Roche is looking to simplify and make next-generation sequencing accessible for routine use by accelerating clinical research, streamlining workflows, and expanding assay menus. The Principal System Integration Engineer II will be responsible for bridging the gap between scientific discovery and engineering execution in the early stages of R&D, specifically by answering the question: "Is this new technology physically possible?" This role aims to break the traditional R&D model where scientific and engineering teams operate in sequence.
Requirements
- Demonstrated, hands-on success translating complex biological or chemical workflows (e.g., library prep, enzymatic assays, immunoassays) onto prototype instruments, breadboards, or integrated microfluidic devices in a life sciences or diagnostics R&D environment.
- Deep, intuitive understanding of the fundamental principles of molecular biology, biochemistry, and enzymology, and a proven ability to apply this knowledge to solve complex hardware, fluidics, and materials science challenges.
- Proficiency in designing, building, and troubleshooting complex fluidic and microfluidic systems. You think in terms of flow rates, pressures, surface tensions, and material compatibility as fluently as you do about DNA concentrations and enzyme kinetics.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot from a first-principles perspective, identifying and resolving ambiguous issues that span molecular biology, chemistry, hardware, consumables, and software.
- High degree of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and scientific curiosity to invent new technology and develop cutting-edge concepts in a fast-paced, ambiguous R&D environment.
- Hands-on experience defining workflows and then translating them onto instrumentation by writing custom scripts via Python, MATLAB, LabView or custom fluidic simulation software).
- Hands-on experience with CAD for designing custom parts, fixtures, and consumables (e.g., SolidWorks).
Responsibilities
- Invent, prototype, and characterize novel devices, subsystems, and workflows for next-generation sequencing applications, with a primary focus on establishing fundamental feasibility and de-risking new technological approaches.
- Lead the effort to translate complex, multi-step biochemical and molecular biology protocols from the benchtop onto early-stage instruments, breadboards, and custom test fixtures with novel fluidic and microfluidic systems.
- Personally design, build, and commission custom test fixtures, breadboards, and automation scripts (e.g., Python, LabView) required for early-stage system characterization, proof-of-concept validation, and feasibility studies.
- Design and execute rigorous, hypothesis-driven experiments to characterize system performance, pushing the boundaries of new technologies and identifying critical failure modes at the interface of biology, chemistry, and hardware.
- Lead early-stage, deep-dive troubleshooting efforts for complex performance issues on novel systems, seamlessly connecting systemic failures back to first-principles root causes—whether molecular, chemical, material, or physical.
- Analyze complex, multi-modal data sets, author detailed technical reports and feasibility studies, generate intellectual property, and present findings to technical teams and R&D leadership to inform technology roadmap decisions.
- Serve as a key technical partner to assay development scientists and hardware design engineers, providing critical, data-driven feedback to guide the co-development of reagents, consumables, and instrument hardware, ensuring that biological requirements and engineering constraints are harmonized from day one.
Other
- A cover letter is required for this application.
- Please outline your relevant experience and explain why you are interested in this role and Roche.
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical knowledge in a clear and understandable manner to a multidisciplinary team.
- This is an on-site position based in Santa Clara, CA.
- Relocation benefits are not being offered for this role.
