Supervisor Research and Development Lab

Job Summary

The Lab Supervisor oversees the daily operational activities of the Research & Development laboratories, serving as the primary owner of all lab equipment and coordinating the work of a team of technicians. This role sets daily priorities, schedules resources in collaboration with functional managers and Project Engineering Managers, and ensures that lab operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and in alignment with established protocols.

The Lab Supervisor applies operational best practices; coordinates work with related teams and ensures consistent execution of procedures that support ongoing development and production objectives. Guided by established policies, the role provides direction, conveys expectations, addresses personnel matters, and escalates significant equipment concerns to management. Where needed in support of business demands, this role is expected to also perform work in the labs.

Responsibilities and Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Supervise daily activities of laboratory technicians, including assigning work and setting priorities.
• Oversee system readiness, maintenance, and safe operation of lab systems, ensuring adherence to established procedures.
• Coordinate system shutdowns, restarts, and recovery activities with proper planning and alignment.
• Maintain laboratory safety, cleanliness, and documentation standards.
• Communicate performance expectations and provide coaching, feedback, and development planning.
• Identify operational or technical issues and apply judgment to troubleshoot or resolve them within guidelines.
• Lead structured team meetings with clear agendas, action items, and follow‑up expectations.
• Coordinate with other supervisors or groups to enhance efficiency and workflow.
• Report critical equipment issues, resource needs, and operational risks to management.
• Establish and drive a continuous improvement mindset within the lab team and spaces.
• Support process improvements and assist with updating procedures to enhance lab consistency and efficiency.
• Perform lab work, as may be driven by business needs.

Qualifications (Education/Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• 5+ years of experience working in laboratory environments, technical operations, or fabrication systems.
• Prior supervisory or lead experience preferred; experience directing technical work highly desirable.
• Experience working within structured laboratory protocols.
• Working knowledge of laboratory equipment, components, and general operational concepts.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement concepts; Lean/Six Sigma certification preferred but not required.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to supervise and prioritize daily activities across a technical support team.
• Strong judgment in identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving routine operational issues.
• Effective communication skills for conveying expectations, explaining procedures, and addressing sensitive personnel issues.
• Ability to coordinate with related groups to align workflow and improve operational efficiency.
• Strong organizational skills and commitment to maintaining consistent operational standards.
• Commitment to safe laboratory practices and compliance with company policies.
• Ability to escalate significant operational concerns appropriately.

The environment and duties for the R&D Lab are:

• Build of electro-optical products.  This includes putting mechanical and electrical assemblies together as well as installing optics and verifying that the are aligned and working well.
• Testing and debugging of mechanical assemblies with examples including fit checks, measuring tolerances, environmental testing, and exercising joints
• Testing and debugging of electrical assemblies with examples including using oscilloscopes, soldering under microscopes, reading schematics and helping with board turn up
• Installing and testing software
• Testing of full products and helping with transfer to operations

Travel/Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand or walk for extended periods during lab oversight or inspections.
• Ability to lift or move laboratory components or tools typically up to 25–40 pounds.
• Manual dexterity required for occasional handling of equipment components or system interfaces.
• Work may require bending, reaching, or accessing equipment in constrained spaces.
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.

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