Director, Lab Operations – Server CPU & Data Center SoCs

Qualcomm•San Diego, CA

About The Position

The Director of Lab Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership for post‑silicon Power and Performance validation labs supporting Qualcomm Server CPU products. This role owns the end‑to‑end lab ecosystem enabling system, silicon, firmware, and software engineering teams across multiple sites. The Director is accountable for lab strategy, execution, scale, and compliance, while ensuring hands‑on technical rigor in system bring‑up, platform validation, and board‑level debug. This role leads lab operations teams and partners closely with senior engineering leadership to accelerate product readiness and silicon learning.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field preferred
Equivalent practical experience considered
15+ years of progressive experience in electronics labs, hardware validation, or lab operations
Demonstrated leadership experience managing large lab environments supporting silicon or server platforms
Proven experience supporting Server CPU, SoC, or data‑center platform development
Strong understanding of: Server CPU and SoC‑based system architectures Firmware, BIOS, and operating system bring‑up
Deep experience with: FPGA and flash programming Advanced board‑level rework (including BGA) Platform‑level debug (power delivery, sequencing, clocks, power measurement)
Hands‑on familiarity with modern lab equipment: Oscilloscopes Logic and protocol analyzers
Strong background in data‑center server hardware strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Own the global lab operations strategy for Server CPU and data‑center SoC validation environments
Align lab capabilities, capacity planning, and investments with server CPU product roadmaps and post‑silicon milestones
Act as the senior lab operations interface to Silicon, System, Firmware, Software, and Program leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop lab operations managers, senior technicians, and lab staff
Establish operating rhythms, escalation paths, and performance expectations for lab teams
Build a culture of accountability, safety, technical excellence, and continuous improvement
Ensure readiness and availability of lab environments supporting: Server CPU bring‑up and validation Platform‑level electrical, functional, and system validation
Provide executive oversight for: System builds, deployments, and configuration (FW, BIOS, OS) Advanced board‑level debug and rework when required
Partner with validation and design teams on failure analysis, power measurement, and root‑cause investigations
Own lab infrastructure, tooling strategy, and modernization plans
Oversee procurement, deployment, and lifecycle management of: Data‑center‑class servers and platforms High‑value lab equipment and instrumentation
Establish strong asset tracking, inventory control, and cost discipline
Own lab access governance, audits, and security controls
Ensure compliance with corporate safety standards, regulatory requirements, and internal audits
Serve as executive owner for lab safety programs and readiness reviews