Staff Electrical Engineer

Illumina; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Illumina in San Francisco seeks a Staff Electrical Engineer to lead the lifecycle management of high-performance sequencing hardware. You will own the electrical-system lifecycle from NPI through end-of-life, driving EOL decisions, supplier changes, and design improvements for flagship instruments.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate with software/firmware and product teams, and ensure SOP/WI/PLM compliance, while advancing HPC/server domain ownership and cost optimization.

Qualifications

• Experience with high-density, high-speed PCB design and layout.
• Strong background in MCU/MPU/FPGA firmware and HDL basics.
• Knowledge of x86 server hardware and PCIe/SSD interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Lead LCM projects end-to-end for flagship instruments.
• Own EOL, supplier changes, and design-modification processes.
• Guide cross-functional teams across NPI, Manufacturing, and Quality.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineers.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, WI, and PLM systems.

Skills

PCB design

FPGA

MCU/MPU

Server hardware

Test engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

SolidWorks Electrical

Job description

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?

At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.

Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

We are a leader in the development of innovative DNA sequencing instruments that transform the landscape of genomics. Our flagship products, such as the NovaSeq X and 6K series, drive scientific discoveries across healthcare and biotechnology. Join us and bring your expertise to products that make a difference globally.

As a Staff Electrical Engineer in our Lifecycle Management team, you will be a technical leader responsible for overseeing the entire electrical-system lifecycle of our high-performance sequencing products - from New Product Introduction (NPI) through sustaining phases until end-of-life. You will lead and manage technical LCM projects end-to-end, guiding a sub-team of engineers while personally driving the most complex technical investigations.

This role demands a dynamic, fast-learning, and highly flexible engineer who can manage component End-of-Life (EOL), drive supplier and design changes, and lead product improvements - all while adhering to our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions (WIs), and software/PLM platforms. Critically, you must be comfortable owning the High-Performance Compute (HPC) / Compute Engine (CE) server domain, which increasingly defines instrument performance and cost on top of generic CPU/FPGA based electronics. You will have the opportunity to lead, mentor, and grow the team, and to progress toward broader electrical-systems engineering leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• LCM Operation - Technical Project Management Lead and own LCM technical projects end-to-end - scoping, planning, execution, risk management, and release - across component EOL/shortage response, redesign, qualification, and documentation. Familiar with instrument PDP and LCM (Life Cycle Management) process.
• Oversee the electrical-system (PCA, cables, sub-systems, modules) lifecycle of flagship sequencers (NovaSeq X, 6K series) from initial development through product end-of-life.
• Proactively address electrical component EOL and supply-shortage issues, manage supplier changes, and execute design modifications to ensure product longevity and continuity of supply.
• Support and provide technical guidance on NC/RMA processing
• HPC / Compute Engine (Server) Domain Serve as a technical owner for the HPC / Compute Engine server sub-system - leading qualification, validation, DVT setup, peer design review, and release of CE hardware and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Troubleshoot server-class hardware issues (POST/boot behavior, PCIe enumeration, memory training/DIMM & SSD compatibility, BIOS/firmware interactions) and translate findings into sustainable design and sourcing actions.
• Partner with software/firmware, product development, and strategic sourcing to balance sequencing performance against CE cost and supply risk.
• Compliance, Quality & Test Ensure all engineering activities comply with internal SOPs, WIs, and company software/PLM platforms and infrastructure.
• Champion testing as a quality-control measure; contribute to the design and implementation of test fixtures and related engineering tools.
• Maintain product compliance (EMI/EMC and safety standards) through change events and support certification documentation.
• Leadership & Mentorship Act as a technical leader and mentor, guiding senior and junior engineers, and lead a sub-team as the organization grows.
• Provide technical direction during investigations, set clear ownership/SME roles, and support the EE team's leadership-succession plan.
• Maintain strong cross-functional relationships (NPI, Manufacturing, Field Service, Quality, Sourcing), driving product improvements and lifecycle decisions aligned with company goals.

Technical Requirements:

• PCB Design: Proficient in PCB design tools such as Altium Designer or similar, with experience in high-speed, high-density designs. Cable design experience (SolidWorks Electrical) is a plus.
• Microcontrollers, Processors & FPGA: In-depth understanding of MCU, MPU, and FPGA architectures, plus firmware and HDL development.
• HPC / Server Hardware: Working knowledge of x86 server platforms - CPU/memory architecture (DDR4/DDR5 DIMM/SODIMM), NVMe/U.2/U.3 SSDs, PCIe, BIOS/POST, and server boot/enumeration behavior. Ability to fast-learn new server platforms is essential.
• Test Engineering: Solid understanding of test-en