Manager, Engineering Operations #4210

Our mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. We are working to change the trajectory of cancer mortality and bring stakeholders together to adopt innovative, safe, and effective technologies that can transform cancer care.

We are a healthcare company, pioneering new technologies to advance early cancer detection. We have built a multi-disciplinary organization of scientists, engineers, and physicians and we are using the power of next-generation sequencing (NGS), population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to overcome one of medicine’s greatest challenges.

GRAIL is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with locations in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom. It is supported by leading global investors and pharmaceutical, technology, and healthcare companies.

For more information, please visit grail.com.

GRAIL is seeking a Manager, Engineer Operations for the Engineering Operations Organization. The Manager, Engineer Operations will lead a key operations team that oversees technical engineering support for a variety of process automation hardware, software applications, and laboratory equipment to support smooth lab operations. Working cross-functionally with Operations, R&D, and Software groups, you will drive robust equipment and automation operations with the leadership of a team of talented operations engineers/technicians. The successful candidate will be a scientist or engineer with a proven track record of owning complex systems as well as implementing continuous process improvements in a regulated operations setting.   The Engineering Operations organization is the engineering arm of Operations that provides day to day around the clock engineering and maintenance support to operations. GRAIL’s testing volumes are scaling fast and require a dynamic and detail-oriented leader to help deliver our revolutionary test to as many people as possible.  

The onsite role requires 5 days a week in Durham, NC (RTP Site)

This is a full time position working in our lab starting at 8:00 AM Monday through Friday

The working hours could be temporarily adjusted due to training, travel, and other events.

This position requires on-call duty and may need to support weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities:

• Build and manage a team of engineers/technicians with the diverse scientific and technical skills required to support, troubleshoot, and improve complex automation systems in a regulated environment
• Establish operational objectives and work plans, delegate and empower team members to maximize the system up time for 24x7 operations
• Lead area work responsibilities, effectively triage opportunities, direct work based on team skill set, and coach and guide staff to support the area and operators’ day to day following cGMP/GLP and Quality Management System (QMS) guidelines.
• Lead root cause investigations, drive for resolutions, and follow those up with corrective and preventative actions for area of responsibility
• Make time sensitive technical decisions.
• Support CAPEX/OPEX planning
• Participate, be a role model, and adhere to GRAIL’s policies and guidelines.
• Recommend and implement changes to ensure ongoing high-quality performance of laboratory equipment as part of the continuous improvement process.
• Work closely with Quality and regulatory to implement and follow the required policies and procedures for system qualification, maintenance, and calibration

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8+ years of related experience with a BS/BA or higher degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or Life Sciences or equivalent work experience.  Engineering degrees are preferred
• 5+ years experience in technical troubleshooting and maintenance in both hardware and software components
• 3+ years managerial experience in a similar work environment
• 3+ years Hands-on experience maintaining and supporting equipment in both hardware and software and following appropriate safety procedures
• 3+ years experience successfully leading, coaching, and mentoring junior level engineers
• 3+ years experience with writing and implementing test protocols and procedures
• 2+ years experience working in a clinical laboratory regulated environment
• 2+ years experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), Manufacturing Management Systems(MES), scheduling software, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Green Button Go (GBG)
• 2+ years experience writing and implementing test protocols and procedures
• 2+ year experience in Project Management
• 1+ years experience working with IT networking and systems infrastructure
• 1+ years experience executing within a computerized maintenance/calibration management system
• Knowledge Safety Training, lock out tag out (LOTO), Hazardous material, and waste handling

Physical Demands & Working Environment

• Hours and days may vary depending on operational needs
• Regularly required to stand, sit, walk, climb stairs/ladders, kneel, crouch, or wear safety gear.
• Must regularly lift and / or move up to 10 pounds.
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Working with dry ice may be necessary.
• Working on confined spaces may be necessary
• May be exposed to hazardous materials, blood specimens and instruments with moving parts, heating or freezing elements, and high speed centrifugation.

Listed responsibilities are an essential, but not exhaustive list, of the usual duties associated with the position.  Changes to individual responsibilities may occur due to business needs.

Based on the role, colleagues may be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan tied to company and individual performance, or an incentive plan. We also offer a long-term incentive plan to align company and colleague success over time.

In addition, GRAIL offers a progressive benefit package, including flexible time-off, a 401k with a company match, and alongside our medical, dental, vision plans, carefully selected mindfulness offerings.

GRAIL is an Equal Employment Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We will reasonably accommodate all individuals with disabilities so that they can participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. GRAIL maintains a drug-free workplace.