Director, Software Engineering - San Carlos - Natera, Inc.

Description

Director, Software Engineering - Product Integration

Natera is at the forefront of personalized genetic testing, transforming the management of disease worldwide. As we scale our life-saving diagnostics, we are transforming our approach to software quality and reliability.

We are seeking a seasoned and visionary Director of Engineering, Product Integration to lead a newly formed Product Integration team. You will pivot our strategy from traditional, late-stage configuration testing to a proactive, end-to-end integration function that de-risks our most complex "Pillar" projects (e.g., LCGP, Signatera IVD).

This role requires a leader who is AI-native, hands‑on, and high agency. You will not just manage a team; you will act as the "Integration Quarterback" for the engineering organization, defining the "Golden Paths" through our distributed architecture and driving an incremental, milestone-based validation strategy. You will live the ethos of agile, user-centered development, using modern tools to create massive leverage and ensure our software works seamlessly from order to report.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Transform Integration Strategy: Lead the transition from the legacy "PSPC" model to a modern, risk-based integration strategy. Define a vision where testing is not a bottleneck but a continuous, value-added activity embedded in the development lifecycle.
• High Agency Execution: Champion a culture of urgency and ownership. Proactively identify integration risks during the design phase (shifting left) rather than waiting for code freeze.
• AI‑Native Leverage: Pioneer the use of AI and LLMs to revolutionize testing. Implement strategies to auto‑generate test cases from PRDs, use AI for intelligent log analysis and root cause detection, and dramatically increase team throughput.

Product Integration & Execution

• "Quarterback" Model: Serve as the integration lead for major company initiatives. Partner with Solution Architects to define "Integration Milestones" and extract iterative builds from component teams to validate workflows progressively.
• End-to-End Ownership: Own the validation of critical business workflows across the full stack (Portal → LIMS → Lab Execution → Bioinformatics → Reporting). Ensure that the "Happy Path" is unbreakable and that unhappy paths are supported.
• User-Centered Validation: Go beyond spec compliance to verify the user experience. Ensure that the integrated system delivers the intended value to clinicians and patients, using realistic data that mirrors production complexity.
• Environment Strategy: Act as the gatekeeper for the Staging/Integration environments. Enforce strict configuration management and version control to ensure our test beds accurately reflect Production reality.
• Build a High-Performance Team: Recruit and mentor a new breed of "Integration Leads"—technical, code-savvy individuals who understand microservices architecture and business logic equally well.
• Foster Innovation: Create an environment where the team is encouraged to experiment with new tools (e.g., chaos engineering, AI agents) to break the system before our users do.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience, with at least 5 years in leadership roles managing complex software integration, QA, or SDET teams.
• Deep Technical Expertise: Strong background in testing distributed systems, microservices, and event-driven architectures (Kafka, AWS). You understand that "integration" means API contracts, data consistency, and system resilience.
• Transformation Experience: Proven track record of turning around underperforming testing functions or building "Zero-to-One" quality organizations in a rapid-growth environment.
• Regulated Industry Experience: Familiarity with healthcare standards (HIPAA, CLIA, FDA) is strongly preferred, but a demonstrated ability to bring rigor to complex regulated environments is essential.
• BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• User-Centered: You obsess over the end‑user experience. You understand that a passing API test is meaningless if the clinician can't view the report.
• High Agency: You don't wait for permission to fix broken processes. You navigate ambiguity with confidence and drive cross‑functional alignment.
• Technical Fluency: Ability to go deep with architects on API schema design and equally deep with product managers on user journey mapping.

Compensation & Total Rewards

This range reflects a good‑faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

Position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera's robust Total Rewards program, including:

• Annual performance incentive bonus
• Long-term equity awards
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Additional wellness and work‑life benefits

Compensation Range
$171,400 - $214,300 USD

Our Opportunity

Natera is a global leader in cell‑free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women's health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

What We Offer

Competitive benefits – Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401(k) benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program

Equal Opportunity Employer

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

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