Manager Lab Operations Jobs in Los Angeles, CA (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT THE TEAM

Enterprise Test Capabilities (ETC) develops, operates, and scales the shared physical test infrastructure, technical expertise, and execution systems required to validate Anduril's products across the company. The team provides specialized testing that is capital-intensive, technically complex, safety-critical, or broadly reusable across multiple programs, spanning environmental testing (thermal, vibration, shock, HALT, TVAC), battery testing (cell/module/pack characterization, abuse testing, BMS validation), propulsion testing (engine test cells, thrust/torque measurement, fuel/feed systems), aerodynamic testing (wind tunnel operations, flow visualization, force/moment measurement), and structural testing. We partner with product test teams from early development through qualification and sustainment to identify technical risk, select appropriate test methods, execute testing safely, and generate trusted engineering evidence. The test operations team within ETC owns the lab facilities, equipment fleet, calibration program, and operational support team that keeps this diverse test enterprise running.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are seeking a Test Operations Manager to provide dedicated operational leadership across ETC's diverse portfolio of physical test laboratories spanning multiple buildings and sites. The purpose of this role is to achieve excellent operational oversight, solving scheduling bottlenecks, clearing inconsistent equipment readiness, and preventing reactive maintenance cycles. This person will serve as the single point of accountability for lab operations, directly managing the calibration technicians, lab administrator, and lab coordinators.  They will own the master test schedule across all test domains and ensure that every program team can get the facility time and equipment access they need, when they need it.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Directly manage a team of calibration technicians, a lab administrator, and lab coordinators, including hiring, performance reviews, professional development, and day-to-day direction
• Develop staffing plans to support current and projected lab utilization demands across all test domains, including shift coverage and surge capacity
• Support the scaling of ETC's physical footprint, assisting with capacity expansion plans, new test facility standup, and ensuring operational readiness as the organization grows across sites.
• Own and maintain the master lab schedule across all test facilities spanning multiple buildings and sites, and supporting instrumentation and data acquisition systems
• Resolve scheduling conflicts between competing program priorities, balancing urgency, contractual deadlines, and resource availability across multiple test disciplines
• Drive toward and sustain a 75% equipment utilization target across all test assets
• Define, track, and report operational metrics including utilization rates, schedule adherence, equipment downtime, and backlog across the full equipment fleet
• Oversee equipment maintenance, calibration status, and operational readiness for all lab assets spanning the full enterprise test capabilities
• Establish and manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs to minimize unplanned downtime across diverse test equipment
• Coordinate with external vendors for equipment repair, calibration services, and new equipment installation
• Maintain accurate asset inventory and equipment lifecycle records
• Develop, document, and enforce standard operating procedures for lab operations, scheduling, and equipment use
• Ensure compliance with all safety protocols, PPE requirements, and hazardous material handling procedures across test environments with varying risk profiles
• Partner with EHS to maintain laboratory safety certifications and audit readiness
• Serve as the primary point of contact for program teams requesting lab time, test support, or calibration services
• Provide regular status reporting to senior leadership on lab operations, capacity, and risks
• Coordinate procurement and supply chain activities for lab consumables, spare parts, and capital equipment
• Lead programmatic layout planning for labs as necessary, coordinating mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) requirements with facilities engineering to ensure infrastructure supports current and planned test capabilities.
• Manage lab operations workflows through JIRA, including creating and triaging tickets for maintenance requests, calibration tasks, equipment issues, and scheduling intake, ensuring visibility and accountability across the team.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience in operations management, lab management, or facility management in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or physical test environments
• Demonstrated experience directly managing technical teams including technicians, coordinators, or similar roles
• Proven track record of managing complex scheduling across shared resources with competing stakeholders
• Understanding of physical test laboratory operations, calibration requirements, and test equipment maintenance
• Experience developing and implementing standard operating procedures and process documentation
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to define, track, and act on operational metrics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interface across engineering, program, and leadership teams
• Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and drive results with minimal oversight
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to compliance, safety, and quality standards
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined under ITAR (U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, or granted refugee/asylee status)
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations and laboratory safety requirements, including hazard identification, PPE standards, and compliance in physical test environments.
• Experience using ticketing systems (e.g., JIRA) to manage operational workflows, maintenance requests, and team task tracking.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience managing physical test laboratories, reliability labs, or calibration laboratories, particularly environments with diverse test disciplines
• Knowledge of military and industry test standards including MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-202, ISO 17025, and ANSI/NCSL Z540
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) or developmental test programs
• Familiarity with the operational requirements of diverse test equipment 
• Background in high-growth or defense technology environments with evolving requirements
• Experience with capability development or standing up new test facilities
• PMP, Lean, or Six Sigma certification