job summary:
We're building a Physical AI lab from the ground up in Boston - the kind of place where cutting-edge robotics research meets real hardware, and where the work you do today shows up in systems that change how
machines interact with the physical world. It's a fast-moving, high-ambiguity environment, and we need people who thrive in exactly that kind of setup.
This Lab Manager role is the operational backbone of the team. You'll be the person who makes sure the lab is ready to do great work every single day - coordinating equipment, managing schedules, tracking what's where, and making sure engineering teams have everything they need to move fast. It's a role that requires equal parts organization and technical fluency.
location: Boston, Massachusetts
job type: Contract
salary: $95 - 105 per hour
work hours: 8am to 5pm
education: Bachelors
responsibilities:
Day-to-Day Lab Operations
? Own the daily rhythm of the lab - from opening and readiness checks through to end-of-day handoffs. If something's blocking the team, you're the first to know and the first to fix it.
? Coordinate lab scheduling across multiple engineering workstreams, balancing competing priorities and flagging conflicts early rather than late.
? Manage equipment availability, calibration schedules, and preventive maintenance cycles to keep test infrastructure in peak condition.
? Maintain accurate inventory of components, consumables, and tooling; own replenishment processes and vendor coordination.
Onsite Point of Contact
? Serve as the single point of contact for lab-related questions from hardware, software, and validation
engineering teams.
? Build and maintain the onsite lab operations playbook - documenting processes, escalation paths,
safety protocols, and lab standards.
? Support onboarding of new team members into the lab environment, including tool training and safety
certification tracking.
? Interface with facilities, IT, and procurement teams to resolve infrastructure issues quickly and without
disruption to engineering work.
Lab Readiness & Execution
? Own preparation for key lab milestones - prototype build sessions, integration sprints, and testing
campaigns - ensuring the lab is configured and ready before engineering teams arrive.
? Track and communicate lab capacity, equipment status, and readiness risks to engineering leads and
TPMs on a regular cadence.
? Establish and enforce lab safety procedures, including electrical safety, handling of prototype hardware,
and compliance with any relevant regulatory requirements.
? Drive continuous improvement in lab workflows, identifying bottlenecks and proposing operational
changes that increase throughput and reduce rework.
qualifications:
Required
? 5+ years of experience managing lab operations in a hardware R&D, robotics, or advanced
manufacturing environment.
? Hands-on familiarity with lab equipment common to physical AI or robotics environments - test
benches, oscilloscopes, power supplies, soldering and rework stations, 3D printers, and similar.
? Strong organizational instincts - you naturally build systems and processes that keep a fast-moving
team from losing things, missing steps, or duplicating work.
? Comfortable working directly with engineers, both taking direction on what the lab needs and pushing
back constructively when something isn't feasible.
? Experience with inventory management systems, equipment tracking, and procurement workflows.
? Solid written and verbal communication - you can write a clear ops runbook, escalate a problem
succinctly, and hold a room in a scheduling conflict.
Preferred
? Background in electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a related discipline - enough technical depth to
understand what engineers are building and why lab configuration matters.
? Experience standing up a new lab or significantly expanding an existing one, including equipment
procurement, layout planning, and process design.
? Exposure to EH&S (Environmental Health & Safety) requirements in a research or prototype hardware
context.
? Prior experience in a hyperscaler, robotics company, or physical AI startup environment.
skills:
3D printers,AI,build systems,inventory management systems,inventory system,motion capture,written and verbal communication,Coordinate,Point of Contact,equipment tracking,continuous improvement,calibration,safety certification,consumables,prototype,documenting processes,electrical safety,Environmental Health & Safety,EH&S,infrastructure,TPMs,campaigns,electrical engineering,advanced manufacturing,lab safety,mechatronics,oscilloscopes,layout planning,power supplies,preventive maintenance,identifying bottlenecks,process design,procurement,equipment procurement,procurement workflows,regulatory requirements,R&D,robotics,safety protocols,schedules,scheduling,lab equipment,soldering,technical fluency,technical depth,workflows
Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.
At Randstad Digital, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact
Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Randstad Digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).
This posting is open for thirty (30) days.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
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