Systems Architect Jobs in Washington
Systems Architect jobs in Washington are among the most active in the country, concentrated in cloud infrastructure, enterprise software, and defense technology, with openings at every level from associate architect through principal and distinguished engineer. Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond anchor most of the hiring, and established employers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing maintain consistent demand across product, platform, and systems integration work. The most sought-after specialties are cloud-native architecture, distributed systems design, and enterprise integration. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Cytek Biosciences is seeking an experienced Principal System Architect - Instrument to define and guide the architecture of next-generation flow cytometry platforms. This role is responsible for translating customer, application, and business needs into robust instrument designs, with particular focus on subsystem architecture, system reliability, and cross-functional execution with global teams and suppliers, including partners in China. This role is ideal for a professional who has worked with Class I, II, or III devices (including 510(k) cleared products) and thrives in environments undergoing cGMP and design control maturation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the end-to-end system architecture for flow cytometry instruments, ensuring strong integration of fluidics, optics, electronics, software, and serviceability requirements.
- Define system requirements, interface specifications, and performance budgets to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and scalability.
- Lead architecture decisions for fluidics subsystems, including sample handling, sheath flow, flow cell design, clog resistance, and contamination control.
- Drive reliability engineering activities, including failure mode analysis, reliability risk assessment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and long-term robustness improvements.
- Establish and track system-level reliability goals such as uptime, MTBF, failure rates, maintenance intervals, and field performance metrics.
- Collaborate closely with R&D, quality, manufacturing, service, and NPI teams to ensure design choices support product reliability and lifecycle performance.
- Work directly with internal teams and suppliers in China to align on technical requirements, resolve issues, support qualification, and drive on-time execution.
- Participate in supplier development, design reviews, risk mitigation, and technical issue resolution with global and China-based partners.
- Guidesubsystem teams through integration, verification, and validation activities, ensuring robust performance under real-world use conditions.
- Support design for manufacturability, serviceability, and supply chain resilience.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship across engineering teams.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Physics, or related field.
- 8+ years of experience developing complex analytical, diagnostic, or life science instrumentation.
- Demonstrated experience in system architecture and cross-functional technical leadership.
- Strong understanding of fluidics systems, including flow control, microfluidics, particle transport, and contamination mitigation.
- Experience with reliability engineering methods such as FMEA, fault tree analysis, root cause analysis, and reliability growth.
- Strong troubleshooting skills and a bias toward root cause resolution and preventive action.
- Direct experience with Class I, II, or III medical devices, including 510(k) cleared products
- Experience operating in or helping build a cGMP-compliant environment
- Ability to translate customer and product needs into clear engineering requirements and trade-offs.
- Strong communicator who can teach, coach, and influence without formal authority
- Hands-on problem solver who enjoys working on the production floor as well as in documentation systems
- Ability to travel internationally (up to 20%) to support global manufacturing and cross-site collaboration
Preferred Experience:
- Direct experience with flow cytometer, fluidic subsystems, or closely related technologies such as hematology analyzers, cell sorters, or microfluidic diagnostic systems.
- Experience in designing for high reliability, field performance, and serviceability in regulated instruments.
- Familiarity with optical detection systems, fluorescence, and signal acquisition.
- Professional workingproficiencyin MandarinChinese
- Hands-on experience coordinating with China- and APAC-based engineering and operations teams.
- Experience working with suppliers, contract manufacturers, or development partners in China.
- Experience in regulated environments such as ISO 13485 and FDA design controls.
- Proficiencywith modeling, simulation, or data analysis tools such as CFD, MATLAB, or Python.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Prolonged periods of sitting and standing
Cytek is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
#LI-DNP
Cytek Biosciences is seeking an experienced Principal System Architect - Instrument to define and guide the architecture of next-generation flow cytometry platforms. This role is responsible for translating customer, application, and business needs into robust instrument designs, with particular focus on subsystem architecture, system reliability, and cross-functional execution with global teams and suppliers, including partners in China. This role is ideal for a professional who has worked with Class I, II, or III devices (including 510(k) cleared products) and thrives in environments undergoing cGMP and design control maturation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the end-to-end system architecture for flow cytometry instruments, ensuring strong integration of fluidics, optics, electronics, software, and serviceability requirements.
- Define system requirements, interface specifications, and performance budgets to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and scalability.
- Lead architecture decisions for fluidics subsystems, including sample handling, sheath flow, flow cell design, clog resistance, and contamination control.
- Drive reliability engineering activities, including failure mode analysis, reliability risk assessment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and long-term robustness improvements.
- Establish and track system-level reliability goals such as uptime, MTBF, failure rates, maintenance intervals, and field performance metrics.
- Collaborate closely with R&D, quality, manufacturing, service, and NPI teams to ensure design choices support product reliability and lifecycle performance.
- Work directly with internal teams and suppliers in China to align on technical requirements, resolve issues, support qualification, and drive on-time execution.
- Participate in supplier development, design reviews, risk mitigation, and technical issue resolution with global and China-based partners.
- Guidesubsystem teams through integration, verification, and validation activities, ensuring robust performance under real-world use conditions.
- Support design for manufacturability, serviceability, and supply chain resilience.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship across engineering teams.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Physics, or related field.
- 8+ years of experience developing complex analytical, diagnostic, or life science instrumentation.
- Demonstrated experience in system architecture and cross-functional technical leadership.
- Strong understanding of fluidics systems, including flow control, microfluidics, particle transport, and contamination mitigation.
- Experience with reliability engineering methods such as FMEA, fault tree analysis, root cause analysis, and reliability growth.
- Strong troubleshooting skills and a bias toward root cause resolution and preventive action.
- Direct experience with Class I, II, or III medical devices, including 510(k) cleared products
- Experience operating in or helping build a cGMP-compliant environment
- Ability to translate customer and product needs into clear engineering requirements and trade-offs.
- Strong communicator who can teach, coach, and influence without formal authority
- Hands-on problem solver who enjoys working on the production floor as well as in documentation systems
- Ability to travel internationally (up to 20%) to support global manufacturing and cross-site collaboration
Preferred Experience:
- Direct experience with flow cytometer, fluidic subsystems, or closely related technologies such as hematology analyzers, cell sorters, or microfluidic diagnostic systems.
- Experience in designing for high reliability, field performance, and serviceability in regulated instruments.
- Familiarity with optical detection systems, fluorescence, and signal acquisition.
- Professional workingproficiencyin MandarinChinese
- Hands-on experience coordinating with China- and APAC-based engineering and operations teams.
- Experience working with suppliers, contract manufacturers, or development partners in China.
- Experience in regulated environments such as ISO 13485 and FDA design controls.
- Proficiencywith modeling, simulation, or data analysis tools such as CFD, MATLAB, or Python.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Prolonged periods of sitting and standing
Cytek is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
#LI-DNP
See All 9 Systems Architect Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Systems Architect JobsSystems Architect Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Systems Architect Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in systems architect jobs across Washington.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, systems engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Seven or more years of hands-on experience designing large-scale distributed or enterprise systems
- Deep proficiency in cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud with architecture certifications preferred
- Demonstrated experience producing solution design documents, architecture diagrams, and technical roadmaps
- Strong cross-functional communication skills working alongside product, engineering, and executive stakeholders
- Experience with security-by-design principles and compliance frameworks relevant to regulated or government-adjacent environments
Systems Architect Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a systems architect in Washington?
Most systems architects in Washington move into the role from senior software engineering, infrastructure, or solutions engineering positions after building deep technical breadth. Washington does not require a state-issued license for this role. Employers typically expect a bachelor's degree in computer science or systems engineering, plus several years of progressively senior technical work. Industry certifications from AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud carry real weight in Washington's technology-heavy market and are frequently listed as preferred qualifications.
How much do systems architects make in Washington?
Systems architects in Washington earn a median of about $128,940 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $60,210 for the lowest 10% to over $200,610 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire systems architects in Washington?
Employers hiring systems architects in Washington right now include Microsoft, Echodyne, and MCG Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Washington's concentration of major cloud, defense, and aerospace employers means demand for systems architects is spread across both large technology platforms and mission-critical engineering environments.
Which Washington cities have the most systems architect jobs?
Redmond, Seattle, and Kirkland have the most systems architect openings in Washington. Seattle and Bellevue lead because they are home to the headquarters and major engineering campuses of the state's largest technology employers, while Redmond's concentration of Microsoft and adjacent contractors drives significant volume in surrounding Eastside communities.
Are there remote systems architect jobs in Washington?
Yes, and more than most fields. Systems architecture is primarily a design and advisory discipline, which makes it well suited to remote and hybrid arrangements. About 100% of systems architect openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how broadly distributed engineering teams have become in the state. Strategy, design review, and stakeholder alignment work tends to stay remote, while initial onboarding and security-sensitive government-adjacent roles are more likely to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a systems architect in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a senior individual-contributor engineering role at a Washington technology employer, where you build breadth across domains before stepping into an architecture title. Microsoft and Amazon both run associate architect and principal engineer development tracks that move strong engineers toward systems design work. Building a portfolio of architecture decision records and system design documentation from current engineering roles gives hiring managers concrete evidence of architectural thinking, which matters more in Washington's market than the title you hold today.
Where can I find and apply to systems architect jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to systems architect jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings across industries and experience levels. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly.
See All 9 Systems Architect Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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