Systems R&D Engineer

About the Role

Systems R&D Engineer at Complete Genomics, focused on developing, integrating, testing, troubleshooting, and improving next-generation sequencing and multi-omics technologies. This role involves a hands-on approach to understanding the interplay of biology, instrumentation, hardware, and software.

Key Responsibilities

• 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 and document methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations through technical discussions, reports, and design reviews.

Location

• On-site at our San Jose, California location.
• Travel: Approximately 5–10%, including occasional international travel.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Broad Engineering Interests: Curiosity across multiple engineering and scientific disciplines.
• Solution-Finding Skills: Ability to approach unfamiliar technical problems, experiment, troubleshoot systematically, identify root causes, and find practical solutions.
• Hands-on Multidisciplinary Training: Experience building, testing, or experimenting across multiple technical areas through coursework, research, internships, laboratory work, projects, or industry experience.
• Early-Career Experience: Approximately 0–2 years of relevant engineering experience.
• 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.

Qualifications

• 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