Test Lab Supervisor

IDEAL Industries, Inc.•Sterling, MA

6d•$86,985 - $116,995

About The Position

The Test Lab Supervisor leads daily operations of Anderson Power Products’ Compliance Test Laboratory, supporting product development, validation, quality assurance, customer requirements, and manufacturing objectives. The supervisor oversees laboratory personnel, testing priorities and schedules, and ensures work is completed safely, accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with approved procedures, quality-system requirements, and applicable industry standards. The role is the laboratory’s primary operational leadership position and works closely with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Product Management, and external test agencies to deliver reliable results, resolve technical issues, maintain compliant laboratory systems, and improve testing capabilities. The position oversees electrical, mechanical, environmental, endurance, reliability, and product-validation testing; laboratory staffing and development; test equipment and calibration; quality-system compliance; continuous improvement; and budget and resource planning. It also provides hands-on technical leadership for investigations and failure analysis, supports audits and corrective actions, and recommends investments in laboratory equipment and capabilities.

Requirements

Associate degree in Engineering Technology, Electronics Technology, Mechanical Technology, Quality Technology, or a related technical field required; equivalent relevant education and experience may be considered.
Minimum of 5 years of laboratory, product-validation, engineering-technician, quality, or manufacturing experience.
At least 2 years of supervisory, team-lead, or project-lead experience; direct people-management experience preferred.
Experience supporting product development, qualification, reliability testing, quality systems, or manufacturing in a technical environment.
Experience coordinating work with external test or certification agencies such as UL, CSA, or TÜV.
Working knowledge of ISO 9001 or a comparable quality-management system.
Knowledge of electrical, mechanical, environmental, endurance, reliability, and validation testing methods.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test standards, customer requirements, and technical data.
Knowledge of root-cause analysis, corrective-action methods, measurement systems, calibration, and equipment traceability.
Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, train, and develop technical employees.
Strong planning, organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, priorities, budgets, and resources in a dynamic environment.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical and operational information to varied audiences.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to analyze laboratory data and communicate meaningful technical and operational metrics.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred; preferred disciplines include Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Quality, or a related discipline.
Direct people-management experience.
Experience with ERP systems, laboratory-management software, calibration systems, and data-acquisition tools.
Experience testing electrical connectors, power-distribution products, cable assemblies, electromechanical components, or other high-current products.
Experience with regulatory certification, environmental test chambers, automated test systems, and test-fixture design.
Formal training or certification in Lean, Six Sigma, root-cause analysis, or project management.

Responsibilities

Direct and oversee the daily activities of the Compliance Test Laboratory and laboratory team.
Establish and manage testing schedules for product development, validation, quality investigations, customer requests, and production needs.
Prioritize work and allocate personnel and equipment to meet deadlines and changing business requirements.
Ensure test programs follow approved plans, procedures, specifications, and acceptance criteria.
Monitor workload, throughput, on-time completion, and constraints, and provide operating updates to the Engineering Manager and stakeholders.
Maintain a safe, organized, efficient, and audit-ready laboratory.
Supervise, coach, and develop Lab Technicians and Senior Lab Technicians; assign work, set expectations, provide feedback, and conduct performance and development discussions.
Coordinate onboarding, technical training, cross-training, and personnel qualification; ensure required competencies, safety training, and certifications are maintained.
Oversee electrical, mechanical, environmental, endurance, reliability, and product-validation testing.
Review test plans, procedures, data, and reports for technical accuracy, completeness, traceability, and alignment with requirements.
Partner with Engineering to develop test methods, fixtures, protocols, and validation strategies.
Coordinate qualification testing and work with external test agencies, including UL, CSA, and TÜV.
Evaluate laboratory capabilities and recommend investments to support product roadmaps and future requirements.
Provide hands-on technical leadership for product investigations, test anomalies, and failure analyses.
Support root-cause analysis, corrective and preventive action, and verification of corrective-action effectiveness.
Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing to resolve technical, product, process, and customer-related issues; communicate and escalate observations, deviations, and risks.
Manage equipment acquisition, installation, maintenance, calibration, repair, and replacement; maintain suitability, identification, calibration, and traceability.
Coordinate preventive maintenance and service activities; manage laboratory supplies, fixtures, spare parts, inventory controls, and vendor relationships.
Ensure laboratory practices comply with ISO 9001, company procedures, and applicable customer, regulatory, and industry requirements.
Support internal, customer, registrar, and third-party audits and lead timely closure of laboratory-related findings.
Maintain laboratory procedures, work instructions, forms, training records, and document-control requirements; ensure proper retention, security, accuracy, and traceability of test data and records.
Reinforce safe work practices and ensure hazards, incidents, and corrective actions are addressed promptly.
Identify and implement improvements in safety, efficiency, throughput, testing accuracy, data integrity, and customer responsiveness.
Apply Lean, standard work, visual management, and other continuous-improvement methods; monitor performance measures such as schedule attainment, cycle time, equipment utilization, calibration status, and rework.
Support automation and modernization of testing, data acquisition, analysis, and reporting.
Support annual operating and capital planning for laboratory equipment, facilities, systems, and staffing; monitor spending, supply usage, service costs, and inventory.
Develop fact-based recommendations for equipment, technology, capacity, and capability investments and ensure effective use of laboratory and external testing resources.