Senior Process Development Engineer - Instrument

At Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Process Development Engineer - Instrument who will play a pivotal role supporting the ongoing manufacturing, improvement, and reliability of our DNA sequencing instruments. This role is ideal for someone passionate about process development, continuous improvement, complex systems troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration. This role will report to the Associate Principal Engineer, Process Development and will be a San Diego based role.

If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Process Ownership & Development: Own key instrument manufacturing processes, driving capability, repeatability, and robustness
• Continuous Improvement: Identify inefficiencies and implement structured process improvements using DOE, SPC, lean principles, and data analytics
• Troubleshooting & Problem Solving: Lead investigations into complex manufacturing and system-level failures, performing RCA and implementing corrective/preventative measures
• Support the introduction of new products/processes into manufacturing involving optics, precision motion, fluidics, electronics, and/or system integration
• Supplier & Component Support: Partner with supply chain on supplier qualifications, component lifecycle management, and improvement initiatives
• Quality & Documentation: Create and improve SOPs, work instructions, validation packages, and ensure alignment with ISO/FDA-compliant systems

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline
• 5+ years of experience in process development, manufacturing engineering, or system engineering for complex instruments
• Hands-on experience in two or more areas: optics, precision motion/mechanics, fluidics, electronics, systems engineering.
• Proven capability in structured problem solving and technical troubleshooting
• Experience developing, validating, and improving manufacturing processes
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to drive decisions across multidisciplinary teams
• Familiarity with ISO 13485, FDA, or similar rigor of quality systems preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift to 20 pounds

Location:

• San Diego – on-site

Travel: 

• Up to 5% - or as opportunity arises

Job Type:

• Full-time, Exempt

Base Compensation Pay Range:

• $116,000 - $152,000

 

In addition to base compensation noted above, you will be eligible for stock options, discretionary annual bonus, no cost health insurance plans, 401k with company match, and flexible paid time off. 

 

Please note: Base compensation will depend on multiple factors, including geographic location, qualifications, and experience. 

 

We foster an environment such that all people are afforded the freedom to pursue their passions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.