Sr Director/ Sr Principal Scientist, Protein Engineering at Illumina

San Diego, California, United States

Illumina Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Biotechnology, Genomics, HealthcareIndustries

Requirements

  • Expertise in the latest protein engineering techniques and methods; familiarity with DNA polymerases, transposases, reverse transcriptases, nanopores and other nucleic acid binding or modifying enzymes
  • Demonstrated leadership skills with a track record of developing and mentoring senior leaders and individual contributors in diverse contexts
  • Deep knowledge of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and hands-on experience with library preparation for Illumina sequencing systems or other sequencing technologies

Responsibilities

  • Shape and communicate the strategic vision for the protein engineering group, leading teams to execute on that vision
  • Evaluate product needs in the marketplace and provide strategic research direction for protein/enzyme improvements to enhance existing and novel products
  • Analyze internal and external assay capabilities to help create a market-leading product portfolio
  • Develop strategies to ensure effective and efficient achievement of company objectives for genomics and multiomics markets as they pertain to protein engineering
  • Translate strategy into executable operating plans, collaborating with peers across the organization to align and execute on strategic roadmaps
  • Establish cross-department and cross-functional collaborations to ensure project and program needs are met by the protein engineering team
  • Lead technology research and development teams in a highly matrixed organization
  • Manage and/or influence program and project leaders to ensure progress on multiple projects and programs remains on track
  • Develop and manage budgets for large capital expenditures and labor costs
  • Maintain a comprehensive understanding of NGS workflows, from sample acquisition to data analysis
  • Understand molecular details of NGS systems, including library preparation and sequencing chemistry
  • Write and review publications (e.g., marketing collateral, scientific papers) and present to the Illumina executive team, board of directors, and at scientific conferences

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Protein EngineeringGenomicsMultiomicsStrategic LeadershipTeam ManagementTechnology RoadmapsProduct Development

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

Is this a remote position or does it require working in the office?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What salary or compensation can I expect for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What are the key skills and experience required for this position?

The role requires visionary leadership in protein engineering, strategic vision for research direction, expertise in NGS workflows, and experience managing teams, budgets, and cross-functional collaborations in a matrixed organization.

What is the company culture like at Illumina?

Illumina fosters a collaborative environment surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world-changing projects, where every person has the opportunity to make a difference and values diversity by encouraging candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

What makes a strong candidate for this Sr Director/Sr Principal Scientist role?

Strong candidates are visionary leaders who can shape strategic vision for protein engineering, even if they don't meet every requirement, as long as they are excited about the mission and offer a competitive advantage in other aspects; experience level will determine Sr Director (managing the US function) or Sr Principal Scientist.

Illumina

Supports genomics startups through funding and resources

About Illumina

Illumina focuses on fostering innovation in the genomics industry by supporting startups through its Illumina Accelerator program. This program helps entrepreneurs create, launch, and grow genomics-focused companies by providing funding and resources. The accelerator operates in two main locations: the San Francisco Bay Area and Cambridge, UK. Illumina Accelerator has successfully invested in 68 genomics startups, which have collectively raised over $1 billion in venture capital. What sets Illumina apart from its competitors is its strong partnership with leading venture capital investors and its dedicated focus on the genomics sector. The goal of Illumina is to build a thriving ecosystem for genomics innovation, enabling new companies to emerge and advance the field.

San Diego, CaliforniaHeadquarters
1998Year Founded
$27.2MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Venture Capital, BiotechnologyIndustries
5,001-10,000Employees

Risks

Over-reliance on NVIDIA's AI technology may limit flexibility in AI solution adoption.
Standardizing proteomics data across platforms could challenge Illumina's data reliability.
Single-flow-cell NovaSeq X System might cannibalize sales of higher-end models.

Differentiation

Illumina leads in genomic sequencing with advanced AI integration and multiomic data analysis.
The company offers innovative array-based solutions for DNA, RNA, and protein analysis.
Illumina's global expansion includes a new Global Capability Center in Bengaluru.

Upsides

Collaboration with NVIDIA enhances drug discovery and clinical development through AI integration.
Pilot proteomics program with UK Biobank aims to generate crucial reference datasets.
Single-cell sequencing kits make high-throughput sequencing accessible to smaller labs.

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