Electrical Engineer 2
Illumina
Summary
The Electrical Engineer 2 plays a key role in the development, introduction, and lifecycle support of complex DNA sequencing instruments. This hands-on engineering position spans New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing transfer, sustaining engineering, and product lifecycle management. The role combines broad electrical engineering fundamentals with technical ownership of smart PCAs, high-performance compute (HPC) platforms, and cable/interconnect systems used in advanced genomic instrumentation.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
Product Lifecycle, NPI & Sustaining Engineering
- Support NPI activities from concept through manufacturing transfer, including design reviews, prototype builds, design verification, pilot production, and release readiness.
- Execute sustaining engineering initiatives for released products, including component obsolescence, supplier transitions, cost reductions, quality improvements, and field issue resolution.
- Assess technical impact of proposed product changes and contribute to risk assessments, FMEAs, qualification plans, and implementation activities.
- Develop and maintain engineering documentation including specifications, schematics, BOMs, test plans, engineering change orders, and technical reports.
- Manage assigned projects and deliverables while communicating status, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders.
HPC & Compute Engine Systems
- Support qualification, integration, and lifecycle management of server-class compute platforms that power sequencing instruments.
- Apply knowledge of x86 server architectures, CPU and memory subsystems, PCIe devices, NVMe storage, networking interfaces, power delivery, thermal management, and platform management technologies.
- Troubleshoot hardware issues involving POST and boot behavior, memory training, PCIe enumeration, firmware interactions, storage compatibility, system logs, and intermittent failures.
- Execute hardware validation plans, analyze results, document findings, and partner with software, firmware, systems, and manufacturing teams to resolve complex issues.
- Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to maintain platform reliability, serviceability, performance, and supply continuity.
Cable Harness & Interconnect Design
- Design and modify cable assemblies supporting power, control, sensor, communication, and high-speed data interfaces.
- Develop wiring diagrams, pin assignments, connector selections, grounding strategies, shielding requirements, assembly drawings, and BOMs.
- Perform engineering analyses related to current capacity, voltage drop, derating, signal integrity, routing constraints, shielding effectiveness, and mechanical robustness.
- Support verification testing including continuity, insulation resistance, hipot, EMI/EMC, environmental, and system-level qualification testing.
- Partner with mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure designs meet performance, quality, and manufacturability requirements.
Failure Analysis, Quality & Compliance
- Investigate manufacturing defects, supplier issues, RMAs, and field failures using structured root-cause methodologies.
- Support development of test methods, diagnostic tools, fixtures, and acceptance criteria.
- Review supplier and contract manufacturer qualification data to ensure engineering decisions are supported by objective evidence.
- Implement engineering changes through PLM, ERP, and configuration management processes while maintaining traceability and design integrity.
- Support compliance with applicable electrical safety, EMI/EMC, ESD, environmental, and product-quality requirements.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 2+ years of relevant engineering experience supporting product development, NPI, manufacturing, or sustaining engineering activities.
- Working knowledge of analog and digital electronics, power distribution, PCB/PCA interfaces, grounding methods, and system-level electrical integration.
- Experience designing or supporting cable harnesses, including connector selection, pinout definition, wire sizing, shielding, grounding, documentation, and verification testing.
- Experience troubleshooting hardware issues using oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers, and related laboratory equipment.
- Familiarity with engineering design tools such as Altium, OrCAD, or equivalent platforms.
- Experience working within engineering change control and product lifecycle management processes.
Benefits
- Genomics Sequencing Access
- Family Planning
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Retirement Benefits
- Paid Time Off
- Bonus or Commission
- Equity
Company overview
Illumina is a global leader in genomics technology, founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Diego, California. As a pioneering biotechnology company, Illumina specializes in developing, manufacturing, and marketing integrated systems for genetic analysis, with a primary focus on DNA sequencing and array-based technologies. The company's mission is to improve human health by unlocking the power of the genome, serving customers across research, clinical, and applied markets worldwide. Illumina's innovative platforms, including the NovaSeq, HiSeq, MiSeq, and NextSeq series, have revolutionized genomic research and clinical applications, enabling breakthroughs in personalized medicine, disease research, and drug development. With over 9,000 employees across 27 countries, Illumina has established itself as the dominant force in next-generation sequencing, processing more than 90% of all DNA sequencing data globally. The company's technologies support diverse applications from cancer research and rare disease diagnosis to agricultural genomics and infectious disease surveillance, making genomic insights accessible to researchers and clinicians worldwide.