Lab and Safety Manager

About the role

At our purpose-built Sydney laboratory, we deliver high-precision testing that drives quantum innovation. As we grow, we are creating a dedicated Lab and Safety Manager role to own lab operations, lab safety, and lab purchasing, so our scientists and engineers can focus on building world-leading quantum sensors and navigation systems.

You will own our lab environment end-to-end, from our quantum sensing measurement labs and technician workbenches, to our workshop and assembly areas, and serve as our appointed Laboratory Safety Officer. You will report to on-site R&D leadership, with a functional line to our Sydney-based Operations team, who own the company-wide Work Health and Safety (WHS) Management System.

What you'll be doing:

Lab and facility operations

• Own the lab environment: Coordinate and encourage good habits across the team so our measurement labs, optical tables, electronic workbenches, and assembly areas stay organized, tidy, and ready for work
• Scale facilities and equipment: Plan equipment moves, installations, and reconfigurations as we grow, and be the main point of contact for building management, trades, and service vendors
• Track assets and maintenance: Build and maintain the lab asset register and maintenance schedule, and oversee lab services such as stock control for lab consumables and our hazardous chemicals register

Laboratory Safety Officer

• Lead everyday WHS compliance: Operationalise our WHS Management System, keeping SOPs, risk assessments, and JSAs aligned with NSW legislation and practical engineering needs
• Champion high hazard safety: Direct the safe handling, storage, and protocols for Class 4 lasers, specialty gases, and hazardous chemicals (including SDS registers)
• Drive proactive safety culture: Run monthly inspections, conduct incident and near miss investigations, deliver technical safety inductions and new hire trainings, and exercise clear stop work authority

Lab procurement

• Centralise lab procurement: Manage supplier relationships, track stock levels against engineering BOMs and budgets, and conduct country of origin/export control checks on critical materials

Ideally you'll have:

• 5+ years in lab management, technical facility coordination, or senior lab support, ideally in physics, precision measurement, or R&D environments
• WHS knowledge: Practical knowledge of NSW WHS legislation and lab safety, including lasers and hazardous chemicals. A Certificate IV in WHS or laser safety training is highly regarded
• Procurement and inventory: Experience running inventory and purchasing for technical hardware or lab supplies
• Ways of working: Highly organised and detail-focused, with the confidence to raise safety concerns with senior technical staff

It would be fantastic if you have these skills/experience:

• Experience supporting government-funded projects, or with sanctions and export controls
• A tertiary qualification in science, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Experience building or maturing a WHS Management System
• Familiarity with quantum technology or physics labs (e.g. lasers and optics, vacuum, or cryogenics)
• Comfort and curiosity using AI tools