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Director Innovation Labs Jobs (NOW HIRING)

UATX

Director of Innovation

Austin, TX · On-site

The role spans the full range of Innovation Labs' efforts: the on-campus AI/Robotics/Prototyping ... The Director of Innovation should be able to move comfortably between long-range planning ...

UATX

Director of Innovation

Austin, TX

The role spans the full range of Innovation Labs' efforts: the on-campus AI/Robotics/Prototyping ... The Director of Innovation should be able to move comfortably between long-range planning ...

UATX

Director of Innovation

Austin, TX · On-site

The role spans the full range of Innovation Labs' efforts: the on-campus AI/Robotics/Prototyping ... The Director of Innovation should be able to move comfortably between long-range planning ...

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$33.5K

$117.5K

$195.5K

How much do director innovation labs jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for director innovation labs in the United States is $117,480.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $157,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Innovation Labs vs Innovation Manager?

AspectDirector Innovation LabsInnovation Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees innovation strategies, manages labs, leads cross-functional teamsExecutes innovation projects, manages specific initiatives, supports labs
Required CredentialsAdvanced degree, experience in innovation, leadership skillsBachelor's or master's, project management experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic, leadership-focused, often in R&D or innovation departmentsOperational, project-focused, within teams or departments
Industry UsageCommon in large corporations, R&D sectorsWidespread across industries, especially in tech and manufacturing

The main difference is that the Director Innovation Labs leads and sets strategic direction for innovation initiatives, while the Innovation Manager focuses on executing specific projects within those initiatives. The director role is more strategic and leadership-oriented, whereas the manager role is more operational and project-driven.

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Director Innovation Labs jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Innovation Labs job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,480 per year, or $56.5 per hour.

Director of Innovation

Austin, TX • On-site

UATX
See more jobs at UATXexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Job Summary
The Director of Innovation is the Executive Director's principal partner in leading both the long-term development and the day-to-day work of Innovation Labs. The role spans the full range of Innovation Labs' efforts: the on-campus AI/Robotics/Prototyping Lab, work at the Applied Engineering Lab in Bastrop, Polaris, academic programs, major projects, partnerships, fundraising, and future labs and facilities. The Director of Innovation should be able to move comfortably between long-range planning, developing new programs and initiatives, solving immediate problems, and coordinating the people needed to move the work forward.
The Innovation Director is also the hands-on technical leader for student inventors and founders. The role combines technical mentorship, lab leadership, and a high volume of student-facing build support. The Innovation Director will work closely with students on their multi-year, self-directed projects that students develop and build throughout their time at UATX.
Responsibilities
  • Work closely with the Executive Director to set priorities and shape the long-term direction of Innovation Labs.
  • Help develop, carry out plans, and expand the Innovation Lab's capabilities for new programs, partnerships, facilities, courses, and major projects .
  • Maintain a clear view of work across Innovation Labs, including the on-campus AI/Robotics/Prototyping Lab, the Applied Engineering Lab in Bastrop, future sites, Polaris and our other academic innovation programs, UATX's Capital Factory partnership, fundraising, AI-related projects, and external collaborations.
  • Serve as a technical liaison to student builders across disciplines. Meet and build with students, writing code, vibe coding with AI, designing systems, prototyping hardware, and iterating toward working systems
  • Assist in day-to-day operations of the AI/Robotics/Prototyping Lab: readiness, workflow, safety norms, tool access, and "the lab works" reliability
  • Lead workshops, build sessions (robotics, prototyping methods, rapid software/hardware iteration, "vibe coding," etc.), and occasionally classes
  • Help students move from idea - prototype - working system, with a bias toward execution
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director to expand the lab's capability over time (tools, processes, partnerships, project pathways)
  • Help lead the creative direction, student-facing use, and project pipeline for the Bastrop facility, ensuring the space develops as a flagship environment for invention, prototyping, applied engineering, and the future of technical education at UATX

Qualifications
  • Demonstrated execution leadership in complex environments (education + tech/hardware ecosystems is a plus)
  • Strong systems thinking + ability to get into details when needed
  • Comfortable operating in ambiguity; thrives in early-stage institution-building
  • Builder-operator mindset; credible with technical and academic stakeholders
  • Strong engineering foundation
  • Startup experience required; has either founded a startup or been an early builder at one
  • Evidence of building real systems end-to-end
  • Comfortable teaching by doing: pairing, live debugging, design reviews, and hands-on guidance
  • A builder-operator temperament: practical, fast, high standards, student-centered

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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