Sr. Director/Director, Software Engineering - Early Cancer Detection (ECD)

Natera • San Carlos, CA

1d

About The Position

Natera is at the forefront of personalized genetic testing, transforming the management of disease worldwide. We are at the cusp of a new inflection point with the development of the next generation of life-saving products in Early Cancer Detection (ECD).
We are seeking a seasoned and visionary Sr. Director/Director of Engineering to lead the software strategy and development for our Early Cancer Detection (ECD) portfolio. You will architect and build the technical foundation for a suite of software products designed to detect cancer earlier than ever before, acting as the technical bridge between cutting-edge R&D and a scalable, regulated commercial software platform.
This role requires a leader who thrives in a "Zero-to-One" environment, possessing the scrappiness of a startup founder combined with the rigor required for Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). You will establish an internal startup culture defined by high agency, urgency, and agile execution while ensuring strict adherence to regulatory standards.

Requirements

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role (Director or above) within the HealthTech, MedTech, or Biotech space.
• Proven track record of building "Zero-to-One" products, taking complex software from initial concept through clinical validation to commercial launch.
• Deep experience in a highly regulated environment, with specific expertise in SaMD, FDA design controls, and HIPAA/GDPR compliance.
• Strong technical background in cloud-native architectures (AWS), distributed systems, and handling large-scale genomic or clinical datasets.
• BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (PhD is a plus).

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the multi-year engineering roadmap for the ECD business unit, balancing the need for rapid prototyping with long-term commercial stability.
• Serve as the technical visionary for the ECD software suite, translating complex scientific and clinical requirements into robust, scalable software solutions.
• Champion a culture of "high agency" and urgency, driving the team to navigate ambiguity and deliver critical milestones in a fast-paced environment.
• Lead the end-to-end "Zero-to-One" development of ECD software solutions, from sample ordering to reports back to clinicians.
• Oversee the transition of research prototypes (e.g., CRC screening, MCED) into robust, commercial-grade software products.
• Drive cross-functional execution with Product Management, R&D, and Lab Operations to ensure software solutions meet user needs and business goals.
• Collaborate closely with Computational Biology and Bioinformatics teams to productionize complex algorithms into scalable clinical workflows.
• Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure all software complies with FDA (PMA/510k), IEC 62304, and ISO 13485 standards.
• Serve as the engineering technical lead for regulatory submissions and audits, ensuring documentation and processes meet the highest standards of SaMD compliance.
• Embed compliance and security into the software development lifecycle (SDLC) without compromising development velocity.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain a world-class team of Full-Stack, DevOps, and Data Engineers.
• Foster an engineering culture of accountability, user-centered design, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical mentorship and career development coaching to engineering managers and technical leads.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Additional wellness and work-life benefits
• Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents.
• Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits.
• Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more.
• We also offer a generous employee referral program!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees