Systems Design Engineer - Bioengineering

Thermo Fisher Scientific • Pleasanton, CA

6d • $107,800 - $143,800 • Onsite

About The Position

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Genetic Sciences Division develops integrated platforms, instruments, consumables and reagents for research and clinical applications. The division is seeking an early-career Bioengineer to help develop next-generation genetic-analysis, multiomics and automated scientific workflows. This hands-on systems role involves building prototypes, designing experiments, integrating technologies and using data to solve multidisciplinary problems. The engineer will contribute to system definition, architecture, integration and verification across instruments, consumables, assays, software and data, working with experienced scientists and engineers. The position is fully onsite at the Pleasanton, California facility; relocation assistance is not provided.

The role supports product development from early feasibility through integration, verification and design transfer. Work includes translating customer and scientific needs into requirements, contributing to system architecture and technical trade studies, building and testing integrated prototypes, developing automated experiments and analyzing results. The engineer will also apply computational modeling, model-based systems engineering, data science, machine learning and AI-assisted methods, while independently validating generated results through analysis and experimentation.

The position connects biology and engineering by evaluating interactions among samples, assays, reagents, consumables, instruments and software, and supporting genetic-analysis and sample-preparation workflows. It also advances automation through integration of sensors, microcontrollers, liquid handlers, robotics and instrument-control tools. The role contributes to products for research-use and regulated markets.

Requirements

• PhD in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, biophysics or a related field, with zero to approximately three years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree in a related discipline with approximately two or more years of relevant research or industry experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with approximately five or more years of relevant product-development experience.
• Hands-on experience developing experimental systems, prototypes or engineering solutions for biological applications.
• Experience working across scientific and engineering disciplines.
• Strong foundation in bioengineering, molecular biology, biophysics or biological-system development.
• Hands-on experience with several of the following: molecular biology or sample-preparation workflows; microfluidics and fluid handling; optical, electrical or mechanical instrumentation; sensors, data acquisition and instrument control; robotics or laboratory automation; CAD and rapid prototyping; computational modeling and simulation; statistics, machine learning or AI.
• Experience with systems-engineering practices, including requirements, interfaces, risk analysis and V&V.
• Familiarity with DOE, RCA, FMEA and statistical analysis.
• Proficiency with Python, MATLAB, JMP, R, LabVIEW, SolidWorks or comparable platforms.
• Hands-on, experimental approach to building and learning from prototypes and data.
• Ability to work across biology, engineering, software and emerging technology, including in ambiguous and complex technical situations.
• Strong data orientation and attention to system-level effects.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across disciplines and communicate technical results clearly in writing and presentations.
• Ability to move quickly while maintaining scientific rigor and reproducibility.
• Sound engineering judgment in using and validating AI-assisted results.

Nice To Haves

• Industry experience is valued, though academic work demonstrating practical system development and problem-solving may also qualify.
• Experience with qPCR, dPCR, CE/Sanger sequencing, microarray, NGS, DNA synthesis or related workflows is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with customers, scientists, engineers and external partners to understand product and workflow needs.
• Translate customer and scientific needs into system requirements, specifications and measurable performance targets.
• Maintain traceability among customer needs, system requirements, subsystem requirements and verification evidence.
• Contribute to system architecture, interface definition, concept development and technical trade studies.
• Evaluate candidate concepts based on scientific performance, feasibility, throughput, cost, usability and risk.
• Support products from early feasibility through integration, verification and design transfer.
• Design and build prototypes integrating optical, electrical, mechanical, fluidic, biological and software components.
• Develop test fixtures, automated experiments and data-acquisition methods.
• Conduct system integration, testing and troubleshooting of complex instrumentation and consumable workflows.
• Design experimental plans, conduct studies and analyze results using appropriate statistical methods.
• Investigate failures using root-cause analysis, DOE, FMEA and structured problem-solving.
• Provide data-driven recommendations through reports, presentations and technical discussions.
• Contribute to design reviews, risk assessments and product-development documentation.
• Develop models for process behavior, throughput, performance and system trade-offs.
• Apply MBSE practices to connect workflows, requirements, system behavior, interfaces and verification.
• Use computational tools for modeling, data analysis and visualization; apply machine learning and advanced analytics to identify patterns, anomalies and system-performance drivers.
• Use AI-assisted tools for literature review, concept exploration, coding, experiment design and technical analysis, and validate AI-generated results through independent analysis and experimentation.
• Develop reproducible analysis pipelines with appropriate version control, documentation and scientific review.
• Evaluate interactions among samples, assays, reagents, consumables, instruments and software.
• Support genetic-analysis and sample-preparation workflows such as qPCR, dPCR, sequencing or multiomics.
• Help teams understand sources of biological and technical variability.
• Partner with assay, consumables, systems, automation and V&V teams to improve performance and robustness.
• Ensure engineering decisions reflect complete customer workflows rather than isolated components.
• Contribute to development of products for research-use and regulated markets.
• Integrate sensors, microcontrollers, instruments, liquid handlers or robotics into experimental systems.
• Develop scripts and software tools for instrument control, automated testing and data collection.
• Use CAD, simulation, rapid prototyping and laboratory fabrication to evaluate concepts quickly.
• Apply model-based and automated methods to reduce development cycles and physical iteration.
• Explore AI applications in workflow optimization, anomaly detection, predictive modeling and intelligent instruments.
• Introduce useful new tools and methods while learning from experienced product developers.

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: 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), offering eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
• Potential eligibility 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: Entry Level