A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche.

The Opportunity

As a Principal Systems Engineer II within our System Development & Integration team, you will serve as a key technical leader and Subject Matter Expert (SME) driving the systems engineering, integration, compliance, and verification efforts for our next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms. In this role, you will matrix-manage cross-functional verification teams and navigate complex system dynamics across hardware, software, firmware, and chemistry/assay interfaces.

Key Responsibilities:

• V&V Campaign Leadership: Direct and matrix-manage cross-functional Verification & Validation (V&V) teams, leading the end-to-end execution of functional verification campaigns for complex NGS platforms.

• Advanced Test Engineering: Lead the drafting, reviewing, dry-running, and execution of test cases, in front of the sequencing solution. Diagnose Issues identified and work with stakeholders to resolve them, while driving the adoption of innovative tools such as AI-driven test case generation.

• Architectural & Design Assessment: Evaluate and critique design concepts for requirements coverage, feasibility, reliability, modularity, risk, and serviceability early in the platform lifecycle.

• Root Cause Analysis: Serve as the primary technical escalation point and SME for complex instrument troubleshooting, non-compliance resolution, and system-level issue translation.

• Mentorship & Cross-Functional Influence: Mentor junior systems engineers and technicians while serving as a strategic technical voice across Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and International Technical Services.

• Compliance & Specialized Testing: Oversee multi-site environmental chamber studies and hardware compliance testing, including EMC/EMI testing with third-party partners (e.g., Intertek).

• Technical Documentation & DHF Ownership: Establish, manage, and write Design History File (DHF) deliverables, Solution-Level Installation Guides, and Installation/Operational Qualification (IOQ) procedures.

Who you are (Required)

• Education & Experience: 10 years of related experience OR , MS degree in a directly related discipline + 9 years of related experience required; OR required, PhD degree in a directly related discipline + 6 years of related experience required.

• V&V & Compliance Experience: Demonstrated success leading full-scale system verification campaigns, environmental chamber studies, and diagnosing issues identified

• Systems Engineering Mastery: Proven expertise in end-to-end systems engineering processes, including architecture development, interface definition, error budgeting, Ad-Hoc Testing & Troubleshooting.

• Domain Expertise: Deep hands-on background in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) platforms, molecular diagnostics, and nucleic acid-based technologies.

• Tooling & Risk Management Standards: Proficiency with requirements management tools (e.g., HPALM, RETINA) and medical device risk management standards (ISO 14971, FMEA/PFMEA).

Preferred

• Demonstrated success leading AI-assisted test automation or advanced test generation methodologies.

• Advanced experience in IVD (In Vitro Diagnostics) submission environments and direct interaction with regulatory compliance bodies.

• Track record of matrix-managing multidisciplinary engineering teams in high-complexity medical device development.

Location

This role is based in Santa Clara and offers a hybrid schedule working 3-4 days per week on campus

No relocation benefits are available for this posting

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of CA is $127,300 - $236,500 annual. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.