Lab Operations - Director

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Job Area:

General Summary:

We are seeking experienced Lab Operations lead to own and lead the strategy, planning, and execution of Qualcomm's lab infrastructure and operations across multiple engineering labs. This role is responsible for ensuring lab readiness, capacity planning, Test Equipment, infrastructure scalability, safety compliance, and operational excellence to support product development and validation activities.

The position oversees a team of lab engineers and technicians while partnering with engineering, facilities, IT, EHS, security, procurement, and suppliers to deliver reliable, secure, and scalable lab environments. Responsibilities include power, cooling, and space planning, test equipment deployment and support, lab capacity management, capital planning, and infrastructure modernization.

Minimum Qualifications:

OR

High School Diploma or equivalent and 12+ years of relevant operations experience with 2+ of those years involving leadership experience.

*Completed advanced degrees in a relevant field may be substituted for up to two years (Master’s = one year, Doctorate = two years) of work experience.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lab Infrastructure Strategy, Planning & Capacity Management

· Define and execute lab infrastructure strategy across multiple engineering labs.

· Own power, cooling, space, and capacity planning to support current and future product roadmaps.

· Conduct feasibility studies, site assessments, and trade-off analyses for lab expansion, upgrades, and new builds.

· Develop demand forecasts, capacity models, and utilization plans to optimize infrastructure investments.

2. Lab Operations & Engineering Enablement

· Lead day-to-day operations of engineering labs supporting validation, and product development.

· Own capital and expense planning, purchasing, warranty, calibration, and inventory shipment, import, EC components, bonding with a clear, auditable process across all labs.

· Ensure lab readiness, uptime, equipment availability, and operational excellence.

· Manage lab deployments, reconfigurations, scaling activities, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.

· Partner with engineering teams to ensure infrastructure, equipment, and resources are available ahead of key milestones.

· Drive efficient lab workflows, layouts, and utilization improvements.

3. People Leadership & Program Execution

· Lead and develop teams of lab engineers, technicians, and outsourced resources.

· Drive workforce planning, capability development, and operational accountability.

· Own execution of capital and operational plans, budgets, procurement, and resource allocation.

· Ensure successful execution of roadmap-driven growth, consolidation, and transformation initiatives.

4. Safety, Security & Compliance

· Serve as the accountable leader for lab ESD, EHS, physical security, and compliance programs.

· Maintain audit-ready processes, documentation, and infrastructure records.

· Drive compliance with safety, security, and regulatory requirements across all lab environments.

· Protect physical and intellectual assets through effective governance and control mechanisms.

· Lead risk assessments, corrective actions, and continuous compliance improvements.

5. Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Management

· Partner with Engineering, Facilities, IT, Networking, EHS, Procurement, Finance, and external suppliers to deliver lab solutions.

· Influence decisions through technical expertise, business cases, and executive-level communication.

· Drive collaboration across global teams to establish best practices and scalable operating models.

· Serve as the primary escalation and decision point for infrastructure, capacity, readiness, and operational challenges.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Associate degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

· 15+ years of experience in engineering support, silicon or hardware lab operations, lab infrastructure deployment, and laboratory management.

· Proven experience leading large-scale engineering labs supporting silicon bring-up, validation, and product development activities.

· Strong knowledge of lab infrastructure, including power, cooling, networking, test equipment, RF systems, and operational processes.

Preferred Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in engineering with hands on experience managing and supporting R&D labs for large-scale engineering, validation, and silicon development programs within the semiconductor, networking, telecommunications, or high-tech industries.

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