Position Summary: The Lab Manager is responsible for the efficient management and coordination of the day-to-day operations of our testing labs, including vibration, TVAX, and materials testing. This role requires excellent communication and organization skills, as well as meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to safety and quality. The Lab Manager will work closely with the laboratory staff to ensure the laboratory operations run smoothly and efficiently.
Primary Responsibilities:- Manage the overall operations of the laboratories, including personnel, equipment, supplies, and overall safety.
- Ensure the maintenance and calibration of lab equipment and instruments.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of laboratory activities and staff.
- Oversee the implementation of safety standards and ensure compliance with all safety regulations.
- Develop and implement protocols and systems for efficient operation of the laboratories.
- Train and supervise laboratory personnel in equipment use and laboratory safety.
- Monitor and maintain laboratory inventories, equipment, and supplies.
- Schedule and coordinate laboratory activities, including team meetings and projects.
- Establis and implement lab controls and standards to ensure quality and accuracy of all tests performed.
- Prepare reports and present testing findings.
- Liaise with external vendors and suppliers.
Stakeholder Management: (45%)- Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, other external stakeholders, and internal stakeholders, working in a collaborative partnership to ensure successful program execution and business growth. This includes working with internal support functions across the company - finance, contracts, compliance, security, export, configuration management, etc.
- Provide direct management of partners and affiliates, including program definition and scope, program reviews, deliverables, schedule and milestones management, risk management, payments, invoices.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, Airbus affiliates and other external stakeholders.
Finance/Earned Value, Contract, Supply Chain, Compliance, Security Coordination: (50%)- Coordinate with finance, contracting, supply chain, compliance, and security team members to ensure projects are being managed per financial, contractual and compliance requirements, within project scope and budget and following the approved schedule.
- Apply guidance and redirection as required to ensure programs stay on track.
- Leverage individual project management and industry experience to contribute substantively to Airbus U.S. efforts to optimize company project management processes.
Other Duties as Assigned: (5%)Requirements:Education:- Required: Bachelor's degree in engineering with at least 5 years of running a test lab with concentration in vibration and environmental testing or, in lieu of an engineering degree, 10 years of experience running a test lab with concentration in vibration and environmental testing.
Experience:- At least 5 years of proven work experience as a Laboratory Manager or similar role.
- At least 5 years of experience leading direct and cross-functional teams.
- Experience working with purchasing, finance, and project management.
- Experience in budgeting, procurement, and lab design.
Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:- Understanding of satellites and how they are built.
- Knowledge of test lab management metrics, tools, reporting methods.
- Experience with AS9100 or ISO9001 Quality Management System.
- Hands on experience in digital data acquisition with various sensors (LVDT's, Load cells, Pressure Transducers, Thermocouples and Accelerometers).
- Hands on experience using vibration and environmental chamber controllers.
- Hands on experience using high pressure gases like Nitrogen and cryogenic fluids like liquid nitrogen.
Communication Skills (Spoken, Written, Influencing, Proficiency in Other Languages):- Effective communication skills to liaise with team members, other departments and external parties.
- Excellent listening, comprehension, interpersonal, communication (verbal/writing), skills as responsible for daily communication in all forms.
- Excellent analytical and presentation skills; clear, concise, accuracy, and commitment to follow-up.
- Collaborative spirit, diplomacy skills with inclusive and personable approach.
- Professional demeaner, with ability to effectively engage and partner with stakeholders at all levels, internally and externally, from support functions to engineers to executive leadership.
- Ability to work in a diverse, geographically distributed team to achieve successful testing execution.
Technical Systems Proficiency:- Proficient in Office 365.
- Proficient in JIRA and SAP.
Travel:- 20% domestic and international.
- Occasional domestic travel to other Airbus US facilities and international travel to collaborate with European Airbus counterparts.
- Ability to work extended hours on occasion, in support of requirements for program execution, proposals, customer events, international time zones, etc.
Eligibility:- U.S. Citizenship required.
Clearance:- Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
- Active DoD security clearance at Top Secret/ SCI desirable.
Decision Making, Complexity:- Able to manage multiple activities and priorities.
- Able to act decisively while ensuring actions are legal, within contract boundaries, and ethical.
Job Dimensions, Contributions to Success:- Lead a test lab team to achieve programmatic success.
- Ensure testing projects achieve cost, schedule, and performance objectives.
Nature of Contacts:- Role includes involved communication with internal and external parties daily.
Physical Requirements:- Carrying: able to carry documents and/or electronic equipment up to 20lbs/9kg.
- Lifting: able to lift documents and/or electronic equipment up to 20lbs/9kg.
- Pushing/Pulling: able to push/pull items in office areas.
- Sitting: able to sit for extended periods of time at computer and in meetings.
- Squatting/Kneeling: able to occasionally squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items shelved on bottom shelves.
- Standing: able to stand for extended periods of time.
- Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice.
- Walking: able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces.
