Position Overview
The Lab Manager oversees all chemical laboratory operations supporting BWXT Ordnance's quality and production activities. This leadership role manages chemists and chemical lab technicians, ensures all analytical testing meets strict regulatory and quality standards, and maintains laboratory capability, equipment reliability, and safe work practices. The Lab Manager provides technical guidance, drives continuous improvement, and ensures the laboratory consistently supports the plant's production, compliance, and customer-driven requirements.

Your Day to Day as Lab Manager
• Provide daily leadership, direction, and coaching to chemists and technicians; maintain high-performance and safety-focused work culture.
• Manage laboratory workflow, testing priorities, and resource allocation in support of production, quality assurance, and R&D needs.
• Oversee development, validation, and maintenance of analytical methods, test procedures, and laboratory documentation.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, safety, and quality requirements, including DU/hazardous material controls where applicable.
• Maintain training programs ensuring staff competency in analytical methods, chemical handling, equipment use, and laboratory safety.
• Oversee calibration, preventive maintenance, and performance verification of laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Lead investigations into test failures, discrepancies, and nonconforming materials; support root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement in laboratory processes, accuracy, efficiency, readiness, and safety performance.
• Partner with Quality leadership to support internal and external audits, customer requirements, regulatory inspections, and site initiatives.
• Ensure proper chemical inventory, storage, labeling, housekeeping, and compliance with EHS expectations for laboratory environments.

Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific field.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership or supervisory experience within a laboratory or technical environment.
• Strong knowledge of analytical chemistry, laboratory equipment, and standard chemical testing methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and team development skills.
• Strong organizational capability and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret data, identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and ensure testing accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in regulated industries such as defense, nuclear, aerospace, or medical device manufacturing.
• Familiarity with ISO 17025 or similar laboratory quality systems.
• Experience supporting quality audits or operating within a highly quality-driven organization.

What We Offer
• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Professional development, technical training, and leadership-growth opportunities.
• A mission-focused culture supporting national defense and high-precision manufacturing.
• Opportunities for long-term career advancement within BWXT.

Pay: $115,000 - $180,000

The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $115,000 and $180,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at-will,' unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.