Senior Scientist, Protein Engineering Full-time

Senior Scientist

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Illumina is the global leader in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. Through relentless innovation, Illumina has reduced the cost of sequencing a human genome from hundreds of thousands of dollars to $200 today. The drastic cost reduction has moved NGS from the laboratory to the clinic, with wide-ranging impact from cancer diagnostics to genetic testing. We invite you to join us in our effort to improve human health by unlocking the power of the genome.

We are currently seeking a Senior Scientist to join our Molecular Sciences team. Ideal candidates are resourceful individuals with diverse scientific interests who thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and collaborative interdisciplinary research environment. As a member of our team, you will be responsible for designing and executing experiments to engineer proteins with enhanced functionality, stability, and specificity.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Design and implement experiments to study protein kinetics, enzyme activities, and biochemical interactions.
• Work includes but is not limited to cloning, expression and purification of recombinant proteins, characterization of protein variants through biochemical assays, and running of NGS assays.
• Present research findings and progress updates to the team and upper management.
• Analyze problems, determine the underlying causes of failures, and recommend corrective actions.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in biochemistry techniques and apply this knowledge to improve experimental design and data interpretation.

All listed requirements are deemed as essential functions to this position; however, business conditions may require reasonable accommodations for additional task and responsibilities.

Preferred Educational Qualifications and Experience:

• PhD in chemical engineering, biomolecular engineering, biochemistry, or life sciences with relevant experiences in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, rational design, and directed evolution.
• 2-3 years of post-doctoral experience with a proven record of scientific output will be desirable.

Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrated experience with enzyme kinetics measurements, characterization of protein-DNA interactions, and biochemical assay development.
• Demonstrated proficiency with protein characterization techniques, including affinity purification, SDS-PAGE, non-steady state activity assays, as well as the use of standard molecular biology techniques such as PCR, DNA purification, and cloning.
• Knowledge of NGS technologies, including library preparation and sequencing.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and adapt according to the requirement of new projects.
• Strong collaborative skills with excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• A “can do” attitude, and game to take on new challenges.
• Highly motivated individual with the proven ability to think creatively to solve challenging technical problems effectively and efficiently

Bonus Skills:

• Experience with scripting programming languages.
• Laboratory automation.
• Basic NGS data analysis experience

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.