Manager/ Staff Systems Engineer

Genalyte, Inc; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity participation

Bonus plan eligibility

Health, dental, vision benefits

Flexible time off

Job summary

Genalyte, Inc., a San Diego-based diagnostics company, seeks a Manager/Staff Systems Engineer to bridge life science and software, instrumentation, and engineering. You will lead system-level requirements, collaborate with hardware, software, and lab operations to drive high-quality product development.

This role offers a strong compensation package with base salary of $150,000 to $175,000, extensive equity participation, target bonus eligibility, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Requires experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering projects in regulated environments (medical devices).
• Strong problem solving and systems thinking across software, hardware, and optics.
• Ability to produce clear design documentation and interface definitions.

Responsibilities

• Engage with cross-functional teams to drive system-level performance of Genalyte’s products.
• Establish and refine system-level requirements across software, electronics, and optics.
• Lead and collaborate with hardware, software, and Lab Operations to deliver quality products.
• Create interface definitions and manage constraints related to manufacturability and cost.
• Develop and maintain requirements specs for software, optics, electronics, embedded, and sub-systems.
• Contribute to risk management and overall system architecture decisions.

Skills

Systems engineering

Python engineering

Cross-functional leadership

Regulated environment

Documentation

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Master’s or higher in Engineering

Job description

ABOUT GENALYTE

At Genalyte, we're revolutionizing diagnostic testing to empower a healthier future. Genalyte is a San Diego-based diagnostics company developing the Merlin platform, a novel photonic ring resonator-based system designed to deliver rapid, multiplexed diagnostic results. We believe that timely and accurate health insights shouldn't be a luxury, but a necessity. We are driven by a vision where advanced diagnostic capabilities are accessible, efficient, and seamlessly integrated into healthcare. Genalyte is more than just a laboratory; we are advocates for health empowerment, dedicated to providing insights that can transform lives and communities.

WHY WORK FOR US

Joining Genalyte at this pivotal pre-commercial stage means your work will have real, visible impact — on our technology, our culture, and ultimately on how diagnostic testing is delivered to patients. Regardless of your role, you'll be part of a collaborative team working closely with leadership to build something meaningful from the ground up. Genalyte offers competitive compensation including base salary, significant equity participation, and a comprehensive benefits package. This is a rare opportunity to grow alongside a high-impact company at a genuinely exciting moment in its journey.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Manager/ Staff Systems Engineer will independently apply systems design approaches to projects that have both life science/chemistry and software, instrumentation and engineering components. They lead activities to bridge between development teams and stakeholders to ensure a high quality product development lifecycle. Oversees system level performance product portfolios comprising software and instrumentation, through close collaboration with Lab Operations, software dev, hardware engineering, and other functional groups.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

These may include but are not limited to:

• Engage with cross-functional teams including hardware engineering, software engineering, assay development, and external contract engineers to drive system-level performance of Genalyte’s products.
• Work with cross-functional teams to establish and refine system level requirements.
• Provide product development leadership alongside product development managers to take products from concept to delivery while ensuring quality, extensibility and maintainability
• Create input/output relationships (interface definition) between key functional elements and identify constraints w.r.t manufacturability, cost, complexity and risk mitigation
• Lead efforts to create, curate and maintain well-formed requirements specifications for software, optics, electronics and embedded, and opto-mechanical sub-systems
• Key contributor to the system and sub-system level risk management activities with assigned programs
• Contribute to multiple cross-functional projects with an eye on overall system architecture and fulfillment of interface contracts between sub-systems
• Provides advice and consultation to engineering teams regarding system engineering principles and system level requirements
• Actively participates in decision making processes that involve changes to the system level design

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Prior experience in medical devices, diagnostics (IVD), or healthcare technology in a regulated environment required
• Master's or higher degree in Engineering including training and experience in systems, electronics, software and mechanical engineering
• 6+ years of experience leading the architecture and design of products spanning multiple engineering disciplines. At least 3+ years of experience leading and supporting software product development activities
• Product development experience in regulated/process driven environments is preferred
• Possesses a broad knowledge base with strong grasp of engineering principles preferably in life sciences instrumentation and apply this knowledge to address issues from technology development to concept development to product launch
• Ability to produce high-quality documentation and figures to describe complex systems concepts and architecture, requirements specifications and other process documents
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required
• Fluent in Python or an equivalent language for engineering problem solving
• Experience working with electrical, mechanical, optical, and chemical systems.
• Creative individual with strong analytical and problem solving

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Minimal; occasional travel to meet with contract engineering partners, (<10%).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is a primarily office-based role in San Diego, CA. Occasional visits to laboratory and engineering environments may be required.

COMPENSATION

The base salary range for this role is $150,000 - $175,000 per year. Individual pay may vary based on job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to base salary, this role includes meaningful equity participation, eligibility for the target bonus plan, and a comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, and flexible time off policy).

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Genalyte, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.