Senior Systems Architect, Flow Cytometry Platforms

Cytek Biosciences; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 176,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Cytek Biosciences is seeking an experienced Principal System Architect for instruments to define and guide architecture of next‑generation flow cytometry platforms. You will translate customer, application, and business needs into robust instrument designs with a focus on subsystem architecture, reliability, and cross‑functional execution with global teams and suppliers, including partners in China.

The role requires hands-on leadership for end‑to‑end system integration, reliability goals, and

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Physics, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience developing complex analytical, diagnostic, or life science instrumentation.
• Demonstrated experience in system architecture and cross-functional technical leadership.
• Strong understanding of fluidics systems, including flow control, microfluidics, particle transport, and contamination mitigation.
• Experience with reliability engineering methods such as FMEA, fault tree analysis, root cause analysis, and reliability growth.
• Direct experience with Class I, II, or III medical devices, including 510(k) cleared products
• Experience operating in a cGMP-compliant environment
• Ability to translate customer and product needs into clear engineering requirements and trade-offs.
• Strong communicator who can teach, coach, and influence without formal authority
• Hands-on problem solver who enjoys working on the production floor as well as in documentation systems
• Ability to travel internationally (up to 20%) to support global manufacturing and cross-site collaboration

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end system architecture for flow cytometry instruments, ensuring strong integration of fluidics, optics, electronics, software, and serviceability requirements.
• Define system requirements, interface specifications, and performance budgets to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and scalability.
• Lead architecture decisions for fluidics subsystems, including sample handling, sheath flow, flow cell design, clog resistance, and contamination control.
• Drive reliability engineering activities, including failure mode analysis, reliability risk assessment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and long-term robustness improvements.
• Establish and track system-level reliability goals such as uptime, MTBF, failure rates, maintenance intervals, and field performance metrics.
• Collaborate with R&D, quality, manufacturing, service, and NPI teams to ensure design choices support product reliability and lifecycle performance.
• Work with internal teams and suppliers in China to align on technical requirements, resolve issues, support qualification, and drive on-time execution.
• Participate in supplier development, design reviews, risk mitigation, and technical issue resolution with global and China-based partners.
• Guide subsystem teams through integration, verification, and validation activities, ensuring robust performance under real-world use conditions.
• Support design for manufacturability, serviceability, and supply chain resilience.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across engineering teams.

Skills

System architecture leadership

Fluidics expertise

Reliability engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Troubleshooting/root-cause analysis

Medical device experience

Travel up to 20%

Education

Ph.D. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

CFD

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Cytek Biosciences is seeking an experienced Principal System Architect for instruments to define and guide architecture of next‑generation flow cytometry platforms. You will translate customer, application, and business needs into robust instrument designs with a focus on subsystem architecture, reliability, and cross‑functional execution with global teams and suppliers, including partners in China.

The role requires hands-on leadership for end‑to‑end system integration, reliability goals, and