Supervisor, Engineering Operations (Wed-Sat - 6AM to 4PM) - #4500 at GRAIL
GRAIL · Durham, United States Of America · On-site
- Office in Durham
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 the bay area of 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 Supervisor, Engineering Operations to join the Engineering Operations organization. Engineering Operations is the engineering arm of Operations, providing hands-on engineering, maintenance, and technical support to enable reliable, compliant, and scalable clinical laboratory operations. In this role, you will supervise and mentor a small team of engineers and technicians while serving as a technical leader supporting complex process automation hardware, laboratory equipment, and associated software systems. You will work closely with Clinical Operations, Research Scientists, Quality, and Software Engineering to troubleshoot live production issues, restore operations quickly, and continuously improve system reliability and performance. As GRAIL’s testing volumes scale rapidly, this role is critical to ensuring operational continuity and regulatory compliance while helping deliver our revolutionary multi-cancer early detection test to more patients.
On-site role requirement
You will work on-site full-time at our Durham, North Carolina (RTP) location.
Shift and schedule
This is a full-time, first-shift position working in the laboratory from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday - Saturday. Working hours may be temporarily adjusted due to training, travel, or business needs. This position includes on-call responsibilities and may require weekend or holiday support.
Responsibilities
- Supervise, coach, and support a small team of engineers and technicians performing live troubleshooting, recovery, debugging, repairs, and preventive maintenance of complex automation hardware and robotics, laboratory equipment and systems
- Provide day-to-day technical leadership to support clinical laboratory operations in compliance with cGMP/GLP and Quality Management System (QMS/eQMS) requirements
- Serve as a hands-on technical lead with working knowledge of laboratory automation hardware, software, and process fundamentals
- Execute equipment lifecycle management activities, supporting installations, maintenance, calibration, qualification, repair, and decommissioning, ensuring complete and accurate documentation
- Maintain equipment records and traceability within asset management systems in compliance with CLIA/CAP, FDA 21 CFR Part 820, and ISO 13485 requirements
- Lead root cause investigations and failure analysis; drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) for both hardware and software issues
- Make time-sensitive technical decisions to restore operations and minimize downtime
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce unplanned maintenance and improve equipment reliability and maintainability
- Partner closely with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure equipment lifecycle events meet applicable policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
- Manage and coordinate external vendors supporting qualifications, calibrations, installations, upgrades, preventive maintenance, investigations, and repairs
- Respond to and resolve equipment-related issues and environmental monitoring system alerts in a timely manner
- Lead and execute failure reporting, analysis, and corrective action systems
- Develop and deliver technical training; support creation of new training materials and transfer knowledge to engineers, technicians, and laboratory operators
- Prepare reports, metrics, and tracking tools to monitor performance, reliability, and operational effectiveness
- Demonstrate flexibility in work schedule and adjust priorities to meet operational needs
- Act as a role model by adhering to GRAIL policies, safety standards, and quality guidelines
These responsibilities summarize the role’s primary responsibilities and are not an exhaustive list. They may change at the company’s discretion.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5+ years of experience in an engineering, maintenance, or operations support role
- 3+ years of hands-on experience maintaining and supporting laboratory equipment involving both hardware and software components
- 2+ years of experience troubleshooting and maintaining liquid handling and laboratory automation equipment (e.g., Agilent, Hamilton, Labcyte, Illumina, or similar platforms)
- 3+ years of experience writing and executing test protocols, procedures, or validation documentation
- 1+ years of experience working in a regulated clinical laboratory environment
- 1+ years of experience supporting IT networking and systems infrastructure
- 1+ years of experience working within a computerized maintenance or calibration management system (CMMS)
- Strong communication and leadership skills to support teams and internal stakeholders
- Strong time management skills and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to travel up to 10%
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior supervisory or team-lead experience in engineering or laboratory operations
- Experience supporting high-throughput or 24/7 clinical laboratory environments
- Familiarity with ISO 13485, CLIA/CAP, FDA QSR, and equipment validation practices
- Experience partnering with Quality and Regulatory teams on NCRs, CAPAs, and audits
Physical Demands & Working Environment
- Hours and days may vary depending on operational needs
- Regularly required to stand, sit, walk, climb stairs or ladders, kneel, crouch, and wear appropriate safety gear
- 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 in confined spaces may be required
- May be exposed to hazardous materials, blood specimens, and instruments with moving parts, heating or freezing elements, and high-speed centrifugation
Expected full time annual base pay scale for this position is $94K-$125K. Actual base pay will consider skills, experience and location
This role may be eligible for other forms of compensation, including an annual bonus and/or incentives, subject to the terms of the applicable plans and Company discretion. This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the range that the Company reasonably expects to pay for the position upon hire; the actual compensation offered may vary depending on factors such as the candidate’s qualifications. Employees in this role are also eligible for GRAIL’s comprehensive and competitive benefits package, offered in accordance with our applicable plans and policies. This package currently includes flexible time-off or vacation; a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; medical, dental, and vision coverage; and carefully selected mindfulness programs.
GRAIL is an equal employment opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a workplace where every individual can thrive, contribute, and grow. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, , or any other class or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. Additionally, GRAIL will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in a manner consistent with applicable law and provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please contact us at [email protected] if you require an accommodation to apply for an open position.
GRAIL maintains a drug-free workplace. We welcome job-seekers from all backgrounds to join us!
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