Sr. Manager, Operational Technology Programs & Operations Excellence

Bring more to life.

Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics, and biotechnology?

At Cepheid, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives, and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact.

You will thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. By harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact, innovating at the speed of life.

At Cepheid, we are enthusiastic about improving health care through fast, accurate molecular diagnostic systems and tests. As a member of our team, you will make an immediate, measurable impact on a global scale within an environment that fosters career growth and development. Our mission drives us to develop groundbreaking solutions for the world’s most complex health challenges.

Together, we bring MORE change to the world.

Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible.

The Senior Manager, Operational Technology Programs & Operations Excellence is responsible for leading strategic programs that improve the reliability, security, compliance, and effectiveness of manufacturing technology environments across Cepheid’s global operations.

This role serves as a bridge between Operations, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology, ensuring that operational requirements are translated into scalable technology solutions that deliver measurable business value. The role leads cross-functional programs involving operational technology infrastructure, manufacturing cybersecurity, network architecture, computerized system modernization, and operational excellence. Depending on business needs, this individual may serve as a Program Manager, Project Manager, Business Lead, or Operations Subject Matter Expert.

This position reports to the Senior Director, Systems Engineering and is part of the Systems Engineering organization located in Sunnyvale, California, and will be an on-site role.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead strategic Operational Technology and manufacturing technology programs across Cepheid’s global manufacturing sites, driving improvements in reliability, security, compliance, scalability, and operational effectiveness.

• Manage complex, cross-functional programs involving OT infrastructure, industrial networks, computerized manufacturing systems, cybersecurity, system modernization, and operational improvements.

• Establish program governance, project plans, resource requirements, risk mitigation strategies, performance metrics, and executive-level communications.

• Serve as the primary Operations liaison with Information Technology and Cybersecurity teams, translating manufacturing and business requirements into actionable technical solutions.

• Lead manufacturing technology modernization initiatives, including infrastructure refreshes, operating system upgrades, asset lifecycle management, technology standardization, and operational readiness.

• Represent Operations during solution design, business impact assessments, testing, validation, deployment, change management, and sustainment activities, ensuring manufacturing continuity and stakeholder readiness.

• Apply the Danaher Business System, Lean principles, and continuous improvement methodologies to establish scalable governance, improve program execution, and standardize technology practices across sites.

The essential requirements of the job include:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Operations Management, or a related technical field.

Functional Experience: Eight or more years of experience in manufacturing technology, operational technology, engineering, information technology, manufacturing operations, or related functions within complex manufacturing environments.

Leadership Experience: Three or more years of experience leading cross-functional programs, projects, or workstreams across multiple functions or sites, including demonstrated experience influencing stakeholders without direct authority.

Program Leadership: Demonstrated ability to independently develop and execute program charters, project plans, governance structures, risk mitigation plans, implementation strategies, performance metrics, and executive communications for complex technology initiatives.

Manufacturing and OT Expertise: Working knowledge of manufacturing operations and Operational Technology environments, including industrial infrastructure, computerized manufacturing systems, industrial networks, asset lifecycle management, and production support processes.

IT/OT Cybersecurity and Compliance: Experience partnering with IT, Cybersecurity, Quality, and Validation teams on initiatives involving IT/OT network segmentation, endpoint security, vulnerability remediation, technology controls, computerized system validation, or regulated manufacturing requirements.

Business Partnership and Communication: Demonstrated ability to translate operational needs into technical requirements, facilitate decisions across technical and nontechnical stakeholders, manage organizational change, and communicate program risks, priorities, and outcomes to senior leadership.

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

• Life sciences, medical device, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or another regulated manufacturing industry.

• Manufacturing systems such as MES, SCADA, industrial automation platforms, data historians, or connected factory technologies.

• OT cybersecurity frameworks, GxP-regulated environments, computerized system validation, or enterprise-scale manufacturing technology transformation.

Cepheid, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it’s a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job. Check out our benefits at Danaher Benefits Info. 

The annual salary range for this role is $165,000 - $196,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

This job is also eligible for bonus/incentive pay.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.