Supervisor - R&D Mechanical Prototype Lab

Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies, or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them.

Location / Division Specific Information

Division: Laboratory Equipment Division (LED)
Location: Marietta, OH
Work Arrangement: On-site

The Laboratory Equipment Division combines deep scientific expertise, a collaborative culture, and strong operational excellence to deliver the laboratory equipment and consumables our customers rely on—quickly, reliably, and safely. Our smart lab solutions help customers focus on what matters most: delivering answers and innovations that save and improve lives.

How will you make an impact?

As Supervisor, R&D – Mechanical Prototype Lab, you will lead the day-to-day activities of mechanical technicians supporting rapid prototyping, engineering builds, product testing, and troubleshooting within the Technology Center.

In this hands-on supervisory role, you will coordinate people, equipment, materials, and laboratory activities to ensure prototype builds and engineering work are completed safely, efficiently, and according to project priorities. You will work closely with R&D engineers and other cross-functional partners to translate engineering requirements into high-quality physical builds, test setups, and product modifications.

Your leadership will help create a safe, organized, responsive, and technically capable prototype environment that accelerates product development and enables engineering teams to quickly build, learn, troubleshoot, and improve cold storage and laboratory equipment.

What will you do?

Safety, Laboratory & Equipment Management

• Maintain a safe work environment and promote a high level of safety awareness among technicians and laboratory users.
• Maintain an organized laboratory environment through 5S, Gemba walks, visual management, and standard work.
• Coordinate laboratory inventory, consumable materials, tools, and parts to maintain availability and inventory accuracy.
• Ensure technicians follow established safety requirements, work instructions, laboratory practices, and company procedures.

Lab Operations & Technical Execution

• Supervise and coordinate daily activities of mechanical technicians supporting prototype fabrication, engineering builds, product modifications, test setup, and troubleshooting.
• Partner closely with R&D engineers to ensure accurate, efficient, and timely execution of prototype builds and engineering work.
• Perform hands-on mechanical assembly, refrigeration/HVAC systems diagnostics, instrumentation, and troubleshooting.
• Support prototype units and test fixtures through instrumentation using thermocouples, pressure transducers, force gauges, meters, data loggers, and other measurement devices.
• Coordinate laboratory resources, tools, materials, and equipment required to complete assigned engineering work.

Prototype Development & Engineering Support

• Support rapid fabrication, assembly, modification, and troubleshooting of prototype laboratory equipment and cold storage products.
• Apply practical knowledge of HVAC/R, refrigeration, mechanical systems, motors, compressors, fans, relays, switches, wiring, and related electromechanical components.
• Assist engineering teams with prototype test fixtures and preparation of systems for engineering evaluation.
• Support testing performed to Engineering Test Procedures (ETPs) and assist with setup and execution of agency or compliance testing, such as UL, CE, or CSA activities.
• Work with engineering teams to resolve build issues, identify practical solutions, and communicate observations that may improve product design, assembly, serviceability, or test execution.
• Support engineering builds from initial prototype through increasingly production-representative configurations as programs mature.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and sustain standard work for common prototype, fabrication, laboratory, and equipment-management activities.
• Apply Lean / PPI principles to improve laboratory workflow, equipment utilization, material organization, safety, and execution efficiency.
• Use structured problem-solving and data-based decision making to address laboratory and technical issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve prototype turnaround time, work quality, technician capability, and laboratory effectiveness.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

People Leadership & Development

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and day-to-day direction to mechanical technicians.
• Establish clear work priorities and expectations and provide timely feedback on safety, quality, execution, and teamwork.
• Train and cross-train technicians to expand laboratory capability, flexibility, and technical skills.
• Build an engaged team environment that encourages employee input, problem solving, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Partner with the Sr. Manager, Technology Center on employee development, performance expectations, laboratory priorities, and capability planning.

How will you get here?

Education

• Associate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, HVAC/R, Refrigeration Technology, Industrial Technology, or related technical discipline preferred.
• Equivalent combination of relevant technical education, apprenticeship, certification, and practical experience will be considered.
• HVAC/R or refrigeration technical certification preferred.

Experience

• 5+ years of hands-on technical experience in mechanical, HVAC/R, refrigeration, electromechanical, prototype, laboratory, or manufacturing environments.
• Previous supervisory, team-lead, or demonstrated technical leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working in an engineering laboratory, prototype shop, test laboratory, or product development environment preferred.
• Hands-on experience building, modifying, and troubleshooting mechanical or electromechanical systems.
• Experience with refrigeration or HVAC systems, including compressors, motors, fans, tubing, controls, and related components, strongly preferred.
• Experience with instrumentation, measurement equipment, and data acquisition systems preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Practical working knowledge of mechanical systems and strong aptitude for hands-on troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of HVAC/R and refrigeration system operation strongly preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, work instructions, and technical documentation.
• Ability to safely use common laboratory, fabrication, and measurement equipment.
• Strong supervisory and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to coach, train, motivate, and organize technical employees.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to coordinate multiple concurrent engineering priorities and rapidly changing workloads.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technicians, engineers, managers, and cross-functional partners.
• Demonstrated analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and common electronic documentation and communication tools.
• Ability and willingness to work hands-on in laboratory, prototype, and manufacturing environments.