Systems R&D Engineer

Are you a hands-on engineer who enjoys figuring out how biology, instrumentation, hardware, and software work together?

Are you interested in solving open-ended technical problems and developing next-generation life-science technologies?

Do you thrive in an environment with diversity, communication, collaboration, and teamwork as the core values?

As the Systems R&D Engineer, you will help develop, integrate, test, troubleshoot, and improve next-generation sequencing and multi-omics technologies. You will work alongside experienced systems engineers, scientists, software engineers, and hardware engineers across bioengineering, biochemistry, optics, fluidics, motion control, electronics, automation, software, and data analysis.

This is an early-career opportunity for someone with broad engineering interests, strong solution-finding skills, and hands-on training across multiple engineering fields. Previous DNA sequencing or NGS experience is helpful but not required. We place greater emphasis on problem-solving ability, hands-on technical skills, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to learn new technologies quickly.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• Build & Integrate: Develop, integrate, and test prototypes, breadboards, fixtures, instruments, and experimental setups involving hardware, software, and biological systems.

• Experiment & Troubleshoot: Design experiments and test methods to characterize system performance, investigate technical problems, identify root causes and failure mechanisms, and recommend improvements.

• Work Across Technologies: Gain hands-on experience with technologies such as optics and imaging, lasers and cameras, fluidics and microfluidics, precision motion, electronics, thermal control, automation, and biological assays.

• Analyze Data: Use Python and other analytical tools to collect and analyze experimental and instrument data, identify trends, and support technical decisions.

• Connect Biology & Engineering: Investigate interactions among biochemistry, proteins and biological assays, flow cells and consumables, instrumentation, hardware, software, and data.

• Develop New Technology: Contribute ideas and experimental work toward improving existing systems and developing proof-of-concept technologies for future sequencing and multi-omics platforms.

• Collaborate & Communicate: Work with multidisciplinary Engineering and Science teams in the U.S. and internationally and document methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations through technical discussions, reports, and design reviews.

WHERE YOU WILL WORK

• Location: On-site at our San Jose, California location.

• Travel: Approximately 5–10%, including occasional international travel.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING US

We are primarily looking for three things:

• Broad Engineering Interests: Curiosity across multiple engineering and scientific disciplines and an interest in understanding how different technologies work together.

• Solution-Finding Skills: Ability to approach unfamiliar technical problems, experiment, troubleshoot systematically, identify root causes, and find practical solutions—even when information is incomplete.

• Hands-on Multidisciplinary Training: Experience building, testing, or experimenting across multiple technical areas through coursework, research, internships, laboratory work, projects, or industry experience.

You will also bring:

• Early-Career Experience: Approximately 0–2 years of relevant engineering experience. Strong recent graduates with relevant academic projects, internships, laboratory work, or research experience are encouraged to apply.

• Bioengineering & Life Sciences: Exposure to areas such as bioengineering, biochemistry, proteins, biological assays, biotechnology, genomics, or other engineered biological systems.

• Engineering Exposure: Hands-on experience with some combination of instrumentation, motion control, electronics, fluidics/microfluidics, optics, imaging, lasers, robotics, automation, or thermal systems.

• Programming & Data: Experience using Python for experimental data analysis, automation, or other technical applications, with a basic understanding of experimental design and quantitative analysis.

• Teamwork & Communication: Ability to collaborate with engineers and scientists from different technical disciplines and clearly communicate technical work verbally and in writing.

You are not expected to have experience in every area listed above. We value technical breadth, hands-on ability, curiosity, and your ability to learn and connect different technical areas more than expertise in every technology.

ABOUT YOU

• Curious: You enjoy understanding how things work and learning unfamiliar technologies.

• Hands-on: You enjoy building, experimenting, testing, and troubleshooting.

• Resourceful: You can make progress on difficult problems even when the answer is not obvious.

• Multidisciplinary: You are interested in how biology, hardware, software, instrumentation, and data interact within a complex system.

• Creative & Persistent: You are willing to try different approaches when troubleshooting difficult technical problems.

• Independent Learner: You can learn independently and know how to ask good technical questions when you need additional expertise.

• Collaborative: You enjoy working with engineers and scientists from different technical backgrounds.

• R&D Mindset: You are excited about developing next-generation life-science technology and are comfortable with experimentation and ambiguity.

WHAT YOUR EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical field.

• Preferred Background: Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering is preferred.

• Advanced Education: Master’s degree or PhD is a plus, but not required.

NICE TO HAVE

Experience with one or more of the following is a plus, but not required:

• CAD / mechanical prototyping • MATLAB • Java • Linux • LabVIEW • ImageJ • JMP • Bioinformatics • Statistical analysis • Systems engineering / requirements / verification / MBSE

HOW WE WILL REWARD YOU

The base salary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and job responsibilities. This position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in recognition of your contributions.

• Annual gym membership reimbursement to support your health and wellness

• Employee discount program to help you save on products and services

We offer eligible employees and their dependents (including domestic partners) a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Complete Genomics contributes significantly toward employee benefits coverage. Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage;

• Life and AD&D Insurance;

• Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance;

• Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance;

• Health Savings Account (HSA);

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA);

• Domestic Partner Benefits;

• Commuter Program;

• Employee Assistance Program;

• 401(k) Retirement Plan;

• Education Assistance;

• 20 PTO days and 11 paid holidays per year.

Complete Genomics provides equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, disability, veteran or uniformed service status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.