Lab Buildout and Operations Manager - Integration & Test

Description

We are looking for a hands-on Lab Buildout and Operations Manager to own the deployment, readiness, and sustained operation of RF, networking, and system-integration lab environments. This role will manage lab infrastructure buildouts across Austin, San Diego, and Seattle, ensuring labs are built, instrumented, networked, documented, and operationally ready for engineering use.
The ideal candidate has a strong mix of lab operations, RF test infrastructure, networking, procurement, vendor management, and hands-on systems experience. This person should be comfortable working across engineering, facilities, procurement, vendors, and site leadership to turn unclear lab requirements into executable build plans.

Key Responsibilities
Lab Buildout and Site Readiness
- Own end-to-end lab buildout execution for RF and system-integration environments across Austin, San Diego, and Seattle.
- Coordinate deployment of racks, benches, chambers, RF infrastructure, test equipment, control stations, cabling, power, grounding, cooling, and secure lab network access.
- Drive readiness for RF test areas, integrated system test beds, hardware-in-the-loop environments, and production-representative lab setups.
- Partner with Facilities, Networking, Security, Hardware, RF, Software, and Test teams to ensure lab spaces are usable, safe, scalable, and -operationally reliable.
- Maintain lab bring-up schedules, punch lists, dependency trackers, and operational readiness checklists.

RF, Network, and Test Infrastructure Operations
- Support RF lab environments including chambers, antennas, attenuators, channel emulators, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, RF cabling, timing sources, and related instrumentation.
- Support lab network design and operations, including VLANs, routing, switching, firewall access, remote access, control-plane connectivity, and test-device isolation.
- Ensure lab infrastructure can support integration, regression, throughput, latency, mobility, handover, timing, and multi-device validation.
- Drive uptime and reliability improvements for lab systems, including monitoring, alerting, access control, inventory tracking, and failure-response processes.
- Standardize lab configurations, diagrams, runbooks, rack elevations, port maps, cable labels, and operational procedures across sites.

Procurement, Vendor, and Budget Execution
- Own procurement tracking for lab equipment, RF components, network gear, racks, cables, tools, fixtures, chambers, and facility-dependent infrastructure.
- Translate technical needs into BOMs, purchase requests, vendor quotes, lead-time tracking, and delivery schedules.
- Manage vendor coordination for chamber deployment, electrical work, cooling, RF infrastructure, installation labor, and equipment calibration.
- Track CapEx/Opex needs, delivery risks, dependencies, and site constraints; escalate issues early with clear options and impact.
- Maintain asset inventory and lifecycle tracking for lab hardware, instruments, network devices, and shared test infrastructure.

Cross-Site Execution and Travel
- Travel regularly to Austin, San Diego, and Seattle to support lab buildouts, readiness reviews, vendor work, infrastructure deployment, and operational handoffs. 20-30% travel
- Act as the on-site execution lead during critical lab moves, new building bring-up, chamber installations, RF infrastructure deployment, and major test-bed readiness efforts.
- Build repeatable lab standards so each site can be deployed and operated consistently while still supporting local engineering needs.

Export Control Requirement:
Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Basic Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent
- 5+ years of experience in lab operations, hardware development management, systems development, RF test, network operations, or infrastructure deployment.
- Experience building, operating, or maintaining engineering labs, RF labs, network labs, telecom labs, or hardware-in-the-loop environments.
- Working knowledge of RF test environments, including chambers, antennas, RF cabling, attenuators, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, or channel emulators.
- Working knowledge of networking fundamentals, including switching, routing, VLANs, IP addressing, firewall rules, remote access, and lab network segmentation.
- Experience managing procurement, BOMs, vendors, delivery schedules, asset tracking, and equipment lifecycle.
- Ability to create and maintain lab documentation, rack diagrams, port maps, build plans, readiness checklists, and operational runbooks.
- Ability to travel regularly between Austin, San Diego, and Seattle.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with satellite communications, wireless systems, telecom, RF validation, mobility, maritime, or customer-terminal validation.
- Experience supporting anechoic chambers, RF shielded rooms, integrated RF test beds, or large-scale system-integration environments.
- Experience with Linux and Windows lab hosts, test controllers, remote access systems, automation frameworks, and telemetry/logging tools.
- Experience with lab monitoring, dashboards, alerting, inventory systems, and uptime reporting.
- Experience with network gear from vendors such as Cisco, Arista, MikroTik, Juniper, or similar.
- Experience coordinating facilities work such as electrical, grounding, cooling, rack power, structured cabling, and space planning.
- Strong ability to operate in ambiguous environments where lab requirements, schedules, and dependencies are still being defined.

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.