Hardware Lab Manager

Hardware Lab Manager
Location: Mountain View, CA (Onsite)
Salary: $160,000–$600,000 + Equity, depending on career level
Type: Full-time, Permanent

My client, a fast-growing AI hardware company, is looking for a hands-on Hardware Lab Manager to oversee daily operations within its hardware lab. The role combines precision electronics rework, equipment management, board bring-up support, inventory and facilities management, ensuring hardware engineers can test and validate advanced systems efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform precision soldering and fine-pitch SMT rework on prototype and validation boards
• Execute PCB engineering changes, including component swaps, trace cuts, jumpers and test points
• Support board bring-up, power-on checks, probing and fault diagnosis
• Maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment, including oscilloscopes, logic analysers, multimeters and programmable power supplies
• Support remote testing by configuring instruments, managing test setups and coordinating cross-timezone sessions
• Manage equipment procurement, vendor relationships, purchase orders, RMAs and inventory
• Maintain ESD controls, lab safety standards, bench layouts and facilities
• Keep engineers informed on equipment status, rework progress and testing schedules

Requirements

• 5+ years' experience in an electronics test lab, hardware prototyping lab or similar environment, including lab operations ownership
• Expert hand-soldering and SMT rework skills
• Hands-on experience with standard electronic test and measurement equipment
• Experience managing calibration records, asset tracking, procurement and service vendors
• Working knowledge of ESD controls and lab safety standards
• Strong communication, organisation and troubleshooting skills
• Associate's/Bachelor's degree in Electronics Technology, EET or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

Desirable

• J-STD-001 or IPC-7711/7721 rework certification
• Experience with SI/PI lab equipment, including VNAs, BERTs, TDRs or eye-diagram measurements
• Python-based instrument automation using PyVISA or SCPI
• Advanced component rework, including fine-pitch BGA, QFN and RF connectors
• Experience building or expanding a hardware lab
• Experience supporting first-silicon or new-board bring-up for AI accelerators or hyperscaler silicon teams

What’s on Offer
Competitive base salary and equity, depending on career level:
Early Career: $160k–$275k
Mid Career: $175k–$400k
Senior Career: $250k–$600k

• Four weeks' PTO, plus 12 company holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401(k) with a 5% company contribution
• Company-paid daily commute and onsite team meals
• $1,500 annual professional development budget
• Additional wellbeing, family and home-office benefits
• Opportunity to support advanced AI hardware development in a highly technical environment