Engineer 2 / Senior Engineer - Process Development

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?

At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.

Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Engineer 2 / Senior Engineer to join our Manufacturing Technology & Transfer Group. This role is critical in driving the successful scale-up, transfer, and optimization of manufacturing processes for consumable products from development to full-scale production used sequencing and array technologies. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in surface chemistry, cross-functional collaboration skills, and a passion for innovation in manufacturing technologies.

The successful candidate will lead initiatives across the product lifecycle—from development through full-scale manufacturing—by designing and optimizing process formulations, specifying equipment requirements, and supporting process validation. You will be responsible for developing and deploying manufacturing processes for both new and existing products, ensuring seamless integration into production environments. You will work closely with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations teams to ensure robust, compliant, and efficient manufacturing processes that meet product and business requirements.

Changes to individual responsibilities may occur due to business needs and other related duties may be assigned.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical expertise in polymer, hydrogel and nanoparticle synthesis and characterization
• Characterize polymer/hydrogel using biophysical methods and tools
• Conduct experiments to characterize the behavior of fluids within microfluidic channels, focusing on surface tension effects, emulsion stability, and colloidal interactions
• Participate in process development, definition and improvement, and other activities in the making of consumable products
• Lead and work on teams to develop and transfer robust new processes/products to production
• Represent Operations needs on product development teams for genomic applications
• Construct and execute controlled experiments (including DOE's) to optimize processes, address yield and quality issues and drive implementation of solutions into a production environment to meet project goals
• Analyze process test results, issue reports and make technical recommendations
• Work cross functionally with R&D, Manufacturing and Quality to develop processes and lead design transfer to manufacturing for new products
• Define technical requirements and write procedures for Production to process product
• Determine strategy and work with external collaborators and suppliers
• Troubleshoot new product process issues related to yield, quality and throughput

Requirements:

• Engineer 2: Minimum 2-3+ years of experience and degree in Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Nano-science, Bioengineering or inter-disciplinary fields. MS degree or above highly preferred
• Senior Engineer: Minimum 5+ years of experience and degree in Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Nano-science, Bioengineering or inter-disciplinary fields. MS degree or above highly preferred
• Experience in synthesis and characterization of polymeric nanoparticles and hydrogels
• Strong experience with development/transfer of hydrogel/emulsion formulations to Manufacturing
• Demonstrated knowledge or expertise in characterization methods of nanoparticles/polymeric/hydrogel materials and their assemblies
• Experience with bio-conjugation techniques and surface functionalization of solid surfaces/nanoparticles is preferred
• Demonstrated experience in leading projects with minimal supervision, or prior experience as a sub-area lead, is highly desirable
• Previous experience linking physicochemical properties of hydrogels/nanoparticle to their system-level performance is a plus
• Experience with Silica and Sepharose bead synthesis is a plus
• Strong understanding of fluid dynamics, and past working experience with microfluidic systems
• Proven track record of working with surface tension-driven phenomena, emulsion formation, and colloidal systems
• Work experience in the biotech, pharmaceutical or semiconductor industries is desirable
• Good interdepartmental communication skills and documentation skills are required
• Demonstrated ability to accomplish goals while working across departments is required
• High level problem solving and reasoning skills required
• High level computer skills are required
• Experience with product development processes, design transfer experience, and project management is a plus
• Experience with biochemical processes preferred
• Experience with statistics analysis program (JMP), Statistical Process Control, DOE techniques, and critical parameter management is a plus
• Experience with high volume production in a high tech, high volume consumables industry is a plus
• Intermediate level programming knowledge is a plus

The estimated base salary range for the Engineer 2 / Senior Engineer - Process Development role based in the United States of America is: $96,500 - $144,700. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.