New · posted Oct 27
Illumina · Biotechnology
Senior Manager, Design Quality
- San Diego, CA
- On-site
- Full-time
- Manager
The role
The Senior Manager, Design Quality is a hands-on Quality leader who combines supervisory responsibilities with direct Design Quality support for product-development programs. The role leads and develops a team of Design Quality professionals while partnering with Product Development to establish fit-for-purpose Quality strategies, identify and address risk early, and ensure development decisions are supported by appropriate technical evidence and rigor.
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.
What you need
Education / Experience
Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 12 years of related experience, with 3-6 years of Management experience.
What you'll do
The Senior Manager is accountable for effective Design Quality execution across assigned programs, including product risk management, design controls, verification and validation, design transfer, process validation, change management, and resolution of product quality issues. The role provides direct technical Quality leadership on assigned programs while aligning Design Quality resources with business and portfolio priorities.
The Senior Manager builds a high-performing Design Quality organization by developing technical and leadership capability, strengthening cross-functional partnerships, ensuring significant risks are appropriately addressed and escalated, and continuously improving the effectiveness of Design Quality practices and the Quality System.
Changes to individual responsibilities may occur due to business needs, and other related duties may be assigned.
Scope of Responsibilities
- Supervisory and direct project leadership: Combines leadership of Design Quality professionals with direct support of product-development programs and other priority work. Provides coaching, technical guidance, independent Quality challenge, document review and approval, and timely resolution of complex product and Quality issues.
- Design Quality strategy and execution: Establishes fit-for-purpose Quality strategies and enables effective execution across product-development programs, including design planning, requirements, design reviews, verification and validation, design transfer, process validation, change management, and resolution of product quality issues.
- Product risk management: Leads and supports activities to ensure product risks are identified, evaluated, controlled, communicated, and appropriately documented throughout development. Ensures risk-management strategies and evidence support product and program decisions.
- Technical Quality leadership: Ensures development strategies and decisions are supported by appropriate technical evidence, Quality rigor, statistical methods, and risk-based rationale. Provides independent Quality direction and challenge for complex, ambiguous, or high-risk issues.
- People and organizational leadership: Builds and sustains a high-performing Design Quality team through effective coaching, performance management, technical development, succession planning, cross-training, and meaningful development opportunities. Establishes clear objectives, expectations, and accountability for results.
- Resource and priority management: Aligns Design Quality resources and individual assignments with business, portfolio, and program priorities while balancing supervisory responsibilities, direct project support, and emerging Quality risks.
- Cross-functional leadership and influence: Partners across Product Development and Quality functions to resolve complex issues, establish clear roles and decision rights, and drive timely, technically sound, compliant, and risk-informed decisions.
- Quality governance and escalation: Ensures significant product, compliance, Quality System, and program risks are visible, appropriately escalated, and driven to resolution. Represents Design Quality in cross-functional governance forums and communicates clear, evidence-based recommendations to senior leadership.
- Quality System and continuous improvement: Drives effective and consistent Design Quality practices, ensures appropriate evidence of product and Quality System compliance and readiness, and improves processes, procedures, tools, and methods that strengthen Design Quality performance.
Pay and benefits
$141,600 – $212,400 a year
Employer providedHealth/dental/vision
Retirement benefits
Paid time off
Family planning
Access to genomics sequencing
Variable cash bonus or commission
Where you'll work
San Diego, CAOn-siteOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
More jobs in San Diego, CAEqual opportunity, accessibility and legal noticesIllumina's statements, word for word
The estimated base salary range for the Senior Manager, Design Quality role based in the United States of America is: $141,600 - $212,400. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. The range reflects long‑term growth in the role; therefore, most candidates are hired between the minimum and middle of the range. Placement depends on experience, skills, location, and internal equity. 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.
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 [email protected]. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Job intelligence
The context around this role
Live data · October 28, 2026
Salary intelligence
How the pay compares
This role's midpoint is 18% above the US median for Quality Assurance roles at this level.
This roleEmployer provided
Manager roles in California26 roles publishing pay
Manager roles in the US121 roles publishing pay
| Annual base pay | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| This role | $141,600 | — | $212,400 |
| California (middle half) | $157,625 | $168,250 | $181,000 |
| All US (middle half) | $131,500 | $150,500 | $167,500 |
This role: Illumina's own published range. Comparisons: the base pay employers published on open Quality Assurance roles at the same level on Regulatory Jobs, October 28, 2026. Nothing is estimated.
Career trajectory
Where this role sits in Quality Assurance
The general path across 961 open Quality Assurance roles on Regulatory Jobs, with the titles they carry most. Not Illumina's own promotion track.
Career resources on Quality Assurance
Skills DNA
What this role leans on
How many of the posting's 15 duty, requirement and summary lines touch each area. The posting's emphasis, not a proficiency score.
- Collaboration and leadership9
- Quality systems and risk5
- Documentation and SOPs3
- GMP and compliance2
- Lab testing and methods2
- Validation and qualification2
Regulatory intelligence
The rules behind this role
Frameworks and standards this posting's work falls under, matched from its own words, each linked to the official source.
Company hiring pulse
Illumina on Regulatory Jobs
- 4
- Open roles
- 4
- Distinct roles
- 2
- Locations
By discipline
- Quality3 75%
- Regulatory1 25%
By level
- Senior & Principal2 50%
- Manager1 25%
- Associate & Specialist1 25%
More roles at Illumina
- View role
Senior Staff AI Engineer, AI Quality & Test Automation
San Diego, CASenior & PrincipalBiotechnology$142K–$212K
- View role
Mfg/Ops Quality Engineer 1
San Diego, CAAssociate & SpecialistMedical Devices$63K–$94K
- View role
Sr. Regulatory Affairs Specialist - Recall and Post-Market Compliance
United States · HybridSenior & PrincipalMedical Devices$90K–$135K
Similar Quality Assurance roles elsewhere
- View role
Senior QA Manager, GMP GxP Auditing & Vendor Management
Revolution MedicinesRedwood City, CAManagerBiotechnology$164K
- View role
Senior Manager, Quality Assurance
Gilead SciencesFoster City, CAManagerBiotechnology$158K–$204K
- View role
Manager, Quality Management Systems
Twist BioscienceSouth San Francisco, CAManagerBiotechnology$150K
- View role
Senior Manager of Technical QA (GMP)
Summit TherapeuticsPalo Alto, CA · HybridManagerBiotechnology$158K
Senior Manager, Design Quality at Illumina
Open until filled. $142K–$212K a year, employer provided.