Principal Materials Engineer II

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

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.

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 focused on creating and advancing technologies to significantly enhance DNA sequencing workflows, push system performance, and promote sustainability. The Principal Materials Engineer II (Materials Engineer) role is a new position within our team. The key responsibilities will be to lead research and early development initiatives focused on creating new consumables pertinent to our next-generation DNA sequencing and molecular diagnostics workflows.

The Materials Engineer's efforts will encompass various aspects related to consumables that may come into contact with our samples and reagents and/or support different chemical processes.

• You will conduct activities related to sourcing, synthesizing, purifying, bonding, cleaning, functionalizing, passivating, characterizing, and analyzing materials such as ceramics, elastomers, polymers, composites, and metals.

• You will develop methods to detect and effectively remove plasticizers, mold-release agents, reaction byproducts, catalysts, and/or contaminants from a variety of materials

• You will create robust and scalable methods to bond a variety of similar and dissimilar materials

• You will identify sources and mechanisms of performance degradation through the development and utilization of appropriate assays and analytical techniques

• You will develop fast, efficient and sustainable processes for generating robust surface coatings to ensure optimal wettability and reaction compatibility while also minimizing adsorption of enzymes, DNA and other key components

• You will develop and optimize methods for fabricating milli-, micro- and nanoscale features, vias, electrodes and films using a variety of manufacturing techniques and tools

• You will characterize the quality and impact of various manufacturing methods on system performance

• You will collaborate with scientists, engineers and product managers to create requirements, specifications and test plans/protocols

• You will analyze, write reports and present results

This is an on-site position based in Santa Clara, CA.
Relocation benefits are not being offered for this role.

Who You Are:
(Required)

• You have a BS in Material Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or other closely-related field

• You have 10+ years of complex materials-related research and development experience within the life sciences industry

• You have a demonstrated understanding of materials science, chemistry and engineering fundamentals

• You have demonstrated proficiency in surface activation, functionalization and/or passivation chemistry and related techniques

• You have expertise developing and conducting assays to detect contaminants, quantify non-specific adsorption, measure the effectiveness of coatings and assess material-chemical compatibility

• You have experience with a variety of analytical tools/methods such as FTIR and EDS

• You have demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate technical knowledge in a clear and understandable manner; you excel at problem-solving skills and the ability to work under ambiguous situations

• You exhibit a high degree of motivation, ingenuity and resourcefulness to help us solve problems, invent new technology and develop cutting-edge products

• You work with a sense of urgency, optimism and natural scientific/engineering curiosity

• You have a desire to learn and be challenged, to always seek out new challenges, and to challenge the status quo

• You have excellent organizational skills, including the ability to efficiently evaluate, prioritize and handle multiple changing projects and priorities; you complete work in a timely, accurate and thorough manner

Preferred:

• You have a Masters or PhD in Material Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry

• You have experience with glass and silicon-based microfabrication techniques for such as wet, dry and selective laser etching and chemical vapor deposition

• You have experience with a variety of bonding methods and ways to characterize bonding efficacy

• You have experience with mesofluidic or microfluidic systems, especially as it relates to materials

• You have materials-focused research and development experience spanning proof-of-concept efforts through trouble-shooting during manufacturing transfer and scale-up

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of Santa Clara, CA is $128,500 - $239,000. 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.

Benefits

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100'000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let's build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.