The Engineer, Operational Excellence will support continuous improvement initiatives within our sequencing-based cancer screening operations. This role will work at the intersection of data, process, and operations to enhance efficiency, quality, and scalability across laboratory and operational workflows. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, data-savvy, and experienced in Lean methodologies, with a strong inclination toward solving complex operational problems through structured analysis and experimentation.
This role works on-site full-time at our office located in Durham, NC
Operational Data & Reporting
Support generation and automation of KPI reporting, ensuring data integrity and usability
Collaborate with stakeholders to refine metrics and improve visibility into operational performance
Process Analysis & Monitoring
Perform data exploration and statistical analysis to identify trends, variation, and potential process deviations
Apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Quality Control (QC) methods to monitor and improve process stability
Continuous Improvement Execution
Execute and support Lean initiatives, including 5S, Kaizen events, and Six Sigma projects
Partner with operations teams to pilot, measure, and scale process improvements
Issue Tracking & Prioritization Support
Capture and document operational issues, risks, and improvement opportunities
Support prioritization of improvement efforts in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Software, and Product teams to implement process improvements
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Industrial Engineering, or related field
3+ years of experience in process engineering, operations, or continuous improvement roles, ideally in biotech, diagnostics, or manufacturing
Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies (certification a plus)
Experience with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, Power BI)
Familiarity with SPC/QC tools and statistical analysis techniques
Strong problem-solving skills with attention to detail and data accuracy
Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across teams
Strong problem-solving skills with attention to detail and data accuracy
Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across teams
Work performed across office, production, and executive settings.
Exposure to manufacturing environments, including noise, chemicals, and production equipment.
Extended or flexible hours may be required to meet organizational goals.
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, gloves, and hearing protection, required in designated areas.
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.
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