Staff Program Manager, Technical

Illumina; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Equity

Bonus/commission

Job summary

Illumina in San Diego is seeking a Staff Program Manager, Technical to lead high‑impact platform initiatives across hardware, software, and consumables. You will shape integrated plans, drive governance, and align cross‑functional teams with business objectives in a highly matrixed environment.

Role requires 8+ years of program management experience, PMP certification, and a track record of managing complex cross‑functional programs in FDA‑regulated settings.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related program management experience in a matrixed environment.
• Experience leading complex cross‑functional technical initiatives including hardware and software.
• Familiarity with FDA‑regulated product environments and design controls.
• Ability to develop integrated schedules, budgets, and executive‑level status reporting.
• Proven capability to drive execution without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of platform initiatives spanning product improvements, reliability enhancements, and lifecycle management.
• Partner with Product, Development, Quality, Operations, Regulatory, Marketing, and Commercial teams to prioritize work.
• Develop and communicate integrated program plans with scope, schedules, resources, dependencies, risks, budgets, and milestones.
• Coordinate OMCT activities and governance forums to drive alignment and decision‑making.
• Drive cross‑functional planning for platform investments and operational initiatives.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Executive reporting

Risk management

Stakeholder alignment

Communication

Decision‑making

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree

PMP certification

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Responsibilities:

• Lead execution of High Throughput platform initiatives spanning product improvements, reliability enhancements, quality actions, lifecycle management activities, and business performance objectives.
• Partner with Product Technical Leads, Development, Quality, Operations, Service, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Marketing, and Commercial teams to define and execute platform priorities.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate integrated program plans, including scope, schedules, resource requirements, dependencies, risks, budgets, and milestones.
• Coordinate execution of On-Market Core Team (OMCT) activities, governance forums, and executive reviews to drive alignment, accountability, and decision‑making.
• Drive cross‑functional planning and prioritization for platform investments, sustaining activities, customer‑driven improvements, and operational initiatives.
• Identify, manage, and communicate program risks, issues, dependencies, and trade‑offs while facilitating escalation and resolution pathways.
• Track and report program performance, key milestones, and portfolio health metrics to functional and executive leadership.
• Support lifecycle management activities, including product enhancements, obsolescence planning, end‑of‑support readiness, serviceability improvements, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Lead execution planning for design changes, quality improvements, corrective actions, field issues, and post‑market initiatives.
• Partner with finance and functional leaders on resource planning, capacity management, budget forecasting, and investment prioritization.
• Drive continuous improvement of governance, portfolio management, and program management processes to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Facilitate communication across stakeholders and ensure alignment between technical execution, customer needs, business objectives, and regulatory requirements.

Requirements:

• Strong program management experience leading complex cross‑functional technical initiatives in a highly matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage integrated schedules, resource plans, budgets, and executive‑level status reporting.
• Expertise in program governance, risk management, issue resolution, and stakeholder alignment.
• Proven ability to drive execution across multiple functions without direct authority.
• Strong understanding of product lifecycle management, sustaining engineering, and post‑market product support.
• Experience managing programs involving hardware, software, consumables, and/or integrated product systems.
• Knowledge of FDA‑regulated product environments, design controls, risk management, and change management processes.
• Ability to evaluate technical, operational, customer, regulatory, and business impacts when making program recommendations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and executive‑influence skills.
• Familiarity with next‑generation sequencing platforms, molecular biology, genomics, or life science instrumentation preferred.
• Experience supporting quality investigations, corrective actions, field actions, post‑launch activities, or sustaining programs preferred.

Education and Experience:

Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years of experience; or equivalent experience. Typically requires a current PMP certification. Experience with product development preferred. #LI-HYBRID

Salary and Benefits:

The estimated base salary range for the Staff Program Manager, Technical role based in the United States of America is: $129,400 - $194,000. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. The range reflects long‑term growth in the role; therefore, most candidates are hired between the minimum and middle of the range. Placement depends on experience, skills, location, and internal equity. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package.

• access to genomics sequencing
• family planning
• health/dental/vision
• retirement benefits
• paid time off
• variable cash programs (bonus or commission)
• equity as part of the compensation package

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission.

Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritised openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics.

We are proud to confirm a zero‑net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race.

We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information.

Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf.

The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

The potential of genomics to change the world is unparalleled. At Illumina, we are leading the way. Our technology empowers researchers and clinicians globally to improve cancer treatments, change the course of diseases, protect the environment, and fight food insecurity. We are made up of dedicated professionals, all-in on creating a better world – and we need every skill set on our path to making genomics useful for all.