Lab Manager, Genomics

Feanix; Scotts Valley (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement savings

Flexible paid time off

Paid parental leave

Equity options

Pet insurance

Job summary

Feanix Biotechnologies is building a high-throughput genomics lab in Scotts Valley, CA, and seeks a Senior Lab Manager to lead day-to-day operations, quality, and staff while scaling production to meet growing demand. The role blends science with production discipline to ensure reliable, fast turnaround of sequencing workflows.

You will own workflows, staffing, equipment, and processes; collaborate with researchers to translate new methods into stable production; and maintain a strong quality

Qualifications

• Master's or higher in molecular biology, genomics, biotechnology, or related field.
• Experience running a startup or early-stage lab production.
• Proven track record delivering high-throughput production with quality targets.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day lab operations in Scotts Valley to meet production targets.
• Scale laboratory workflows as volume grows and demand increases.
• Develop capacity planning, scheduling, and operating rhythms for the lab.

Skills

Lab operations

Production management

Team leadership

Quality control

NGS workflows

Illumina sequencing

SOPs & QC

Data-driven improvements

LIMS experience

Staffing management

Education

Master's degree in molecular biology or related field

Tools

Illumina sequencing

LIMS

Lab automation

Job description

About Feanix Bio

Feanix is rebuilding animal breeding from the genome up.

About Feanix Bio

Feanix is rebuilding animal breeding from the genome up.

We’re a YC-backed startup using whole-genome sequencing and custom ML models to help dairy farmers make better breeding and herd management decisions.

Our technology is genuinely novel: we can sequence a full genome from a single hair at a fraction of traditional industry costs, our models achieve ~90% prediction accuracy on traits where existing approaches sit closer to ~30%, and we’re pioneering farm-specific genomic predictions that turn genetics into practical, actionable decisions.

That technology is translating into real adoption. In a short time, we’ve grown to serve roughly 1% of the U.S. dairy industry — and reached $10M+ in ARR, with significant demand still ahead of us. We’re backed by Initialized Capital, General Catalyst, Collaborative Fund, Overwater Ventures, North South Ventures, and Y Combinator.

We started with dairy because our founders grew up on dairy farms and understand firsthand the problems we’re solving. But genetics is foundational to every agricultural industry, and dairy is only the beginning.

We’re building Feanix with a small, high-caliber team where people have meaningful ownership and work end to end. There are no unnecessary layers and very little room for busywork — just difficult problems at the intersection of biology, data, and software that haven’t been solved before.

If you’re exceptional at what you do and want your work to have a measurable impact on an entire industry, we’d love to build it with you.

About The Role

Feanix is looking for a Senior Lab Manager to lead the day-to-day operations and continued scale-up of our genomics lab in Scotts Valley, California.

This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who has helped take a startup or early‑stage commercial lab from developing processes to running reliable, high‑throughput production. You will own lab execution: throughput, quality, turnaround time, staffing, workflows, equipment, and the systems required to consistently hit production goals as volume grows.

We're looking for someone who combines a strong scientific foundation with a production mindset. You understand the science behind the work, but you also care deeply about whether samples move through the lab accurately, efficiently, and on time. You enjoy building systems, identifying bottlenecks, raising the bar for quality, and creating a team that takes pride in winning together.

What You'll Own

Lab Operations & Production

• Own day-to-day operations of the Scotts Valley genomics lab, ensuring production, quality, and turnaround-time targets are consistently met.
• Build and scale laboratory workflows as sample volume and commercial demand increase.
• Establish production planning, capacity management, scheduling, and operating rhythms for the lab.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement process improvements that increase throughput, reliability, and efficiency.
• Develop and track operational KPIs, including throughput, turnaround time, failure and rework rates, equipment utilization, and quality metrics.
• Ensure the lab has the equipment, reagents, inventory, staffing, and processes necessary to meet production forecasts.
• Build systems and processes that allow the lab to scale without sacrificing speed or quality.
• Collaborate with the research team to coordinate equipment and lab time, and create operational working norms.

Quality & Process Control

• Build a strong quality culture where accuracy, consistency, and reproducibility are fundamental to production.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve SOPs, QC checkpoints, documentation, and process controls.
• Investigate failures, deviations, and quality issues and drive corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Use data to understand process performance and continuously improve lab operations.
• Balance speed, cost, throughput, and quality as the operation scales.

Sequencing Operations

• Oversee high-throughput next-generation sequencing workflows, with a strong emphasis on Illumina and other short-read NGS technologies.
• Ensure sequencing and sample-preparation workflows are optimized for reliable, repeatable production at increasing volumes.
• Partner with scientific and technical teams to move new or improved methods from research and development into stable production workflows.
• Evaluate and implement new sequencing technologies, automation, equipment, and processes as the lab grows.
• Troubleshoot sequencing and workflow issues and establish systems to prevent recurring failures.

Team Leadership

• Build, manage, and develop a high-performing lab team.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels in the lab with contracted workers or employees.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for quality, output, and execution.
• Create an environment that is energetic, collaborative, and enjoyable while maintaining a high bar for performance.
• Train team members on laboratory procedures, quality standards, equipment, and production expectations.
• Be willing to jump into the work when necessary while building systems that allow the lab to scale beyond any one individual.

Required Qualifications

What We're Looking For

• Master's degree or higher in molecular biology, genomics, genetics, biotechnology, biochemistry, or a related scientific field.
• Prior experience working in a research laboratory environment, with a strong understanding of experimental rigor and scientific methodology.
• Experience scaling a startup, early-stage, or rapidly growing commercial laboratory into a reliable production operation.
• Demonstrated responsibility for laboratory production, throughput, quality, or operational performance, not solely research or assay development.
• Deep familiarity with Illumina and short-read next-generation sequencing technologies, including associated sample preparation and sequencing workflows.
• Experience developing and implementing laboratory SOPs, QC processes, and production metrics.
• Experience managing laboratory personnel and holding teams accountable to measurable production and quality goals.
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause-analysis skills.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving startup environment where processes and infrastructure are still being built.

Nice to Have

• Experience scaling high-throughput genomics, molecular diagnostics, sequencing, or biotechnology operations.
• Experience introducing automation into laboratory workflows.
• Experience transferring scientific methods from R&D into commercial production.
• Experience with LIMS or other laboratory production and data-management systems.
• Experience forecasting laboratory capacity and planning staffing, equipment, and reagent requirements against commercial demand.

Who Will Thrive Here

You’re scientifically credible but operationally driven. You don’t view the lab as a collection of experiments—you see it as a production system that needs to deliver high-quality results reliably and at increasing scale.

You’re competitive about performance and enjoy setting ambitious goals and hitting them. When something goes wrong, your instinct is to understand why, fix the underlying process, and make sure it doesn't happen again.

You can bring energy and humor to a team while maintaining a serious standard for execution. You like being surrounded by people who move quickly, care deeply about the outcome, and want to continually raise the bar.

What Success Looks Like

Within your first 6–12 months:

• The Scotts Valley lab has clear production, quality, and turnaround-time targets and consistently performs against them.
• Lab capacity scales predictably alongside increasing commercial demand.
• QC processes identify issues early, and failures are investigated systematically rather than handled as one-offs.
• SOPs and operating processes are documented, followed, measured, and continuously improved.
• Leadership has clear visibility into lab capacity, throughput, quality, constraints, and upcoming needs.
• The lab team operates with a strong sense of ownership, urgency, accountability, and pride in its work.

Compensation And Benefits

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfers at this time.

Actual starting pay for this role is determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to qualifications, experience, relevant skills, education, and geographic location. Employees are offered a variety of benefits to empower them with the resources and flexibility they need to enjoy success on the job and to live a healthy life.

We offer a flexible, remote-friendly work environment for most roles, along with a growing benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement savings support through CalSavers for California-based employees; flexible paid time off; and paid parental leave, including up to four weeks of paid leave and/or supplemental pay coordination with applicable state benefits.

Pay Transparency

$130,000—$160,000 USD

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfers at this time.

Compensation is based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, and location. Benefits include equity options, medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k); flexible PTO; paid parental leave; and pet insurance.

Feanix Biotechnologies is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on any characteristic protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and interview process.

By applying, you consent to Feanix Biotechnologies processing your personal information for recruitment purposes in accordance with applicable privacy laws.