Operational Excellence Engineer (Lean & Data-Driven)

Grailbio; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 69,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible time-off

401(k) with employer match

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Mindfulness programs

Job summary

GRAIL is seeking an Engineer, Operational Excellence to drive continuous improvement across our sequencing operations in Durham, NC. You will own data-driven process improvements, KPI reporting, and Lean/SixSigma projects working with Operations, Engineering, and Product teams.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 3+ years in process or operations improvement, with proficiency in Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, and Power BI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in process engineering, operations, or continuous improvement roles, ideally in biotech, diagnostics, or manufacturing.
• Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies knowledge; certification is a plus.
• Experience with data analysis and visualization tools (Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, Power BI).
• Familiarity with SPC/QC tools and statistical analysis techniques.
• Strong problem-solving skills with attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across teams.

Responsibilities

• Support continuous improvement initiatives within sequencing-based cancer screening operations.
• Generate and automate KPI reporting, ensuring data integrity and usability.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to refine metrics and improve visibility into operational performance.
• Perform data exploration and statistical analysis to identify trends, variation, and process deviations.
• Apply SPC and QC methods to monitor and improve process stability.
• Lead Lean initiatives including 5S, Kaizen events, and Six Sigma projects.
• Pilot, measure, and scale process improvements with operations teams.
• Capture and document operational issues, risks, and improvement opportunities; prioritize with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Work with Operations, Engineering, Software, and Product teams to implement process improvements.

Skills

Lean methodologies

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Data analysis

SQL

Python

Tableau

Power BI

SPC/QC tools

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Industrial Engineering, or related field

Tools

Excel

SQL

Python

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

GRAIL is seeking an Engineer, Operational Excellence to drive continuous improvement across our sequencing operations in Durham, NC. You will own data-driven process improvements, KPI reporting, and Lean/SixSigma projects working with Operations, Engineering, and Product teams.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 3+ years in process or operations improvement, with proficiency in Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, and Power BI.