Coherent

Senior Lab Manager

Coherent • $120K — $150K *
Santa Clara, CA 95051In-Person
Telecommunications & Hardware
5 - 7 years of experience
1 month ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Sciences, or related field (Master's preferred)
  • 7+ years in communications/systems industry in technical roles
  • Hands-on experience with servers, network equipment, and management software
  • Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in complex environments
  • Customer-facing experience, with clear communication of technical concepts

Responsibilities

  • Plan and manage a customer-facing lab environment for networking products
  • Define lab requirements and oversee equipment procurement and installation
  • Collaborate with teams to create interactive product demonstrations
  • Create and maintain hardware displays and technical signage in the lab
  • Lead proof-of-concept trials for optical datacenter and communications products
  • Perform maintenance and optimization of lab systems for reliability
  • Engage with customers during lab visits and coordinate responses to inquiries

Benefits

  • Onsite working environment with occasional off-site meetings
  • Regular interaction with team members and external contacts
  • Opportunity for hands-on work in a lab and data center setting
  • Exposure to customer engagements and industry events
  • Involvement in quality management and environmental standards compliance
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
  • Plan, design, implement, and manage a customer-facing lab environment showcasing networking products and technologies, including servers, network switches, and supporting infrastructure such as monitoring tools
  • Define lab requirements, coordinate equipment procurement, and oversee installation, configuration, and operational readiness
  • Collaborate with internal teams to develop and deliver interactive demonstrations that highlight product capabilities and solutions
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to create and maintain passive product displays, including hardware setups and technical signage within the lab
  • Lead and support proof-of-concept (POC) trials for key customers focused on optical datacenter and communications products
  • Perform ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and optimization of lab systems and equipment to ensure reliability and relevance
  • Engage directly with customers during lab visits, providing technical expertise and coordinating responses to inquiries with internal stakeholders
  • Drive customer POC requirements through internal engineering and product teams to ensure successful execution
  • Gather and communicate customer feedback to relevant internal teams to inform product improvements and strategy
  • Provide technical and customer-facing support at industry events and trade shows as needed

Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Sciences, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience); Master's degree or higher preferred
  • 7+ years of experience in the communications and systems industry in technical roles
  • Hands-on experience with servers, network equipment, operating systems, and management software required
  • Strong problem-solving and technical troubleshooting skills in complex environments
  • Customer-facing experience is a plus, with the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and effectively

Skills
  • Strong technical and debugging skills related to the installation, configuration, and operation of servers, network switches/devices, and network test and monitoring equipment
  • Hands-on experience troubleshooting systems, monitoring tools, and lab test environments
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple priorities
  • Familiarity with optical networking equipment is a plus

Working Conditions
  • This position is onsite
  • May require occasional off-site meetings
  • Regular use of a computer and other office equipment is necessary
  • Interaction with team members and external contacts is a regular part of the job

Physical Requirements
  • Ability to stand, walk, bend, and reach for extended periods while installing and maintaining lab equipment
  • Comfortable working in a lab and data center environment, including equipment racks and confined spaces
  • Ability to use standard tools for installation and maintenance of hardware
  • Ability to travel occasionally for customer visits, lab support

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

About Coherent

Coherent, Inc. is a global leader in providing laser-based solutions to a broad range of commercial and scientific research customers. The company designs, manufactures, and markets lasers, laser-based systems, precision optics, and related accessories for a diverse group of customers. Coherent's markets include scientific research, OEM components and instrumentation, microelectronics, materials processing, and life sciences. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications. Coherent was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Learn more about Coherent
Size
5,085 employees
Market Cap
$4.6 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
-$419.7 million
Founded
1966
5 Year Trend
+27.8%
Revenue
$1.2 billion
NASDAQ
COHR
* Ladders Estimates

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Coherent

More Telecommunications & Hardware Jobs

Find similar Senior Lab Manager jobs:

NationwideSanta Clara, CA