--- title: 'Principal NGS Automation Architect at Universal DX' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-ngs-automation-architect-universal-dx-united-states-n1s93d8hf90d' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-09' --- # Principal NGS Automation Architect at Universal DX - **Company:** Universal DX - **Location:** United States - **Posted:** 2026-07-23 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09 - **Apply:** https://www.universaldx.com/careers?gh_jid=4936055101#grnhse_app ## Job description About our Company: Universal DX, Inc. is an international Company with a highly experienced team focused on cracking cancer’s code. Through our multi-omics and bioinformatics models, we have figured out how to read the disease’s signals in blood with high accuracy to detect cancer in its earliest stages. Starting with a colorectal cancer screening liquid biopsy test, we are building a multi-cancer platform that can identify the unique DNA regions associated with different types of cancers. The Opportunity: Universal DX is seeking an experienced Principal NGS Automation Architect to lead the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of automated next-generation sequencing (NGS) laboratory workflows supporting in vitro diagnostic (IVD) assay development, analytical validation, and commercialization. Reporting to the VP of Product Development, this role serves as the technical bridge between assay development, laboratory operations, automation engineering, software, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs teams to ensure that automated solutions meet analytical, operational, and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will possess deep, hands-on liquid-handling method development and systems-level architecture expertise for NGS workflows, a strong understanding of molecular assay requirements, and experience developing robust, scalable, and compliant automation suitable for clinical and IVD environments. You will be part of a team that is passionate about developing novel diagnostic tests for the early detection of cancers. As part of the team, you will be in a Company that aims more than to become one of the leaders in the industry. We want to have a huge positive impact on society by achieving the ambitious purpose of “making cancer a curable disease by detecting it earlier”. How you’ll contribute: Automation Architecture and Development - Design the end-to-end automation architecture for NGS sample preparation and in-process quality control workflows. - Evaluate, select, and implement laboratory automation platforms, integrated devices, labware, consumables, and supporting technologies. - Develop automation strategies that maximize throughput, reproducibility, robustness, and operational efficiency. - Develop and optimize liquid handling methods including deck layouts, labware definitions, liquid classes and pipetting parameters, mixing, temperature control, and error-recovery strategies, to maintain assay performance while minimizing carryover, variability, and failure modes. Assay Integration - Serve as the primary technical interface between assay development scientists and automation engineers.Translate assay requirements design inputs, critical process parameters, and control strategies into automated workflows while maintaining analytical performance. Quality, Regulatory, and Compliance - Design automation solutions in accordance with applicable quality systems and regulatory requirements for IVD products. - Generate and review documentation. Continuous Improvement and Cross Functional Collaboration What you’ll bring: - Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related scientific or engineering discipline. - 8+ years of experience developing and deploying automated laboratory workflows for molecular diagnostics, genomics, or biotechnology. Experience supporting automation of DNA methylation assays and liquid biopsy workflows is preferred. - Demonstrated experience automating NGS workflows including library preparation and target enrichment. - Hands-on experience with liquid handling robotics and laboratory automation systems (e.g., Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman Coulter, or similar). - Experience translating assay development requirements into automated laboratory processes. - Knowledge of NGS technologies and molecular biology techniques. - Experience working within regulated IVD, CLIA, CAP, or FDA-regulated environments. - Experience with Design Controls, risk management, verification, validation, and lifecycle documentation. - Experience authoring technical documentation supporting regulated product development. - Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills. What we’ll offer: - 22 days of PTO with the possibility to carry over 10 days to the following year. - Company Holidays, plus your Birthday off! - Company-sponsored benefit plans, including medical, dental, and vision insurance plus life, STD, and LTD coverage, and 401(k). - Flexible work schedule. - Relocation bonus when applicable. Why Now? This is an exciting time to be at Universal DX. We are growing rapidly and starting our US operations by building up our team, starting our lab and business operations, and establishing strategic partnerships. We are looking for passionate changemakers to be a part of our journey in this expansive time for us. ## About Universal DX ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Universal DX develops minimally-invasive, blood-based liquid biopsy tests for early cancer detection, starting with colorectal cancer screening. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series unknown; last known venture round in 2018, recent grant and EIB financing) - **Headquarters**: Sevilla, Spain (with offices in Madrid, Spain; Dallas, Texas, USA; and Ljubljana, Slovenia) - **Founded**: 2012 - **Founders**: Juan Martinez-Barea (Founder and Executive President) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Biotechnology / Diagnostics (liquid biopsy, early cancer detection) - **Target customers**: Healthcare providers, hospitals, clinical laboratories, and patients (B2B and B2C via screening programs) - **Mission**: “A future where cancer is curable” – by detecting cancer in its earliest stages when treatment is more effective and survival rates are high. ## Products & Services - **Signal‑C**: A blood‑based colorectal cancer screening test that detects cancer and advanced adenomas with 92% sensitivity and 94% specificity. It uses proprietary methylation markers and a machine‑learning algorithm to analyze a simple blood sample. The test is designed to be processed in standard reference laboratories and is intended for FDA approval and subsequent distribution through Quest Diagnostics. - **Cancer Platform (in development)**: A multi‑cancer platform that aims to detect multiple cancer types (prostate, liver, pancreatic, lung, breast, etc.) through a single blood draw, leveraging the same multi‑omics, computational biology approach. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total funding of **$186.1 million** (as of early 2026, including a €20 million EIB loan in Feb 2025 and a $30 million grant in Jan 2026). Annual revenue is reported at **$4.3 million** (LinkedIn estimate). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Quest Diagnostics (strategic collaboration for US commercialization), European Investment Bank (EIB), Innvierte (CDTI investment program). Clinical partners network of >100 hospitals across the US and Europe. - **Growth Signals**: - Over 14,000 samples collected from clinical studies. - Active clinical collaborations with more than 100 gastrointestinal teams. - Recent patent filings for pancreatic cancer detection methods. - Headcount of 105 employees (as of mid‑2026), with a monthly growth rate of +0.8%. - Presence in 6 countries (US, Spain, Slovenia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Italy). - 22,423 LinkedIn followers with +1.8% monthly growth. ## Competitive Advantages - **Proprietary multi‑omics platform**: Combines epigenomics, methylomics, and machine learning to “read” cancer’s signal in blood, enabling a single‑test, multi‑cancer approach. - **High accuracy for colorectal cancer**: Signal‑C shows 92% sensitivity and 94% specificity, competitive with leading stool‑based tests but with a simpler blood draw. - **Strategic partnership with Quest Diagnostics**: Once FDA‑approved, Signal‑C will be distributed through Quest’s national network, dramatically accelerating adoption and reimbursement. - **Strong clinical validation network**: Over 100 partner hospitals in the US and Europe, providing real‑world data and regulatory credibility. ## Strategic Focus - **FDA approval and commercialization**: The immediate priority is obtaining FDA approval for Signal‑C and launching it through the Quest Diagnostics partnership to capture a share of the US colorectal cancer screening market. - **Expanding the multi‑cancer platform**: Developing blood tests for other high‑burden cancers (pancreatic, liver, lung, breast) to eventually offer a single‑draw screening for >50% of new cancer cases. - **Strengthening the evidence base**: Continuing to present at major conferences (AACR, ASCO) and publish peer‑reviewed studies to support regulatory submissions and clinical uptake. ## Why Work Here - **Mission‑driven culture**: The company’s explicit goal is “making cancer a curable disease by detecting it earlier” – a compelling purpose that attracts talent passionate about healthcare impact. - **Flexible work environment**: Offers a flexible work schedule, remote work opportunities, and a “free day on your birthday.” Employees can also buy extra vacation days. - **Competitive perks**: Fair salaries, optional health insurance, parking incentives, free café amenities at office locations, and a healthy work environment. - **International team**: Offices in Spain (Sevilla, Madrid), the US (Dallas, TX), and Slovenia (Ljubljana). Workforce is split roughly 39% US, 39% Spain, with smaller teams in other countries. - **Open positions** (as of June 2026): 6 active roles including Lab Ops Technical Lead, IVD Scientist, Director of IT, RA Technical Writer, Senior Biostatistician, and Software Development Engineer in Test. (Note: the company’s own careers page may show different availability; LinkedIn lists 6 open positions.) - **Engineering & R&D focus**: 25% of employees are in Research, 17% in Technical roles, with a strong emphasis on data science, biostatistics, and software engineering. - **Talent sources**: Employees often come from leading oncology diagnostics firms (Exact Sciences, Guardant Health, Freenome, Resolution Bioscience), indicating a high‑caliber peer group. ## Sources 1. [universaldx.com](https://www.universaldx.com/) 2. [universaldx.com/about-us](https://www.universaldx.com/about-us) 3. [universaldx.com/careers](https://www.universaldx.com/careers) 4. [universaldx.com/contact](https://www.universaldx.com/contact) 5. [linkedin.com/company/universal-diagnostics-sa](https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-diagnostics-sa/) ## Other roles at Universal DX - [Molecular Supervisor](https://feeny.ai/job/molecular-supervisor-universal-dx-dallas-dhmgsx79f4kt) — Dallas, TX - [Technical Writer, Product Development](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-writer-product-development-universal-dx-united-states-p0zw2jgwt4wc) — United States - [Patent Agent (Oncology & Molecular Diagnostics)](https://feeny.ai/job/patent-agent-oncology-molecular-diagnostics-universal-dx-united-states-vs0xezfvcamd) — United States