Equipment Engineering Manager

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 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.

We are seeking a driven and experienced Equipment Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing team focused on supporting and scaling equipment and automation systems across our Reagent Manufacturing and Quality Control Operations. This role is critical to ensuring high throughput, quality, and reliability for production of our industry-leading sequencing consumables.

You will partner closely with cross-functional teams in manufacturing, process engineering, automation, facilities, and quality to develop, improve, and maintain complex equipment systems in a GMP-compliant environment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a team of equipment engineers and technicians to support reagent manufacturing and QC operations.
• Oversee the installation, qualification, and maintenance of custom and off-the-shelf equipment, including liquid handlers, mixers, lyophilizes, fillers, labelers, and packaging lines.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Process Development, and Automation teams to drive improvements in equipment uptime, OEE (overall equipment effectiveness), and process capability.
• Develop and manage equipment lifecycle strategies, including preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Support NPI (New Product Introduction) and capacity expansion projects by providing equipment readiness plans and technical input.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for equipment-related issues and deviations.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards (e.g., ISO13485, cGMP).
• Manage external vendors and service providers for equipment support, upgrades, and commissioning.
• Lead equipment documentation efforts including user requirements, risk assessments, and validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to further strengthen operational performance and scalability.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering (or related field).
• 8+ years of engineering experience in manufacturing operations, with 3+ years in a leadership or people management role.
• Strong knowledge of automated systems, instrumentation, and equipment used in biotech or pharmaceutical reagent manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with equipment validation, maintenance systems, and reliability engineering.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving (e.g., DMAIC, 8D).
• Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Experience working in regulated environments (FDA, ISO, GMP) preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in managing engineering teams in a reagent, life sciences, or medical device manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Beckhoff, Siemens, or Allen Bradley PLCs is a plus.
• Working knowledge of EAM/CMMS tools like SAP PM or Maximo.

The estimated base salary range for the Equipment Engineering Manager role based in the United States of America is: $126,800 - $190,200. 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, we have 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. We conduct 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. We prohibit 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.