Sr Principal Scientist, Protein Engineering

Illumina•San Diego, CA

About The Position

Illumina is a global leader in genomics, dedicated to advancing healthcare through continuous innovation. We are seeking a visionary leader to join our Advanced Sciences department in the area of protein engineering. Depending on experience, career aspirations, and business needs, candidates may be considered for either the Sr Principal Scientist role. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of genomics and multiomics applications, lead cutting-edge research, and collaborate across disciplines. The successful candidate will provide strategic and technical leadership for the Protein Engineering function, influencing technology roadmaps and driving the development of innovative products. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds and experiences to apply, including those who may not meet every requirement but are excited about the opportunity to contribute to our mission and can provide a competitive advantage in other aspects of the role.

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.
Experience in taking conceptual research through development to a viable product for commercialization.
Strong program and project management skills, including scope, scheduling, budget, and resource management.
Excellent presentation skills for diverse audiences.
Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 20 years of related experience, with 12+ years of Management experience.
Experience managing and mentoring senior-level PhD scientists across various disciplines while overseeing product development projects.
Broad knowledge of all areas within protein engineering.
Deep technical knowledge in a variety of functions, gained from experience in both non-management and management roles.

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.