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Senior Director, Embedded Systems

Research & Development  |  San Diego, CA (global team including Singapore)

Position Summary

Illumina is seeking a Senior Director, Embedded Systems to lead the multidisciplinary engineering organization building the embedded architecture of our DNA sequencing instruments: the electronics, firmware, FPGA, custom silicon, and system engineering that acquire signals from novel sensors, drive precision motion, fluidics, thermal, and optics subsystems, and move high volumes of data from sensor through analysis.

The Embedded Systems organization is a global team of electrical, FPGA, firmware, firmware test, hardware test, systems, and compute engineers across San Diego and Singapore that delivers the embedded platforms for every new Illumina sequencer and supports the installed base. In addition, this leader owns the architecture of the on-instrument compute platform and leads a cross-functional effort to define a compute roadmap that delivers the performance next-generation sequencing demands at a sustainable cost.

The role sits at an exciting intersection of genomics, advanced sensing, embedded systems, and high-performance computing. As sequencing throughput continues to increase, we are pushing the boundaries of compute performance, memory and storage bandwidth, networking, and real-time processing, as compute has become a major driver of instrument cost. The development of novel sensors and custom ASICs also creates opportunities to optimize the entire architecture from signal acquisition through genomic data processing.

The Senior Director will define the technology strategy, build a world-class engineering organization, and deliver embedded platforms that are reliable, secure, compliant, and manufacturable at scale.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

Oversees the functional managers for electrical engineering, FPGA, firmware, systems engineering and test.  Sets technical direction and standards, holding a high bar for architecture and design reviews, and manages process over technical decisions and escalations.

• Architecture and roadmap: Define the embedded systems architecture and multi-generation technology roadmap, including electrical architecture, power distribution, interconnects, embedded control, sensor interfaces, FPGA-based data paths, and system management. This strategy includes platform reuse across programs, build-vs-buy and partner decisions, technology investment priorities, the cost and performance roadmap, and setting structure that enables strong execution and delivery.

• Electrical, FPGA, and firmware engineering: Set technical direction and design standards for board-level analog, digital, mixed-signal, power, and high-speed design, component selection, SI/PI, design for manufacturing, and supplier technical engagement through design release; for FPGA-based data acquisition and processing from sensor to host, including FPGA design, drivers, data-path bring-up, benchmarks, and test frameworks that ensure data-path robustness; and for the instrument firmware architecture and common codebase (RTOS-based, spanning data path, precision motion, fluidics, optics, thermal, and power) and the agile development and release process that delivers it.

• Custom silicon and novel sensors: Define what is possible for next generation custom devices. Partner with sensor and fabrication teams on interface architecture, test features, silicon bring-up, and hardware/firmware integration of custom mixed-signal ASICs. 

• Compute platform and strategy: Own the on-instrument compute architecture (topology, modularity, CPUs, accelerators, memory, storage, and high-speed I/O), sized from first-principles models of the full data path, and partner with software and algorithm teams on hardware/software co-design, including hardware acceleration of data-intensive workloads. Lead a cross-functional team spanning R&D, software, supply chain, mechanical engineering, and operations to define a compute roadmap that balances performance, cost, and supply resilience, weighing architecture alternatives, off-the-shelf versus custom designs, sourcing strategy, and component lifecycle in a fast-moving memory, storage, and semiconductor market.

• Systems engineering, verification, and test: Foster robust embedded requirements, own the electrical system architecture and interface definitions, maintain power budgets, and drive FMEA, risk, and root-cause analysis. Establish disciplined verification covering firmware release, regression, stress, and data-path testing; electrical characterization; environmental and reliability testing; and system test readiness reviews, with requirements-to-test traceability.

• Product compliance and security: Provide engineering leadership for global product safety and EMC compliance (IEC/UL/EN 61010-1, IEC/EN 61326, IEC 60825, FCC/ICES, CB Scheme, NRTL, country approvals), driving compliance-by-design, in-house EMC pre-compliance capability, and formal certification. Own embedded and platform security, including secure boot, hardware root of trust and encryption, secure provisioning, OS and firmware hardening, SBOM and software supply-chain security, and controlled field updates.

• Engineering process and program delivery: Run a gated Embedded Systems product development process (requirements, PDR, CDR, test readiness) with objective design evidence, controlled design data and component libraries, predictive engineering (SI/PI simulation, DFM, EMC pre-scan), and responsible adoption of AI-assisted engineering. Lead technology and architecture decisions from early concept through product development, verification, manufacturing transfer, commercial launch, sustaining, and obsolescence management across a multi-program portfolio.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead and develop a global organization, through functional leads, spanning electrical engineering, FPGA, firmware, firmware test, hardware test, systems engineering, and compute engineering across San Diego and Singapore, operating as one team with shared processes, common codebases, and clear ownership; build a strong technical leadership bench of functional leads, engineering managers, architects, technical leads, and senior individual contributors, with succession depth and a clear skills roadmap.

• Plan resources and capacity across programs, including site strategy, hiring, and use of external engineering partners for demand peaks to ensure predicable delivery.

• Collaborate across software, algorithms, bioinformatics, mechanical engineering, systems integration, quality, regulatory, manufacturing, supply chain, and product management to deliver integrated sequencing platforms.

• Maintain strong connection with manufacturing and commercial team including on-market performance, field failures, and design for serviceability.

• Communicate technology strategy, architectural decisions, technical risks, and investment priorities effectively to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 20 years of related experience, with 12+ years of Management experience.
• BS or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.

• 15+ years of engineering experience, including significant leadership of complex, multidisciplinary hardware/software products and of senior engineering managers and technical leaders across multiple sites.

• Strong technical depth in several of the following:

• • Electrical and high-speed digital hardware, including analog, mixed-signal, and power design

• • Embedded firmware, RTOS, and real-time control

• • FPGA architecture and high-bandwidth data acquisition

• • Custom ASIC and/or advanced sensors

• • Embedded and high-performance computing architectures, including CPUs, accelerators, memory, storage, PCIe, and high-speed networking

• • Linux-based embedded systems

• • Systems engineering, integration, and verification

• • Product safety, EMC, and global certification

• • Cybersecurity, secure boot, and hardware root of trust

• Demonstrated ability to make system-level architectural trade-offs spanning hardware, firmware, software, performance, power, thermal design, reliability, cost, supply continuity, and schedule.

• Experience leading complex products from architecture through integration, verification, manufacturing, commercial release, and sustaining.

• Experience developing technology roadmaps and working with semiconductor and computing technology partners.

• Proven ability to build high-performing technical organizations and develop engineering leaders.

• Strong executive communication and cross-functional leadership skills.

The estimated base salary range for the Senior Director, Embedded Systems role based in the United States of America is: $224,900 - $337,300. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. The range reflects long‑term growth in the role; therefore, most candidates are hired between the minimum and middle of the range. Placement depends on experience, skills, location, and internal equity. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.