Physician Future Forward Incubator

The Team

The Incubator within Future Forward at Intuitive is a cross-functional innovation group focused on identifying evaluating and developing new clinical opportunities and technology platforms. The team operates at the earliest stages of innovation working from unmet clinical needs through concept generation derisking and early development. By partnering closely with engineering clinical and business leaders the Incubator helps shape Intuitives long-term growth by advancing transformational technologies that improve patient outcomes and expand access to care.

Primary Function of the Position

The Physician Corporate Strategy is an MD physician innovator embedded within Intuitives Future Forward Incubator. This role translates clinical insight and early-market understanding into new growth opportunities helping identify unmet clinical needs evaluate strategic fit and shape technology concepts from initial hypothesis through early de-risking. We are open to candidates who bring one of two complementary profiles: (1) strong clinical practice experience with exposure to innovation venture startups business development Biodesign or product development; or (2) deep venture startup business development Biodesign or corporate strategy experience with an MD background and enough medical/clinical fluency to credibly assess patient care procedure workflows and clinician needs. The successful candidate will work closely with engineering clinical product regulatory reimbursement and strategy partners to determine which opportunities should advance and how they should be clinically and commercially framed.
 

Essential Job Duties

• Identify frame and prioritize unmet clinical needs using clinical immersion literature review market sensing and voice-of-customer input.
• Translate physician and patient insights into concise need statements opportunity hypotheses clinical workflows requirements and early de-risking plans.
• Evaluate early-stage opportunities for clinical importance feasibility strategic fit adoption barriers competitive landscape and potential business impact.
• Partner with engineering and design teams to define clinical use cases procedural workflows performance goals and prototype feedback loops for new platforms.
• Lead or support early clinical de-risking activities including preclinical studies simulated use workflow validation and early feasibility planning where appropriate.
• Develop point-of-view assessments on emerging technologies startups venture-backed innovation adjacent markets and external partnership opportunities.
• Collaborate with regulatory reimbursement health economics product and commercial strategy partners to shape indication strategy and development pathways.
• Engage KOLs clinicians entrepreneurs academic innovators and external partners to validate concepts and inform investment decisions.
• Communicate findings to senior stakeholders through clear written recommendations executive presentations and data-driven opportunity narratives. 

Qualifications :

Experience and Qualifications

• MD or DO required; active clinical practice is valued but not required for candidates with substantial innovation venture startup business development Biodesign or corporate strategy experience.
• Must demonstrate at least one of the following experience profiles: (1) meaningful hands-on clinical practice or procedural care experience plus exposure to innovation venture startups business development Biodesign or product development; or (2) strong venture startup business development Biodesign corporate strategy or product strategy experience plus sufficient clinical fluency to evaluate medical needs and care pathways.
• Ability to identify unmet clinical needs and convert observations into structured hypotheses need statements development plans or investment theses.
• Experience conducting clinician patient or stakeholder interviews and synthesizing voice-of-customer input into actionable product or strategy recommendations.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous early-stage environments where the path forward is uncertain and evidence must be built iteratively.
• Strong cross-functional influence skills and ability to collaborate with engineering clinical regulatory reimbursement product and business stakeholders.
• Ability to evaluate clinical workflows procedure economics adoption barriers competitive dynamics and strategic implications for new technology platforms.
• Clear executive communication skills including crisp written synthesis structured presentations and the ability to explain complex clinical concepts to non-clinical audiences.
• Curiosity ownership mindset and enthusiasm for building new technologies that can transform care delivery and improve patient outcomes.
• Biodesign or equivalent needs-based innovation training preferred; experience in venture startups business development product strategy or corporate strategy strongly preferred.

Education and Training

• MD or DO required.
• Surgical or interventional specialty training preferred but not required if the candidate demonstrates strong innovation venture startup business development Biodesign or corporate strategy experience.
• Clinical practice experience residency/fellowship training or comparable patient-care exposure preferred for candidates coming from a primarily clinical background.
• Candidates with fewer years of clinical training or limited active practice experience may be considered if they bring substantial experience in early-stage innovation venture-backed companies medical technology strategy product development business development or Biodesign.
• Biodesign MBA MPH MS fellowship or other formal training in innovation product development health economics or business strategy is a plus.

Additional Information :

Working Conditions: 

• Must be available to work full-time onsite in Sunnyvale CA
• Ability to travel to clinical sites customer locations or conferences including international (up to 25%)
• May involve standing or walking for extended periods during clinical observations or procedures
• Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally (e.g. for transporting prototypes or equipment)
• Ability to meet hospital credentialing and compliance requirements for clinical site access (e.g. vaccination)
• We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer.

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 employeeswho 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 governments 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 employeesstart 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 candidates experience knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidates qualifications consistent with applicable law.

Accommodation & Accessibility Notice:

Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process please contact People Services at

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.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time