Systems Integration Engineer

Pilgrim; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilgrim in Redwood City is seeking a Systems Integration Engineer/Scientist to translate biological methods into automated ARGUS workflows, adapting sample prep, reagent handling, qPCR and sequencing prep to the system.

You will troubleshoot failures across biology, fluidics and controls, and work with scientists and engineers to turn scientific advances into integrated systems that perform reliably in real-world settings.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in a related field is a plus, not required.
• Experience adapting laboratory protocols to automated instruments.
• Ability to troubleshoot biological workflows and instrumentation using assay results, sensor readings, instrument logs, and bench measurements.
• Experience designing comparisons between bench and instrument performance, selecting controls, and setting measurable acceptance criteria.

Responsibilities

• Adapt sample preparation, reagent handling, qPCR, and sequencing preparation methods to automated workflows on ARGUS.
• Define operating requirements for those workflows, including sample and reagent volumes, timing, temperature, and contamination control.
• Establish bench baselines and compare automated performance using recovery, inhibition, sequencing quality, and processing time.
• Design and run integration tests from individual fluidic and instrument subsystems through complete sample-to-result workflows.
• Isolate failures across biology, fluidics, sensing, controls, and instrument software; verify causes and fixes experimentally.
• Test workflow repeatability across operating conditions and verify performance after changes to hardware, software, reagents, or protocols.
• Maintain test plans, run records, protocol versions, and instrument configurations so failures can be reproduced and fixes tracked.

Skills

Bioengineering background

Molecular biology

Problem solving

Laboratory automation

Education

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

Automated instruments

Liquid handlers

qPCR/sequencing prep

Job description

About Pilgrim:

Pilgrim is building America’s biology prime - engineering, manufacturing, and deploying advanced biotechnology for defense and national security. Our primary platform, ARGUS, is a fully autonomous system for detecting biological threats in near real time, from naturally occurring pathogens to engineered agents.

We engineer hardware for biology, turning breakthrough science into fielded capabilities. Based in Redwood City, our team brings together mechanical and electrical engineering, chemistry, and biology under one roof to deliver critical technologies to the people who need them.

About the Role:

As a Systems Integration Engineer/Scientist at Pilgrim, you’ll turn biological methods into automated workflows on ARGUS. You’ll adapt sample preparation, reagent handling, qPCR, and sequencing preparation to the system, troubleshooting failures across biology, fluidics, and controls. Working with scientists and engineers, you will translate scientific advances into integrated systems that perform reliably in the real world.

Responsibilities:

• Adapt sample preparation, reagent handling, qPCR, and sequencing preparation methods to automated workflows on ARGUS.

• Define operating requirements for those workflows, including sample and reagent volumes, timing, temperature, and contamination control.

• Establish bench baselines and compare automated performance using recovery, inhibition, sequencing quality, and processing time.

• Design and run integration tests from individual fluidic and instrument subsystems through complete sample-to-result workflows.

• Isolate failures across biology, fluidics, sensing, controls, and instrument software; verify causes and fixes experimentally.

• Test workflow repeatability across operating conditions and verify performance after changes to hardware, software, reagents, or protocols.

• Maintain test plans, run records, protocol versions, and instrument configurations so failures can be reproduced and fixes tracked.

Qualifications:

• Strong foundation in bioengineering, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related field. MS or PhD is a plus, not required.

• Experience adapting laboratory protocols to automated instruments, liquid handlers, or custom hardware.

• Ability to troubleshoot biological workflows and instrumentation using assay results, sensor readings, instrument logs, and bench measurements.

• Experience designing comparisons between bench and instrument performance, selecting controls, and setting measurable acceptance criteria.

Preferred:

• Experience with laboratory automation, liquid handling, microfluidics, cartridge-based systems, or development and testing of scientific instruments.

Pilgrim is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Certain positions require access to export-controlled information and are limited to U.S. Persons as defined by applicable export control regulations.