Staff Engineer Laboratory Operations - Client Technology

Biopharma Careers; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k plan

Medical, dental & vision coverage

Life & disability insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Discretionary bonus program

Stock options

Paid vacation & holidays

Job summary

Exelixis is seeking a Staff Engineer – Client Technology in California to own and evolve an IT product or capability end-to-end. You will manage AI-assisted workflows, ensure security and audit compliance, and drive telemetry-driven improvements.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, Agile delivery, and robust operational excellence in a fast-paced biotech environment.

Qualifications

• Own and administer complex IT products or capabilities.
• Develop secure, production-grade scripts and automations.
• Support IT products in a cross-functional environment.
• Familiarity with IT security frameworks and best practices.
• Experience in Agile environments and using ticketing systems (JIRA, JSM).

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of an IT product or capability, from design to support.
• Drive product OKRs and quarterly roadmap progress.
• Maintain AI-assisted workflow backlog and plan rollout with security in mind.
• Lead incident response, root cause analysis, and resolution for critical issues.

Skills

Client technology domain

Automation scripting

Security/compliance

Agile familiarity

Cross-functional collaboration

Troubleshooting

Education

Associate’s degree + 9 years

Bachelor’s degree + 7 years

Equivalent education/experience

Technical certification may be required

Tools

JIRA

JSM

Job description

SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE

The Staff Engineer – Client Technology is an experienced engineer responsible for full ownership of an IT solution or capability. This role is entrusted with powerful tools and platforms to deliver scalable, secure, and automated solutions that enhance the client experience. Implements and refines human-verified, AI-enabled workflows for improved reliability, reporting, and operational consistency, while maintaining security and audit compliance. Owns AI-assisted workflow performance (accuracy, repeatability, and operational impact) and drives continuous improvement through telemetry and feedback loops.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Strategy & Roadmap:

• Own the full lifecycle of an IT product or capability, leading the approach to design, development, deployment, maintenance, backup and support
• Responsible for product OKRs and quarterly roadmap progress
• Maintain an AI-assisted workflow backlog for the owned capability (use cases, guardrails, measurement, rollout plan) and incorporate learnings into OKRs and roadmap progress

Product Development & Delivery:

• Resolve complex technical problems and drive engineering solutions in the product area
• Administer IT systems and tools with a high degree of complexity
• Develop a strategy to update all endpoints in the product area, utilizing AI-assisted planning and communication, where approved, to minimize disruption while adhering to security requirements and maintaining human approval for executing changes
• Leverage Agile principles for product planning and capability delivery
• Establish and maintain a security posture for assigned products or capabilities

Stakeholder Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement and validate solutions as needed
• Meet with stakeholders and incorporate feedback into the product roadmap through multiple means and channels

Operational Excellence, Quality & Compliance:

• Drive operational excellence in the product area, working proactively to identify areas of improvement
• Document architecture, configurations, and operational procedures
• Lead incident response, root cause analysis, and resolution for critical system issues
• Design and maintain AI-assisted workflow steps (human-in-the-loop) that connect knowledge, tickets, and diagnostics to reduce mean time to resolution while preserving safe execution
• Define quality gates for AI-assisted workflows (validation steps, rollback criteria, audit logging expectations) and review performance regularly to prevent drift
• Treat prompts, runbooks, and knowledge artifacts as production assets (versioned, reviewed, and improved based on incident trends)
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all policies and standards

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

No supervisory responsibilities.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES

Education

• Associate’s degree and 9 years of experience; or
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 7 years of related experience; or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Technical certification may be required

Experience

• Demonstrated experience owning and administering complex IT products or capabilities
• Experience developing secure, production-grade scripts and automations
• Experience with supporting IT products in a cross-functional environment
• Familiarity with IT security frameworks and best practices
• Experience working in Agile environments and using ticketing systems (e.g., JIRA, JSM)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Deep technical expertise in a client technology domain (e.g., endpoint management, laboratory technologies, etc.)
• Strong troubleshooting skills across integrated systems and platforms
• Experience designing and implementing technical solutions aligned with business needs
• Proficient in automation, monitoring, and reporting tools
• Ability to influence process improvements and contribute to strategic planning
• Advanced knowledge of product-centric and agile framework models
• Effective communication with cross-functional teams and end users

Travel Requirements

5% Occasional travel (5–10%)

Physical Requirements

May require lifting equipment up to 25 lbs.

Environmental Requirements

Our office is a modern, open-plan space that fosters collaboration and creativity.

Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere.

We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.

Compensation and Benefits

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across severalU.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The base pay range for this positionis $131,500 - $187,000 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate’s geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate’s geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.

In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long‑term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company‑wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the recruiting process, please email us at: [e-mail].

Working Conditions

Our office is a modern space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.