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Testing (Software), JavaScript (Programming Language), Adobe InDesign, Systems Engineering, Automation of Tests, Unit Testing, Software Bug Management, Code Coverage, Communications Protocols, Continuous Integration, Embedded Software, Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation, Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Regression Analysis, Requirements Traceability, Robotic Automation Software, Verification and Validation (Software), Software Quality Assurance (SQA), System Software, System Testing, Test Data, Strategies of Testing, Scripting, Software Verification, Google Test, Test Scripts, Pytest, Solid Principles
- **Published:** October 6, 2026
- **Apply:** https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/Intuitive/744000153619099-sr-software-test-engineer-future-forward-team

## About the Role

* Bachelor's degree or above in Computer Science, Software Engineer, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
 * A minimum of 8 years of experience in testing complex electro-mechanical or robotic systems (6 years for Master's degree holders)., * Deep understanding of requirements and system software architecture, with strong ability to translate them into effective test methods.
 * Proven experience planning and executing Verification and Validation (V&V) activities for medical devices under quality and regulatory compliance frameworks.
 * Solid foundation in systems engineering, Software Quality Assurance (SQA), and software design principles.
 * First-principles thinker with hands-on experience in failure mode and risk analysis (FMEA/FTA).
 * Strong debugging skills across complex embedded software and electromechanical systems.
 * Excellent communicator - you can write a crisp test report and explain a technical issue to a clinical stakeholder without missing a beat.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Test automation experience is highly preferred - we're actively building automated verification pipelines, and candidates with a strong automation background will stand out. This includes:

 * Hands-on experience designing and implementing automated test frameworks for software or hardware systems.
 * Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, JavaScript, or similar scripting languages for test automation.
 * Experience with unit test frameworks (e.g., pytest, unittest, Google Test).
 * Experience with Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) testing environments.
 * Familiarity with CI/CD integration for automated test execution.

## Description

We're looking for a Senior Software Test Engineer to join our Future Forward engineering team - a high-energy, close-knit group building the next generation of robotic surgical systems. This isn't a back-of-the-line QA role. You'll be a core part of the team, shaping how we verify complex surgical software from the ground up.

You'll own the full system verification lifecycle - from test strategy and protocol design to execution, reporting, and defect management - and work shoulder-to-shoulder with development, clinical, systems, and regulatory teams to get it right.

If you thrive in fast-moving environments, love digging into hard problems, and take pride in building things that work reliably when it matters most, this role is for you., * Lead system verification for robotic surgical systems - own the top-level test strategy, design, develop, and execute test protocols, and drive them through to completion.

 * Design and execute test scripts and protocols for functional software verification across complex, multi-disciplinary robotic systems.
 * Generate test reports with complete requirements traceability, ensuring every requirement under test is accounted for.
 * Manage defects end-to-end - log issues, drive root cause analysis, assess impact, and collaborate with software and cross-functional teams to resolution.
 * Contribute to requirements discussions and bring the system test perspective into design decisions early, not as an afterthought.
 * Participate in design change reviews, assess test impact, and lead regression analysis to ensure changes don't introduce new risk.
 * Analyze test data, identify non-conformance trends, and synthesize findings into clear executive summaries with actionable design improvement recommendations.
 * Understand the system deeply - both technically and from the user's perspective - and use that understanding to drive smarter, more robust test coverage.