Operational Excellence Engineer — Process & Data

GRAIL; North Carolina; On-site; USD 94,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible time-off

401(k) employer match

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Mindfulness programs

Job summary

GRAIL in Durham, NC is seeking a Senior Engineer, Operational Excellence to drive data-backed process improvements across laboratory and operational workflows. You will analyze data, develop dashboards, and lead Lean initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and scalability in sequencing-based cancer screening operations.

The role requires 6+ years in process engineering or continuous improvement, with strong skills in SPC/QC, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years of experience in process engineering, operations, or continuous improvement roles in biotech/diagnostics/manufacturing.
• Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen methodologies knowledge; certification a plus.
• Experience with data analysis and visualization tools (Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, Power BI).
• Familiarity with SPC/QC tools; strong problem-solving and cross-team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain operational dashboards and visualizations to track performance across workflows
• Support generation and automation of 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 potential process deviations
• Apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Quality Control (QC) methods to monitor and improve process stability
• Identify leading indicators of performance issues and recommend proactive interventions
• Execute and support Lean initiatives, including 5S, Kaizen events, and Six Sigma projects
• Conduct root cause analyses (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone) and implement CAPAs
• Partner with operations teams to pilot, measure, and scale process improvements
• Capture and document operational issues, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Maintain structured tracking systems (backlogs, ticketing tools) for visibility and accountability
• Lead prioritization of improvement efforts in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders
• Work with Operations, Engineering, Software, and Product teams to implement process improvements
• Translate operational needs into clear requirements for technical teams
• Provide feedback loops to address root causes

Skills

Data analysis

Visualization tools

Lean Six Sigma

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Excel

SQL

Python

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

GRAIL in Durham, NC is seeking a Senior Engineer, Operational Excellence to drive data-backed process improvements across laboratory and operational workflows. You will analyze data, develop dashboards, and lead Lean initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and scalability in sequencing-based cancer screening operations.

The role requires 6+ years in process engineering or continuous improvement, with strong skills in SPC/QC, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration.