Research & Early Development Leader, System Architecture

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The Position

At Roche, we are working to make next-generation sequencing simple and accessible enough for routine use. By accelerating clinical research, streamlining workflows, and expanding assay menus, we are broadening access to genomic data and lowering barriers to adoption. From robust sample isolation and preparation tools to novel sequencing technology and advanced bioinformatics, we are developing differentiated, highly integrated end-to-end solutions for next-generation sequencing, resulting in a sample in, result out workflow.

Our Systems Technology Group, a part of Roche Sequencing Solutions, is seeking an accomplished technical leader and visionary architect to drive our next-generation instrument research and early development projects. This is a rare opportunity for a hands-on, multi-disciplinary expert to not only translate a high-level commercial vision into a tangible reality but to actively contribute to shaping that vision. You will be responsible for synthesizing user needs, advanced chemistry and challenging workflows into a cohesive system architecture and for orchestrating the complex interplay between hardware, software, and consumables. This is a role for an expert who thrives on bridging the gap between strategy and implementation by serving as a key strategic partner in defining the future of our R&D roadmap while personally driving the execution during the critical research and early development phases.

Architectural & Strategic Leadership

• You will lead the architectural design of next-generation instruments by translating user needs into technical blueprints, decomposing system-level requirements into subsystem specifications, and guiding data-driven decisions through trade-off studies and technology down-selection.

• You will ensure system architectures and designs are reliable, scalable, and serviceable to meet all  performance targets, provide sufficient flexibility and ensure long-term platform success.

• You will drive innovation and influence the R&D technology roadmap by creating and testing novel concepts, generating intellectual property, and championing new technologies that define the future of our platforms.
   

Project & Team Management

• You will serve as the technical project lead, coordinating a multi-disciplinary team while managing technical scope, risk, and resources to drive progress against ambitious project milestones.

• You will help recruit, hire, mentor and lead a world-class engineering team, fostering a culture of strong work ethics, systems-level thinking, and engineering rigor. You will also help cultivate the next generation of technical leaders within the organization.

• You will establish and promote engineering best practices, ensuring a disciplined and rigorous approach to product development.
   

Hands-on Execution & Collaboration

• You will serve as a hands-on contributor to solve the toughest technical challenges, leading by example in hypothesis-driven troubleshooting efforts that may span hardware, software, chemistry, and consumables.

• You will partner with hardware, software, and integration leads to guide the technical strategy for early stage system verification and characterization, defining robust test plans and using data-driven analysis to optimize performance and ensure prototypes meet or exceed all target specifications.

• You will partner with assay development scientists and integration engineers to ensure the instrument architecture seamlessly supports complex biological and chemical workflows and provides the necessary flexibility.
   

Stakeholder Management & Documentation

• You will act as the primary technical interface with key stakeholders, including internal R&D leadership, product management, and external partners or suppliers, effectively communicating complex technical concepts.

• You will identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with critical technology partners, vendors, and suppliers for key subsystems and components.

• You will own key