Sr. Director​/Director, Software Engineering - Early Cancer Detection; ECD

Sr. Director/Director, Software Engineering - Early Cancer Detection (ECD)

Position Summary

Natera is at the forefront of personalized genetic testing, transforming the management of disease worldwide. We are at the cusp of a new inflection point with the development of the next generation of life‑saving products in Early Cancer Detection (ECD).

We are seeking a seasoned and visionary Sr. Director/Director of Engineering to lead the software strategy and development for our Early Cancer Detection portfolio. You will architect and build the technical foundation for a suite of software products designed to detect cancer earlier than ever before, acting as the technical bridge between cutting‑edge R&D and a scalable, regulated commercial software platform.

This role requires a leader who thrives in a "Zero‑to‑One" environment, possessing the scrappiness of a startup founder combined with the rigor required for Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). You will establish an internal startup culture defined by high agency, urgency, and agile execution while ensuring strict adherence to regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Founder’s Mindset:
  Ability to thrive in ambiguity, drive decisions with incomplete information, and execute with high urgency.
• Define and execute the multi‑year engineering roadmap for the ECD business unit, balancing the need for rapid prototyping with long‑term commercial stability.
• Serve as the technical visionary for the ECD software suite, translating complex scientific and clinical requirements into robust, scalable software solutions.

• Lead the end‑to‑end "Zero‑to‑One" development of ECD software solutions, from sample ordering to reports back to clinicians.
• User‑Centered Focus:
  Passion for building software that solves real problems for users & customers.
• Oversee the transition of research prototypes (e.g., CRC screening, MCED) into robust, commercial‑grade software products.
• Drive cross‑functional execution with Product Management, R&D, and Lab Operations to ensure software solutions meet user needs and business goals.
• Collaborate closely with Computational Biology and Bioinformatics teams to product ionize complex algorithms into scalable clinical workflows.
• Technical Agility:
  Proficiency with modern software development practices, including Agile/Scrum, CI/CD, and test‑driven development.
• Cross‑Functional Communication:
  Ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse stakeholders, including biologists, clinicians, and executives.

• Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure all software complies with FDA (PMA/510k), IEC 62304, and ISO 13485 standards.
• Serve as the engineering technical lead for regulatory submissions and audits, ensuring documentation and processes meet the highest standards of SaMD compliance.
• Embed compliance and security into the software development lifecycle (SDLC) without compromising development velocity.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain a world‑class team of Full‑Stack, Dev Ops, and Data Engineers.
• Foster an engineering culture of accountability, user‑centered design, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical mentorship and career development coaching to engineering managers and technical leads.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role (Director or above) within the Health Tech, Med Tech, or Biotech space.
• Proven track record of building "Zero‑to‑One" products, taking complex software from initial concept through clinical validation to commercial launch.
• Deep experience in a highly regulated environment, with specific expertise in SaMD, FDA design controls, and HIPAA/GDPR compliance.
• Strong technical background in cloud‑native architectures (AWS), distributed systems, and handling large‑scale genomic or clinical datasets.
• BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (PhD is a plus).

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,…