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Innovation Lab Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

UATX

Director of Innovation

Austin, TX · On-site

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 ...

UATX

Director of Innovation

Austin, TX · On-site

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 ...

UATX

Director of Innovation

Austin, TX

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 ...

Neuralink

Engineering Lab Manager

Austin, TX · On-site

As an Engineering Lab Manager, you will be instrumental in creating and maintaining an environment ... You will play a pivotal role in supporting the company's growth by facilitating innovation ...

Neuralink

Engineering Lab Manager

Austin, TX · On-site

$68K - $114K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

As an Engineering Lab Manager, you will be instrumental in creating and maintaining an environment ... You will play a pivotal role in supporting the company's growth by facilitating innovation ...

Neuralink

Prototyping Lab Engineer & Manager

Austin, TX · On-site

$68K - $114K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

As our Prototyping Lab Engineer & Manager, you will be instrumental in creating and maintaining an ... You will play a pivotal role in supporting the company's growth by facilitating innovation ...

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Innovation Lab information

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How much do innovation lab jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for innovation lab in Austin, TX is $25.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.04 and $27.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the innovation lab position, and why are they important?

To excel in an Innovation Lab role, you typically need a background in design thinking, project management, and business strategy, often supported by a degree in engineering, business, or a related field. Experience with prototyping tools, agile methodologies, and innovation management platforms such as Miro or Jira is highly valuable. Strong collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills help individuals contribute unique ideas and drive cross-functional projects. These competencies are essential for effectively leading innovation initiatives, rapidly iterating solutions, and fostering a culture of experimentation.

What does an innovation lab do?

An innovation lab is a team or facility within an organization focused on developing new ideas, products, or processes through research, experimentation, and collaboration. They often utilize design thinking, prototyping, and emerging technologies to drive innovation and solve complex problems. Employees in innovation labs typically work in a creative environment that encourages experimentation and cross-disciplinary teamwork.

What types of projects or initiatives do innovation lab professionals typically work on?

Innovation Lab professionals engage in a variety of projects, ranging from developing new products and services to optimizing existing business processes or exploring emerging technologies. Their work often involves collaborating with colleagues across different departments, conducting user research, building prototypes, and running pilot programs to test new ideas. The environment is usually fast-paced and dynamic, with a strong emphasis on experimentation and learning from failure. Innovation Lab roles offer exposure to high-impact, strategic initiatives, making them ideal for individuals looking to shape the future direction of their organization.

What is an innovation lab?

An Innovation Lab job involves working in a team that explores new ideas, develops creative solutions, and tests emerging technologies to drive innovation within an organization. Professionals in these roles often conduct research, prototype new products or services, and collaborate across departments to implement forward-thinking initiatives. The goal is to foster a culture of experimentation and problem-solving to stay ahead in a competitive market.

What are popular job titles related to Innovation Lab jobs in Austin, TX?

For Innovation Lab jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Innovation Lab jobs in Austin, TX look for?

The top searched job categories for Innovation Lab jobs in Austin, TX are:

Innovation Lab jobs near you
Infographic showing various Innovation Lab job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,055 per year, or $25 per hour.

Director of Innovation

UATX

Austin, TX • On-site

Full-time

Posted 27 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.