Craig Bauer

Developing automated analytic instruments for the physical and life sciences.

San Diego, California, United States

About

Electro-mechanical systems engineer experienced in the development of complex analytic instrumentation: group leadership, systems engineering, product development, and product implementation experience. Interested in the intersection of technology development and product development, and in helping companies realize innovative new technologies. Background in applied physics. Experienced project manager. Track record of successful products developed. Problem solver. Team player. Passionate about technical innovation. Specialties: Analytic Instrumentation Project Management & Team Leadership in Interdisciplinary Environments Prototype Design, Build, and Evaluation Structured Development Processes, Rapid Development Principles Risk-driven Development/DFMEA Root Cause Analysis & Process Improvement New Product Implementation & Transition to Manufacturing Systems Engineering Sensor Integration & Troubleshooting Instrumentation for Digital Microfluidics (EWOD - Electro-wetting on Dielectric) DNA Sequencing-By-Synthesis (SBS) Thermoelectric systems Magnetometry & Superconductors Vacuum Systems Cryogenics

Experience

  • Senior Staff Engineer at Illumina
    Nov 2013 - Present · 12 yrs 8 mos

    MIT Technology Review's 50 Smartest Companies list, 2014 (#1) Fortune's 50 Companies Changing the World list, 2019 (#35) Time Magazine's Most Influential Companies, 2021 Develop electro-mechanical, thermal, and magnetic systems for life-science instrumentation used to study DNA and genetic variation.

  • Staff Engineer at Advanced Liquid Logic (an Illumina company)
    Nov 2009 - Nov 2013 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    Design and develop mechanical, electro-mechanical, thermal, and magnetic systems for innovative droplet-based microfluidic instrumentation used for life science sample preparation. Advanced Liquid Logic was an advanced start-up when I joined, and I managed the team that brought the company's first commercial instrumentation to market, the Mondrian system marketed and sold by partner NuGEN. A year and a half later the founders successfully carried out their exit strategy when they sold the company to genetics research leader Illumina.

  • Instrument Engineering Manager at Advanced Liquid Logic
    Aug 2010 - Nov 2011 · 1 yr 4 mos

    Managed the 8 member team that brought the company's first commercial instrumentation to market, while juggling 6-8 other commercial partnerships and government grant-based projects at the same time. Simultaneously served as design engineer on much of the instrument's critical mechanical, thermal, and magnetic systems.

  • Project Engineer at Invisar
    2008 - 2009 · 1 yr

    Engineering services firm specializing in product development, automated test systems, and system integration. Lead engineering and implementation teams in the development of new products, instrumentation, and automated test systems for various clients in the aerospace, defense, and education industries.

  • Senior Mechanical Engineer at Lake Shore Cryotronics
    Jan 2007 - Aug 2008 · 1 yr 8 mos

    ISO 9001:2000, 2006 TopCAT award company, manufacturer of sensors and analytic instrumentation Project leadership, mechanical design, prototyping, testing, and transition to manufacturing for cryogenic semiconductor wafer test equipment.