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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Staff Software Engineer - Vision - New Platforms - **Company:** Intuitive Surgical, Inc. - **Location:** Sunnyvale, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Computer-Aided Design, Systems Engineering, C++ (Programming Language), Communications Protocols, Nvidia CUDA, Computer Engineering, Serialization, Software Debugging, Embedded Software, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Imaging Technology, Python (Programming Language), Linux System Administration, Machine Learning, Multiprocessing, Software Architecture, Rapid Prototyping Process, Software Engineering, TCP/IP, Video Editing, Visual Systems, Vivado, Diagnostic Tools, Scripting, Fpga Hardware, State Machines, Information Technology, Data Pipelines - **Published:** November 9, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/staff-software-engineer-vision-new-platforms-sunnyvale-ca--b88214b5-6085-4d3a-8b07-f1f9209b88d6 ## About the Role Software Engineering, Problem Solving Skills, Emerging Technology, Prototyping, Healthcare, Technical Leadership, Video Processing, Software Architecture, Software Engineering, Embedded Software, * Bachelor''s degree or above in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a similar technical field. * A minimum of 12 years of experience developing and supporting embedded systems, with significant focus on video, imaging, or vision systems (or 8 years with a Master''s degree, or 5 years with a PhD)., * Fluent in designing and developing mission-critical, cross-platform code in C/C++ for embedded, real-time, Linux-based systems, including application-level and driver-level development for multi-core and multi-processor architectures. * Deep familiarity with integrating cameras, image sensors, and vision processing pipelines into complex embedded architectures, including hardware, software, and algorithm interfaces. * Demonstrated ability to debug and diagnose complex vision system issues through root cause investigation and close cross-functional collaboration with hardware and algorithms teams. * Demonstrated ability to evaluate design trade-offs for embedded software architectures through detailed technical deep dives, proof-of-concept development, and rapid iteration. * Direct experience with imaging devices - e.g., cameras, light sensors, video/graphics hardware - including sensor and camera bring-up, configuration, and integration. * Fluent with image-processing concepts, camera pipeline video processing algorithms, and video processing frameworks. * Working knowledge of Python or other scripting languages for diagnostics, automation, and test. * Demonstrated experience and comfort with all phases of the product development lifecycle, including design, documentation, implementation, debug, verification, validation, and transfer to manufacturing. Preferred Skills and Experience * Knowledge of image-processing, CUDA, ML, and/or FPGA integration (e.g., Vivado and other FPGA development tools). * Familiarity with communication protocols such as TCP/IP, CAN, and serialization protocols. * Experience designing software products in a regulated industry or for mission-critical applications; comfort with concepts of design input, design output, traceability, risk analysis, and mitigations. * Leadership of medical technology projects from inception through field validation to launch; strong understanding of the medical product ecosystem. * Familiarity with rapid development and rapid prototyping tools. * Demonstrated capacity to relate to and mentor all levels of employees. ## Description As a Vision Software Staff Engineer, you will act as the technical lead for the software and embedded architecture definition of the real-time, high-definition video processing, imaging, and intra-body illumination systems at the heart of a new generation surgical robotic platform. You will drive the deep integration of cameras, image sensors, and vision processing pipelines into complex, multi-processor embedded architectures, bringing sound engineering judgment to the trade-offs between hardware, software, and algorithms, and procedure-specific product requirements. Critical to the success of this role is experience diagnosing and debugging complex vision systems end-to-end - from sensor and optics through the video pipeline to software - driving root cause investigations and collaborating with hardware and algorithms teams to resolve difficult, multi-disciplinary issues. Familiarity with working in a regulated industry and with design controls for medical devices is a plus. The successful candidate must excel at evaluating design trade-offs through detailed technical deep dives, proof-of-concept development, and rapid iteration, translating rough requirements into robust, well-reasoned embedded software architectures. A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required, as is the ability to make the work fun and interesting. Supporting you will be a development and management team that knows and cares about what you are doing and wants you to succeed. Essential Job Duties * Lead the definition of hardware, software, and algorithms architecture for the real-time video processing engine, image sensors, and intra-body illumination systems of a new generation surgical robotic platform, from concept through implementation. * Drive the integration of cameras, image sensors, and vision processing pipelines into complex, multi-processor embedded architectures, ensuring robust interfaces between hardware, FPGA/ISP, and software components. * Evaluate multiple design trade-offs for the embedded vision software architecture through detailed technical deep dives, proof-of-concept development, and rapid iteration. * Lead bring-up and integration of new, high-performance cameras and image sensors, and the integration and evaluation of advanced camera pipeline video processing algorithms. * Diagnose and debug vision system issues end-to-end - sensor, optics, video pipeline, and software - leading root cause investigations in close collaboration with hardware, algorithms, and systems engineering teams. * Drive development and enhancement of the color and power control functions for intra-operative illumination. * Lead formal risk analyses for vision and illumination subsystems; identify additional hardware requirements and develop software mitigations to minimize potential failures. * Design and develop offline simulation environments and hardware/software diagnostic tools that accelerate development, debug, and test. * Perform and guide detailed design, development, documentation, and verification of embedded vision software and supervisory state machines, in compliance with regulatory requirements and Intuitive''s internal guidelines. * Contribute broadly across the video and vision software stack, including extension of current processing frameworks to new hardware platforms. * Apply high-level and specialized imaging/vision expertise to deliver innovations and problem-solving approaches that can be leveraged across multiple products. * Mentor and guide engineers across the vision team.