Director, System Architecture & Innovation

Thermo Fisher Scientific • Pleasanton, CA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Genetic Sciences Division is evolving from instrument-focused development toward integrated, workflow-driven solutions powered by automation, data and artificial intelligence. The Director of System Architecture & Innovation will define and drive enterprise system architecture while leading engineering innovation across genetic-science platforms. The role combines multidisciplinary system architecture, molecular biology workflows and customer science, laboratory automation and connected systems, AI-enabled instruments and intelligent workflows, and advanced technology incubation and product translation.

The successful candidate will bring engineering credibility and an understanding of molecular biology, customer workflows and scientific applications. The leader will ensure that innovation translates into differentiated, scalable and commercially relevant system solutions.

The role shapes and governs architecture across instruments, consumables, assays, firmware, software and data; advances integrated workflows, automation and AI; identifies and translates emerging technologies and scientific trends; builds architecture and innovation capabilities; and aligns global teams and enterprise stakeholders around shared technology direction. It includes leading an organization spanning system architecture, embedded systems, advanced technology and automation, and representing engineering in senior product, portfolio and technology governance forums.

Requirements

• Extensive experience developing complex systems in life sciences, diagnostics, medical devices, laboratory automation or advanced scientific instrumentation.
• Demonstrated leadership in multidisciplinary system architecture and integration across hardware, firmware, software, data and scientific workflows.
• Proven success translating emerging technologies into validated system capabilities or commercial products.
• Experience leading technical organizations and influencing within a global, matrixed enterprise.
• Experience working in regulated or highly quality-controlled product-development environments.
• Deep knowledge of multidisciplinary system architecture and system-level trade-off analysis.
• Strong understanding of molecular biology workflows, scientific applications and how customers use genetic-analysis technologies.
• Technical depth in several relevant areas, such as genomics, multiomics, sample preparation, microfluidics, optical detection, automation or embedded systems.
• Experience architecting solutions that integrate instruments, consumables, assays, software and data.
• Understanding of laboratory automation ecosystems, including liquid handling, robotics and workflow orchestration.
• Working knowledge of AI/ML architectures, data pipelines and requirements for trustworthy AI-enabled product capabilities.
• Ability to evaluate technologies and investments based on customer differentiation, scientific value, feasibility and scalability.
• Enterprise-minded leadership connecting architecture and innovation to customer, portfolio and business value.
• Technical credibility and scientific curiosity, with judgment to make difficult multidisciplinary decisions.
• Ability to create strategic clarity, challenge assumptions constructively and surface risks early.
• Ability to move with urgency while maintaining scientific and engineering rigor.
• Ability to attract, develop and inspire technical talent and future leaders.
• Ability to influence effectively across executives, business leaders, disciplines and global sites.
• Ability to convert ambitious ideas, including AI-enabled concepts, into responsible, measurable outcomes.

Nice To Haves

• PhD in engineering, bioengineering, biophysics, applied physics, computer science or a related technical or scientific discipline.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve system architecture across Genetic Sciences Division platforms, spanning instruments, consumables, assays, firmware, software and data.
• Establish reference architectures, interface standards and reuse strategies to improve modularity, scalability and lifecycle resilience.
• Lead system-level trade-offs involving scientific performance, customer experience, cost, complexity, reliability and product risk.
• Establish architecture governance through design reviews, architecture decision records and visibility of technical debt.
• Drive architectural convergence across platforms while preserving meaningful product differentiation and reflecting complete customer workflows.
• Architect end-to-end solutions integrating instruments, consumables, assays, liquid handlers, robotics, workflow software and data systems.
• Define and advance Lab-of-the-Future capabilities, including automated sample-to-answer workflows and connected laboratory ecosystems.
• Develop Lab-in-the-Loop concepts using experimental data, automation and real-time feedback to adapt, optimize and accelerate scientific workflows.
• Identify high-value AI applications in instruments, workflow orchestration, experimental design, data interpretation, predictive diagnostics and engineering development.
• Ensure AI-enabled capabilities are scalable and developed with appropriate data quality, cybersecurity, traceability, validation and human oversight.
• Promote interoperability across instruments, automation platforms and software environments.
• Identify emerging technologies and scientific trends that can create differentiated customer value.
• Translate customer, KOL and scientific insights into technology priorities and system concepts.
• Establish pathways from exploration and feasibility through system validation and product integration.
• Evaluate innovation investments based on customer value, scientific performance, technical feasibility, scalability and business potential.
• Build partnerships with customers, academic researchers, startups, technology providers and internal R&D teams.
• Lead and develop an organization spanning system architecture, embedded systems, advanced technology and automation.
• Recruit and develop architects, engineering leaders, innovators and emerging technical talent; build succession depth for critical technical and leadership roles.
• Strengthen organizational capability in systems thinking, cross-platform integration and AI-enabled system design.
• Create a culture of hands-on experimentation, curiosity, constructive challenge and disciplined execution.
• Establish clear decision rights and accountability without unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Partner with R&D, business, product management, quality and regulatory leaders to align technology and platform strategies.
• Translate complex technical decisions into customer, portfolio, investment and business implications.
• Align teams across the Bay Area, Singapore and India around shared architecture and technology direction.
• Represent engineering in senior product, portfolio and technology governance forums.
• Communicate a compelling technical vision and influence across functions, platforms and organizational boundaries.

Benefits

• Choice of national medical and dental plans and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs.
• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
• At least 120 hours of paid time off (PTO) and 10 paid holidays annually.
• Paid parental leave, including 3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave.
• Accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy.
• Competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with eligible colleagues able to purchase company stock at a discount.
• May be eligible for a variable annual bonus based on company, team and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree