Lab Manager - Platform Architecture

Our team designs, builds, and tests the next generation of Apple hardware—the technology that ends up in products used by hundreds of millions of people. We're hiring a Lab Manager to keep our engineering labs running safely and efficiently so our teams can move fast and innovate. You will own the day-to-day operations of the lab, staying hands-on with the equipment, test fixtures, and experiments that engineering depends on.

Description

This role begins as a highly technical individual contributor and will scale into a people leadership position. Day-to-day, you will own the operational heartbeat of the lab: running experiments, operating and calibrating equipment, and directly supporting engineering programs. You will ensure the lab remains safe, organized, and available, acting as the primary technical escalation point when test setups are complex, or equipment goes down. Beyond daily operations, you will partner with engineering, facilities, and EHS teams to plan lab layouts, allocate resources, and support new equipment installations. As the lab scales, you will take on the responsibility of hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and managing a team of lab technicians. This role is designed for someone who craves deep technical ownership today and a clear path to building and leading a team tomorrow.

Responsibilities

Operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot complex lab equipment in support of engineering test plans and experiments. Run test protocols, collect and analyze data, and contribute directly to hardware engineering programs. Act as the primary technical escalation point for complex equipment issues and non-standard test setups. Design, build, and implement new test fixtures and lab processes for emerging prototype needs. Manage daily lab operations, including equipment inventory, maintenance schedules, calibration, and repair coordination. Own procurement, vendor relationships, and budget tracking for lab equipment, consumables, and services. Develop and enforce lab safety protocols in strict alignment with EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) standards and Apple policies. Partner with engineering teams to plan lab layouts, allocate space and resources, and support new equipment installations. Maintain accurate records for asset tracking, equipment certifications, and regulatory documentation. Manage access control, security protocols, and confidentiality requirements for highly sensitive prototype hardware. Identify and implement process improvements that increase lab efficiency, uptime, and test throughput. Coordinate logistics seamlessly across engineering, facilities, EHS, and supply chain teams. Scale lab operations by eventually hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and managing a team of lab technicians, overseeing their priorities, work assignments, and development.

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field, or equivalent industry experience. Experience in a technical, R&D, or hardware engineering lab environment, including running tests and operating equipment. Experience with equipment maintenance, calibration procedures, and asset management systems. Experience with lab safety standards, hazardous materials handling, and regulatory compliance. Ability to lift and move lab equipment up to 50lbs as needed. Ability to work on-site five days a week, with flexibility for occasional early or late hours to support equipment deliveries, test schedules, or urgent repairs.

Preferred qualifications

10+ years relevant industry experience. Experience in a hardware development or R&D environment, specifically within consumer electronics. Interest in growing into a people management role, with prior experience mentoring, coordinating, or leading others (e.g., through direct reports, a project team, or an informal lead role). Experience with inventory and asset management software and procurement systems. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across engineers, technicians, and external vendors. Strong organizational skills, with the ability to balance individual technical execution against high-level operational ownership of the lab. Prior experience supporting confidential or prototype-stage hardware programs.