Audio Research Lab Manager

Fresh Consulting•Redmond, WA

2d•$60 - $70•Onsite

About The Position

Fresh Consulting is seeking an Audio Research Lab Manager to oversee a portfolio of more than 50 specialized research labs across multiple buildings in Redmond and Seattle. The role is an onsite position supporting lab users, research operations, facilities, and leadership. The manager will monitor lab conditions, manage access and compliance for lab network machines, maintain audio and AV systems and equipment, and coordinate visitors, vendors, facilities teams, and lab relocations or decommissioning. This position combines hands-on technical work with administration and stakeholder coordination. Duties include managing equipment intake, inventory, storage, and checkout systems; assembling acoustic measurement rigs and motion-capture systems; troubleshooting and repairing equipment; and helping represent lab requirements in new building design and construction. The manager will work closely with another lab manager on physical tasks and installations, while independently balancing priorities across buildings. The role requires full-time onsite work and regular travel between Redmond and Seattle locations. This is a long-term contract of 12 months or more, with the possibility of extension. The stated compensation range is $60 to $75 USD per hour. Fresh Consulting lists employee benefits including medical coverage, PTO, holiday pay, and a 401(k) plan.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in lab management, lab operations, or technical facilities support in a research, hardware, or consumer electronics environment.
Hands-on experience installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting audio and AV systems, including cabling, signal flow, and hardware mounting.
Experience with acoustic and audio test equipment such as Audio Precision, Brüel & Kjær/HBK, or NTI.
Experience managing equipment inventory and asset tracking in a database or asset management system, including barcode labeling.
Soldering skills for cable fabrication and equipment repair.
Proficiency with hand and power tools and comfort working on ladders.
Working knowledge of lab safety practices and EHS requirements.
Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple teams and buildings.
Ability to work onsite full time in Redmond, Washington, with regular travel between buildings in Redmond and Seattle.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting audio, acoustics, or AR/VR research labs, or consumer electronics product development.
Experience with motion-capture systems such as OptiTrack (Motive) or Vicon.
Experience with specialized acoustic spaces such as anechoic chambers, speaker arrays, or variable acoustics rooms.
Experience supporting user studies or research with study participants.
Experience building automations or workflows in a cloud-based database or asset management tool.
Familiarity with lab networking, including device registration, network switches, and PoE.
Experience with procurement, vendor management, or blanket purchase orders (BPOs).
Experience supporting lab construction, build-outs, or relocations.
Electrical safety training such as NFPA 70E or Qualified Electrical Worker.
Audio industry certification such as AVIXA CTS.
Ability to lift and move heavy equipment up to 50 pounds and perform physical installation work.

Responsibilities

Serve as the onsite point of contact for a portfolio of more than 50 specialized research labs across multiple buildings.
Monitor lab conditions and manage badge access and compliance for more than 100 lab network machines.
Partner with the other lab manager on physical tasks, heavy lifting, and coordinated installations, while independently managing priorities across buildings.
Represent lab users, collaborate with leadership and other organizations, and train new team members.
Schedule and escort visitors, including EHS representatives, through active labs while avoiding disruption to research and data collection.
Administer a cloud-based asset management database and lab checkout system, including building automations and configuring a Zebra barcode printer.
Use power tools, ladders, and soldering skills to diagnose and repair equipment and create custom cabling.
Order, receive, unpack, track, and store audio equipment; manage vendor blanket purchase orders and install storage solutions.
Design, install, and maintain audio and video systems; assemble acoustic measurement rigs using Audio Precision, Brüel & Kjær/HBK, and NTI equipment; and install OptiTrack motion-capture systems.
Represent lab requirements in new building design and construction, and manage lab decommissioning and relocations.
Follow lab safety and EHS practices and complete company Qualified Electrical Worker training.
Coordinate with facilities, security, and contractors to keep labs safe and habitable.
Maintain specialized in-house lab facilities, including laser-based speaker alignment and speaker validation facilities.