Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for Software Engineer at Intuitive Surgical, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.
After a recruiter screening that was pretty focused and fairly quick, I moved into a hiring manager call and then a longer technical interview. The process felt structured, with each round building on the last, and the pace picked up once they decided to keep me going. The technical interview pushed me to go deeper than just surface-level experience, but it still felt aligned with the role they were hiring for.
After a recruiter call, my interviews progressed through multiple stages, and at various points I could feel the momentum shift. I had rounds where the early communication felt present, but once I reached later steps the experience turned into a pattern of disappearing. I’d send follow-ups for feedback and status updates and either get no response or get ghosted right after key interactions.
The interview process typically starts with a recruiter call followed by multiple rounds, including technical and behavioral interviews, often culminating in a full-day on-site with presentations and case studies. Candidates noted that the structure can vary from well-organized to somewhat chaotic, impacting their overall experience.
Technical interviews focus heavily on engineering fundamentals, problem-solving, and specific domain knowledge, with some candidates reporting a mix of coding questions and practical engineering scenarios. The intensity and depth of these interviews can vary, with some candidates feeling challenged while others found them straightforward.
Many candidates are required to present a personal project or a hypothetical scenario during the on-site interviews, which tests their ability to communicate technical concepts and reasoning under pressure. This component is often seen as a critical part of the evaluation process.
Candidates reported mixed experiences regarding communication throughout the process, with some experiencing delays and a lack of feedback, leading to feelings of uncertainty and frustration. Others noted positive interactions but still faced long wait times for updates.
Behavioral interviews often focus on understanding candidates' past experiences and how they approach problem-solving in a team environment. The tone of these interviews is generally conversational, aiming to gauge cultural fit and collaboration skills.
The overall difficulty of the interviews is perceived as average to challenging, with candidates expressing varying levels of confidence in their performance. Many noted that the outcome often felt anticlimactic due to delayed feedback or lack of closure after the interviews.