Director of Industrial Design

Illumina • San Diego, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Illumina is seeking a Director of Industrial Design to lead and evolve its industrial design practice. This senior leadership role requires a visionary, hands-on leader who can operate at both strategic and execution levels. The Director will define how industrial design integrates with digital experiences and packaging systems across the entire product ecosystem. Responsibilities include leading a high-performing team, shaping a forward-looking design vision, and collaborating cross-functionally to bring products to market that are functional, manufacturable, intuitive, cohesive, and differentiated. The role is part of the Experience Design department within Illumina's Research & Development organization, focusing on delivering human-centered experiences across hardware, software, and brand.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience leading industrial design at the Director level or above.
• Advanced degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field.
• Proven track record of delivering complex physical products and packaging systems at scale.
• Demonstrated ability to define and execute a compelling design vision across hardware, digital, and packaging ecosystems.
• Deep expertise in industrial design fundamentals: form, materials, manufacturing, ergonomics, and human factors.
• Strong experience leading and growing high-performing teams in a player-coach model.
• Expertise in packaging systems design, including materials, manufacturing, sustainability, logistics, and cost optimization.
• Strong systems thinking across end-to-end user experiences.
• Excellent storytelling, communication, and executive presentation skills.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional partners and senior leadership.
• Experience designing connected or hybrid physical-digital products.
• Strong command of 3D design tools (e.g. Solidworks, Rhino).
• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 18 years of related experience, with 10+ years of Management experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, life sciences) is a plus.
• Familiarity with UX/UI design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch) is a plus.
• Understanding of front-end technologies (HTML/CSS) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive a clear, forward-looking industrial design vision across Illumina.
• Establish and champion a unified design vision spanning physical products, digital experiences, and packaging systems.
• Elevate design as a strategic partner in product and business decision-making.
• Ensure consistency in design language, brand expression, and user experience across the portfolio.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing industrial design team.
• Foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and design excellence.
• Operate as a player-coach, providing direction while staying close to the work.
• Coach and develop designers through feedback, mentorship, and clear expectations.
• Lead the design of complex products from early concept through production.
• Oversee end-to-end product and packaging system design, ensuring quality, usability, and manufacturability at scale.
• Balance user needs, technical constraints, cost, and operational realities.
• Maintain a high bar for craft, detail, and innovation.
• Define and drive packaging systems strategy as a core part of the product experience.
• Integrate packaging into the full user journey—from unboxing to disposal or reuse.
• Lead design decisions across materials, sustainability, logistics, and global scalability.
• Ensure packaging aligns with brand, product, and operational goals.
• Partner with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations.
• Align stakeholders around a cohesive product and experience vision.
• Influence senior leadership through clear storytelling and design rationale.
• Establish scalable design processes, tools, and workflows.
• Manage resources, timelines, and budgets across multiple programs.
• Drive efficient execution without compromising quality.
• Champion bold thinking and creative exploration.
• Bring new ideas, technologies, and methodologies into the organization.
• Stay ahead of trends across industrial design, packaging, and connected experiences.

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director