Section Manager, R&D Lab Engineering

Ambu A/S; George Town; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Ambu A/S in Penang, Malaysia is seeking a Section Manager, R&D Lab Engineering to lead a team responsible for laboratory capabilities that support product development, lifecycle management and verification within Ambu's global R&D organization.

You will define laboratory strategies, manage resources and budgets, oversee equipment qualification and governance, and drive continuous improvement while ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of people management experience within a laboratory engineering, testing, verification, or product development environment.
• Experience establishing, implementing, and maintaining effective laboratory governance processes.
• Solid knowledge of quality systems, quality engineering methodologies, and engineering change management processes.
• Experience managing engineering projects, laboratory equipment qualification activities, or capital investment projects.
• Experience in regulated industries (medical devices, healthcare, life sciences) is preferred.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical capabilities; able to make informed decisions in a dynamic environment.
• Thrives in cross-functional and multicultural teams with global collaboration.
• Structured, systematic, and able to work independently with ownership and urgency.
• Open-minded, proactive, and passionate about knowledge sharing, developing people, and continuous improvement.
• Proficient in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lifecycle Engineering strategies to improve laboratory capabilities and optimize processes.
• Manage day-to-day Lab Engineering team activities including equipment qualification and governance.
• Develop, coach, and motivate team members with performance reviews and competency development.
• Plan and manage departmental resources, budgets, timelines, and capacity.
• Support product design and development projects through equipment, tools, and technical solutions.
• Drive technical sourcing activities and collaborate with internal and external partners.
• Lead lab-related investment projects including new equipment and infrastructure upgrades.
• Provide hands-on support in equipment qualification, troubleshooting, investigations, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure activities, documentation, and design changes comply with Ambu procedures and regulatory requirements.

Skills

People management

Lab leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Project management

Quality systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in Mechanical/Manufacturing Eng

Job description

Ambu A/S is currently looking for a Section Manager, R&D Lab Engineering to be based in Penang, Malaysia.

As a Section Manager, R&D Lab Engineering, you will lead a team responsible for laboratory engineering capabilities that support product development, lifecycle management, and verification activities within Ambu's global R&D organization. Reporting to the Head of Lifecycle Engineering, you will be responsible for driving engineering excellence in laboratory equipment, tools, governance, and investment projects while ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory requirements.

You will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders across R&D, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and Global Product Development teams to ensure that laboratory capabilities meet current and future business needs. In addition to leading and developing a team of engineers, you will play a key role in defining laboratory strategies, managing engineering resources, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.

This position offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced engineering leader who is passionate about people development, technical innovation, and building laboratory capabilities that enable the development of life-changing medical devices used by healthcare professionals worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Lead and execute Lifecycle Engineering strategies and initiatives to improve laboratory capabilities, solve technical challenges, and optimize engineering processes.
• Manage the day-to-day activities of the Lab Engineering team, including equipment qualification, engineering support, and laboratory governance activities.
• Develop, coach, and motivate team members while driving a high-performance culture through regular performance reviews and competency development.
• Plan and manage departmental resources, budgets, timelines, and capacity to support annual Lifecycle Engineering objectives and business priorities.
• Support product design and development projects through specification, development, and implementation of laboratory equipment, tools, and technical solutions.
• Drive technical sourcing activities and collaborate with internal and external partners to identify appropriate engineering solutions and technologies.
• Lead and support laboratory-related investment projects, including new equipment implementation, infrastructure upgrades, and capability expansion initiatives.
• Provide technical expertise and hands‑on support in equipment qualification, troubleshooting, investigations, and continuous improvement activities.
• Ensure engineering activities, documentation, and design changes are executed in accordance with Ambu procedures, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.

Suggested Candidate Profile

Skills and experiences can be earned in many different ways, and we understand that the best fit for the role cannot be prescribed on paper. You are however likely to succeed in this position if you:

• Hold a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Have a minimum of 5 years of people management experience within a laboratory engineering, testing, verification, or product development environment.
• Possess proven experience establishing, implementing, and maintaining effective laboratory governance processes and engineering best practices.
• Have solid knowledge of quality systems, quality engineering methodologies, and engineering change management processes.
• Bring experience managing engineering projects, laboratory equipment qualification activities, or capital investment projects.
• Have experience working within a regulated industry, preferably medical devices, healthcare, life sciences, or a similar environment.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Have excellent problem-solving and analytical capabilities, with the ability to make informed decisions in a dynamic environment.
• Thrive in cross-functional and multicultural teams and enjoy building strong collaborative relationships globally.
• Are structured, systematic, and capable of working independently while maintaining a high sense of ownership and urgency.
• Are open-minded, proactive, and passionate about sharing knowledge, developing people, and driving continuous improvement.
• Are proficient in written and spoken English and comfortable communicating with stakeholders across different organizational levels and locations.

About Ambu

Ambu has been bringing the solutions of the future to life since 1937. Today, millions of patients and healthcare professionals worldwide depend on the efficiency, safety and performance of our single-use endoscopy, anaesthesia, and patient monitoring solutions. We continuously look to the future with a commitment to deliver innovative quality products that have a positive impact on patient care and the work of healthcare professionals. Headquartered near Copenhagen in Denmark, Ambu employs approximately 4,500 people in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific.