Lab Engineering Manager

Vertiv

3d•Onsite

About The Position

If you thrive on solving complex engineering challenges through hands-on experimentation, rigorous test engineering, and technical leadership, this role offers the opportunity to shape the future of liquid-cooling technology for AI-driven datacenters. The Lab Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the operations, personnel, and strategic development of Vertiv’s Dearborn Liquid Cooling Lab. This role oversees product validation, design verification testing (DVT), factory witness testing (FWT), and lab capability development supporting next-generation liquid cooling technologies for AI-driven data centers. The Lab Engineering Manager ensures rigorous execution across all phases of the NPDI process while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and operational efficiency. This position plays a critical role in delivering validated products to market and scaling lab capabilities to support growing business demand. This position will be based onsite at Vertiv's Dearborn Drive - Columbus, OH location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
8+ years of experience in product development, test engineering, or validation of thermal or electromechanical systems.
3+ years of experience leading engineering teams or laboratory operations.
Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer systems.
Experience supporting structured NPDI or gated product development processes.
Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with liquid cooling systems, coolant distribution units (CDUs), or thermal management systems.
Familiarity with ASHRAE/AHRI testing standards.
Experience supporting factory witness testing (FWT) or customer validation events.
Experience with lab facility expansion, capital planning, and test infrastructure development.

Responsibilities

Lead laboratory engineering operations including DVT, performance testing, reliability validation, and factory witness testing (FWT).
Manage lab scheduling, resource allocation, and coordination of internal and customer testing activities.
Ensure compliance with internal engineering standards and applicable industry testing standards (ASHRAE/AHRI).
Establish standardized test methods, documentation practices, and data reporting processes.
Support product development teams by ensuring lab readiness for validation activities across the NPDI lifecycle, from concept through product qualification.
Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, firmware/controls, manufacturing, and quality teams to validate designs and address technical risks.
Provide verification data and validation status to support design reviews and product development gate decisions.
Lead planning and execution of lab upgrades including test loop expansions, instrumentation improvements, and automation initiatives.
Manage capital planning and facility improvements to support evolving product roadmaps and increasing testing demand.
Ensure the lab supports high-density liquid cooling validation and advanced CDU testing capabilities.
Lead and develop a team of lab engineers, DVT engineers, and technicians.
Drive capability development through hiring, mentorship, and technical growth opportunities.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and engineering excellence.
Lead root-cause investigations for validation issues and field-return analysis.
Implement continuous improvement initiatives to increase test throughput, repeatability, and lab efficiency.
Develop and track KPIs related to lab utilization, validation cycle time, and testing effectiveness.