Staff Engineering Laboratory Manager

CHAOS Industries•El Segundo, CA

16d•$184,000 - $231,000•Onsite

About The Position

CHAOS is seeking a Staff Engineering Laboratory Manager to own the day-to-day operation, readiness, security, and continuous improvement of the company’s engineering laboratories. These laboratories support the development, integration, verification, and fielding of advanced aerospace and defense systems, including RF sensors, electronics, mechanical systems, effectors, and ruggedized hardware. You will manage both classified and unclassified laboratory environments and serve as the central point of coordination among engineering teams, facilities, IT, security, safety, suppliers, and outside service providers. You will allocate laboratory space, establish operating practices, procure and maintain test equipment, manage calibration and asset records, coordinate facility repairs and improvements, and ensure that laboratories are safe, secure, functional, and available to support evolving engineering priorities. This role is ideal for an organized, technically capable builder and operator who enjoys working directly with engineers and technicians, solving practical problems, and building the infrastructure required to support a growing hardware organization. This is a full-time, on-site position in El Segundo, CA. This requisition is open to candidates who may be considered for a lower or higher job level. Final level and grade will be determined based on relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, engineering technology, facilities management, laboratory management, operations, or a related technical field; equivalent practical experience may be considered
Five or more years of experience managing engineering laboratories, test facilities, research facilities, manufacturing-support areas, or comparable technical environments
Experience managing laboratory equipment, asset inventories, calibration programs, maintenance activities, facility repairs, contractors, and service providers
Experience supporting hardware development, test, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or research organizations
Strong organizational, prioritization, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to manage changing priorities and multiple concurrent activities
Proficiency with Microsoft Office or comparable tools; experience with asset-management, maintenance-management, calibration-management, or facilities-management software is desirable
Ability to work full-time on-site and obtain and maintain the security clearance required for assigned laboratory responsibilities
Ability to work full-time on-site and obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance required for assigned laboratory responsibilities

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in an engineering or business discipline
Experience operating both classified and unclassified laboratories, including familiarity with NISPOM, controlled access, security inspections, export controls, and coordination with a Facility Security Officer
Active U.S. security clearance
Experience supporting RF, electronics, mechanical, environmental, propulsion, robotics, or flight-test laboratories
Experience managing a machine-shop facility
Experience with laboratory networking, isolated test networks, instrumentation systems, electrical distribution, grounding, HVAC, cooling, compressed gases, or backup power
Experience managing capital-equipment purchases, operating budgets, service contracts, facility-improvement projects, or laboratory technicians
Facility-management, project-management, or comparable professional certification

Responsibilities

Own the daily operation, readiness, security, and continuous improvement of classified and unclassified engineering laboratories, test areas, shops, and support spaces
Allocate laboratory space, equipment, storage, and shared resources based on program priorities, safety requirements, security constraints, and available capacity
Establish and maintain laboratory operating procedures, work-control practices, housekeeping standards, safety requirements, and equipment-use policies
Manage the procurement, installation, acceptance, maintenance, repair, calibration, certification, and retirement of laboratory equipment, tooling, fixtures, computers, and consumables
Maintain accurate asset, calibration, maintenance, service, and laboratory-readiness records
Coordinate with facilities personnel and outside contractors on repairs, infrastructure modifications, utilities, HVAC, electrical power, grounding, cooling, lighting, and laboratory improvements
Coordinate with IT to install and maintain laboratory networking, computing, instrumentation interfaces, isolated test networks, and related digital infrastructure
Partner with security, information-assurance, and safety personnel to manage controlled access, visitors, classified-area requirements, inspections, training, hazard controls, and corrective actions
Manage laboratory budgets, equipment purchases, service contracts, suppliers, calibration providers, contractors, and facility-improvement projects
Provide laboratory orientation and training; support engineering programs during integration, qualification testing, field-test preparation, production transition, and sustainment