Principal System Architect - Instrument

At Cytek Biosciences, we're transforming the future of flow cytometry. As a global leader in spectral technology, our advanced platforms enable deeper scientific discovery, empowering researchers in academic, clinical, and biopharma labs to accelerate their breakthroughs with unmatched precision and efficiency.

We're growing fast-and we're looking for passionate, driven individuals to grow with us. If you're ready to make an impact in a cutting-edge biotech company, this is your opportunity.

Cytek Biosciences is seeking an experienced Instrument System Architect to define and guide the architecture of next-generation flow cytometry platforms. This role is responsible for translating customer, application, and business needs into robust instrument designs, with particular focus on subsystem architecture, system reliability, and cross-functional execution with global teams and suppliers, including partners in China. Based in Fremont, CA, this position will build and manage a small team of system engineers located in China, including responsibility for hiring, developing, and leading that team. The role requires quarterly travel to China and close collaboration with China-based engineering and operations teams. This role is ideal for a professional who has worked with Class I, II, or III devices (including 510(k) cleared products) and thrives in environments undergoing cGMP and design control maturation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end system architecture for flow cytometry instruments, ensuring strong integration of fluidics, optics, electronics, software, and serviceability requirements.
• Define system requirements, interface specifications, and performance budgets to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and scalability.
• Lead architecture decisions for fluidics subsystems, including sample handling, sheath flow, flow cell design, clog resistance, and contamination control.
• Drive reliability engineering activities, including failure mode analysis, reliability risk assessment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and long-term robustness improvements.
• Establish and track system-level reliability goals such as uptime, MTBF, failure rates, maintenance intervals, and field performance metrics.
• Collaborate closely with R&D, quality, manufacturing, service, and NPI teams to ensure design choices support product reliability and lifecycle performance.
• Build, hire, and manage a small team of system engineers based in China, including defining roles, recruiting candidates, onboarding, and ongoing performance management.
• Directly manage and lead the China-based system engineering team, providing technical mentorship, project guidance, career development, and performance management across time zones.
• Travel to China quarterly to support team building, hiring interviews, onboarding, design reviews, supplier alignment, and in-person technical and operational collaboration.
• Work directly with internal teams and suppliers in China to align on technical requirements, resolve issues, support qualification, and drive on-time execution.
• Participate in supplier development, design reviews, risk mitigation, and technical issue resolution with global and China-based partners.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with China-based engineering, operations, and supplier teams to ensure seamless collaboration, knowledge transfer, and organizational effectiveness.
• Guide subsystem teams through integration, verification, and validation activities, ensuring robust performance under real-world use conditions.
• Support design for manufacturability, serviceability, and supply chain resilience.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across engineering teams in both the US and China.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Physics, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience developing complex analytical, diagnostic, or life science instrumentation.
• Demonstrated experience in system architecture and cross-functional technical leadership.
• Experience hiring, building, and managing engineering teams, ideally in a global or multi-site environment.
• Strong understanding of fluidics systems, including flow control, microfluidics, particle transport, and contamination mitigation.
• Experience with reliability engineering methods such as FMEA, fault tree analysis, root cause analysis, and reliability growth.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and a bias toward root cause resolution and preventive action.
• Direct experience with Class I, II, or III medical devices, including 510(k) cleared products.
• Experience operating in or helping build a cGMP-compliant environment.
• Ability to translate customer and product needs into clear engineering requirements and trade-offs.
• Strong communicator who can teach, coach, and influence without formal authority.
• Hands-on problem solver who enjoys working on the production floor as well as in documentation systems.
• Ability to travel internationally, including quarterly travel to China.
• Ability to work effectively across time zones and cultures, with strong interpersonal and cross-cultural collaboration skills.

Preferred Experience

• Direct experience with flow cytometer fluidics subsystems or closely related technologies such as hematology analyzers, cell sorters, or microfluidic diagnostic systems.
• Experience designing for high reliability, field performance, and serviceability in regulated instruments.
• Familiarity with optical detection systems, fluorescence, and signal acquisition.
• Professional working proficiency in Mandarin Chinese (highly preferred).
• Proven track record of recruiting, hiring, and onboarding engineering talent in China or APAC.
• Hands-on experience coordinating with China- and APAC-based engineering and operations teams.
• Experience working with suppliers, contract manufacturers, or development partners in China.
• Experience building and managing remote or distributed engineering teams, particularly in China or APAC.
• Experience in regulated environments such as ISO 13485 and FDA design controls.
• Proficiency with modeling, simulation, or data analysis tools such as CFD, MATLAB, or Python.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Prolonged periods of sitting and standing

Cytek is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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