Illumina is seeking an experienced Upstream Product Manager to drive strategy and market intelligence for our high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform portfolio, with a focus on the NovaSeq X and adjacent whole genome sequencing (WGS) solutions. This is a high-visibility role that sits at the intersection of market insight, competitive intelligence, and long-range strategy - directly informing how Illumina shapes the future of sequencing.

You will serve as the voice of the market internally, translating customer research, competitive signals, and technology trends into clear strategic direction for R&D, commercial, and executive stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Market Research & Customer Insights

• Design and execute primary market research programs including conjoint analyses, customer interviews, focus groups, and quantitative surveys to define unmet needs and willingness-to-pay.
• Synthesize market data into actionable insights that inform product positioning, pricing strategy, and investment prioritization.
• Build and maintain a deep understanding of key customer segments including academic medical centers, clinical laboratories, biopharma, and large-scale genomics service providers.

Competitive Intelligence & Market Landscape

• Partner with Product Marketing to contribute to the competitive intelligence function for high-throughput NGS, providing upstream market context and helping track competitor capabilities and anticipated future technology and commercial moves.
• Work alongside Product Marketing to monitor emerging platforms, novel chemistries, and disruptive business models across the sequencing and broader genomics ecosystem, translating findings into upstream strategy inputs.

Workflow Monitoring

• Model total cost of workflow (reagents, instruments, informatics, labor) to support value-based selling and pricing strategy - experience in this area is a strong plus.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, R&D, and Finance to align on strategic priorities and ensure market insights are embedded throughout the product lifecycle.
• Present market strategy, competitive assessments, and market research to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years of experience; or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing quantitative and qualitative market research methodologies, including conjoint analysis, win/loss interviews, and voice-of-customer programs.
• Proven ability to develop commercial go-to-market plans grounded in market evidence.
• Strong competitive analysis skills, including experience anticipating future competitor moves and developing strategic response frameworks.
• Solid technical understanding of NGS workflows, including library preparation, sequencing chemistry, and bioinformatics - sufficient to engage credibly with R&D and scientific customers.
• Experience working cross-functionally across Sales, Marketing, R&D, and Finance in a matrixed organization.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear strategic narratives for executive audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience modeling total cost of workflow (TCW) across the NGS value chain, including instruments, reagents, informatics, and labor components.
• Proficiency in financial modeling
• Familiarity with oncology genomics applications, including tumor profiling, minimal residual disease (MRD), and whole genome sequencing in clinical contexts.
• Prior experience with high-throughput sequencing platforms or sequencing-adjacent technologies.

The estimated base salary range for the Staff Product Manager (HT/NGS) role based in the United States of America is: $129,400 - $194,000. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual's qualifications, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. 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.