*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*Lab Manager - Manufacturing Innovation Center (MIC) at MxD
Location: MxD (Chicago area)
Role Type: Full-time | Client-facing | Operations & Engagement Leadership
Role Summary
The Lab Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation, readiness, and client experience of Cognizant's Manufacturing Innovation Center (MIC) at MxD. This role ensures the MIC consistently operates as a polished, reliable, and impactful "living lab"-supporting client visits, partner engagements, technology demonstrations, and presales activities.
The Lab Manager owns the execution and operational backbone of the MIC: coordinating visits, delivering and maintaining demonstrations, managing demo systems and infrastructure, orchestrating offshore delivery support, and serving as the primary interface with MxD USA committees and technology forums. The role also supports marketing, thought leadership, and continuous improvement of the demo catalog and engagement experience.
Key Responsibilities
Client, Partner, and Visitor Engagement
- Plan, coordinate, and execute client and partner visits to the MIC, including agendas, logistics, and on-site execution.
- Deliver guided demonstrations of MIC demo systems and capabilities to executives, plant leaders, engineers, and partners.
- Conduct pre-visit surveys to tailor demos and discussion topics; lead post-visit surveys and follow-ups to capture feedback and next steps.
- Ensure consistent, professional, and repeatable client experience quality across all engagements.
Demo Catalog & Content Management
- Own and maintain a catalog of demo artifacts, systems, and storyboards, ensuring content remains current, relevant, and aligned to Cognizant priorities.
- Work with technical leads to refresh demos, retire obsolete content, and onboard new capabilities.
- Coordinate with offshore teams on demo roadmap planning, content updates, and supporting assets.
- Ensure demos are documented, versioned, and repeatable across visits.
Lab Operations & System Health
- Own operational readiness of demo systems, networks, hardware, and software.
- Oversee system health, stability, and troubleshooting for demo environments.
- Coordinate upgrades, patches, backups, and resets to ensure demos remain reliable and "always on."
- Act as first point of escalation for demo environment issues affecting client or partner visits.
MxD & External Engagement
- Represent Cognizant in MxD USA working groups and committees, including engagement with the technology committee.
- Coordinate Cognizant's presence, capabilities, and positioning within the broader MxD ecosystem.
- Track and communicate MxD initiatives, events, and opportunities relevant to MIC focus areas.
Presales & Commercial Support
- Support presales activities associated with MIC visits, including demo alignment to opportunity context.
- Assist account teams with demo selection, positioning, follow-up materials, and next-step planning.
- Help translate visit outcomes into assessments, PoCs, pilots, or follow-on engagements.
Project Management & Coordination
- Manage visit schedules, dependencies, and readiness using light-weight project management practices.
- Coordinate across onshore and offshore teams to ensure delivery alignment.
- Track actions, risks, and improvements across ongoing MIC activities.
Marketing & Thought Leadership Support
- Partner with marketing teams to support social media content, event promotions, and announcements related to MIC activities.
- Capture content from visits, events, and new demo launches to support thought leadership and visibility.
- Contribute operational input to brochures, demo guides, and MIC collateral
Required Qualifications
- Strong experience in lab operations, innovation center management, or technical program management.
- Hands-on comfort delivering technology demonstrations and engaging with clients and partners.
- Working knowledge of IT/OT, digital manufacturing, or industrial technologies.
- Strong organizational, coordination, and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple engagements and priorities simultaneously.
Preferred Experience
- Prior experience supporting manufacturing, industrial, or smart factory environments.
- Familiarity with demo labs, living labs, or co-innovation centers.
- Experience working with offshore delivery teams.
- Exposure to presales or client-facing solution environments.
Why This Role Matters
The Lab Manager ensures the Manufacturing Innovation Center consistently delivers credible, high-quality experiences that convert innovation into client confidence and commercial outcomes. This role is critical to maintaining MxD as a trusted proving ground for Cognizant's manufacturing, AI, and digital capabilities
Compensation: - $74,000 to $104,000 +/- and this position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program and COLA, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans. Application will be accepted by 8/4/2026
Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
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