Staff Electrical Engineer

Illumina•Hayward, CA

10d•$148,500 - $222,700

About The Position

As a Staff Electrical Engineer in our Lifecycle Management team, you will be a technical leader responsible for overseeing the entire electrical-system lifecycle of our high-performance sequencing products — from New Product Introduction (NPI) through sustaining phases until end-of-life. You will lead and manage technical LCM projects end-to-end, guiding a sub-team of engineers while personally driving the most complex technical investigations. This role demands a dynamic, fast-learning, and highly flexible engineer who can manage component End-of-Life (EOL), drive supplier and design changes, and lead product improvements — all while adhering to our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions (WIs), and software/PLM platforms. Critically, you must be comfortable owning the High-Performance Compute (HPC) / Compute Engine (CE) server domain, which increasingly defines instrument performance and cost on top of generic CPU/FPGA based electronics. You will have the opportunity to lead, mentor, and grow the team, and to progress toward broader electrical-systems engineering leadership.

Requirements

Proficient in PCB design tools such as Altium Designer or similar, with experience in high-speed, high-density designs.
In-depth understanding of MCU, MPU, and FPGA architectures, plus firmware and HDL development.
Working knowledge of x86 server platforms — CPU/memory architecture (DDR4/DDR5 DIMM/SODIMM), NVMe/U.2/U.3 SSDs, PCIe, BIOS/POST, and server boot/enumeration behavior. Ability to fast-learn new server platforms is essential.
Solid understanding of test-engineering principles, fixture design, and the purpose of testing within quality assurance.
Strong analytical skills to evaluate system-level impacts of component changes, diagnose issues quickly, and implement sustainable solutions.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (8+ years experience), Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (6+ years), or PhD in Electrical Engineering (3+ years).
Demonstrated experience leading full-lifecycle management of electronic systems in complex products, including technical project ownership and mentoring.
Proven ability to rapidly acquire new technical domains (e.g., HPC/server hardware) and adapt to company-specific processes and workflows.
Business acumen, sense of urgency, ownership mindset, strong communication, and leadership abilities.

Nice To Haves

Cable design experience (SolidWorks Electrical) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and own LCM technical projects end-to-end — scoping, planning, execution, risk management, and release — across component EOL/shortage response, redesign, qualification, and documentation. Familiar with instrument PDP and LCM (Life Cycle Management) process.
Oversee the electrical-system (PCA, cables, sub-systems, modules) lifecycle of flagship sequencers (NovaSeq X, 6K series) from initial development through product end-of-life.
Proactively address electrical component EOL and supply-shortage issues, manage supplier changes, and execute design modifications to ensure product longevity and continuity of supply.
Support and provide technical guidance on NC/RMA processing
Serve as a technical owner for the HPC / Compute Engine server sub-system — leading qualification, validation, DVT setup, peer design review, and release of CE hardware and cost-reduction initiatives.
Troubleshoot server-class hardware issues (POST/boot behavior, PCIe enumeration, memory training/DIMM & SSD compatibility, BIOS/firmware interactions) and translate findings into sustainable design and sourcing actions.
Partner with software/firmware, product development, and strategic sourcing to balance sequencing performance against CE cost and supply risk.
Ensure all engineering activities comply with internal SOPs, WIs, and company software/PLM platforms and infrastructure.
Champion testing as a quality-control measure; contribute to the design and implementation of test fixtures and related engineering tools.
Maintain product compliance (EMI/EMC and safety standards) through change events and support certification documentation.
Act as a technical leader and mentor, guiding senior and junior engineers, and lead a sub-team as the organization grows.
Provide technical direction during investigations, set clear ownership/SME roles, and support the EE team’s leadership-succession plan.
Maintain strong cross-functional relationships (NPI, Manufacturing, Field Service, Quality, Sourcing), driving product improvements and lifecycle decisions aligned with company goals.