Staff Scientist
Illumina
Summary
Illumina is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Staff Scientist to help advance molecular diagnostics and precision oncology through the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays. In this role, you will serve as a technical leader within a multidisciplinary product development environment, driving the design, optimization, verification, and validation of innovative oncology assays intended for research and/or clinical applications.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
- Lead complex technical workstreams supporting the development of NGS-based oncology assays and products in a fast-paced environment in alignment with industry standards and regulatory expectations.
- Serve as the scientific lead for study design, execution, analysis, troubleshooting, and interpretation of experimental results.
- Analyze large and complex datasets to identify technical risks, develop data-driven recommendations, and communicate tradeoffs and rationale to stakeholders and leadership.
- Lead execution of verification and validation activities in accordance with CLSI guidelines and applicable quality system requirements.
- Manage and mentor a team of junior scientists through technical coaching, scientific review, and guidance on experimental design, data analysis, and scientific documentation.
- Present technical findings, project updates, risk assessments, mitigation plans, technology evaluations, and strategic recommendations to project teams and senior leadership.
- Author and review technical documentation, including product development documentation, engineering studies, verification and validation protocols, technical reports, and risk assessments.
- Document research activities and study outcomes within a Quality Management System consistent with ISO 13485 principles.
- Contribute to technical strategy, roadmap development, and business decisions that influence future product capabilities and portfolio growth.
Qualifications
Required
- Strong background in molecular biology, genomics, assay development, and next-generation sequencing technologies.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex scientific projects and influencing technical decisions across multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
- Experience working in a cross-functional product development environment.
- Proven ability to independently lead studies from planning through execution, analysis, and final reporting.
Preferred
- Experience developing, optimizing, and validating NGS-based oncology assays and workflows.
- Expertise in Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies and data-driven assay optimization approaches.
- Experience with regulated product development and quality systems for NGS-based molecular diagnostic IVD products.
- Demonstrated success partnering across functions such as Quality, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Operations, Software Development, and Commercial organizations.
- Prior experience mentoring scientists and providing technical leadership across project teams.
Education & Experience
Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years of experience; or equivalent experience.
Requirements
- Strong background in molecular biology, genomics, assay development, and next-generation sequencing technologies.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex scientific projects and influencing technical decisions across multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
- Experience working in a cross-functional product development environment.
- Proven ability to independently lead studies from planning through execution, analysis, and final reporting.
- Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years of experience; or equivalent experience.
Benefits
- Genomics sequencing access
- Family planning
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Paid time off
- Variable cash programs
- 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.