Section Manager, R&D Lab Operation

Ambu; Penang; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Ambu A/S in Penang, Malaysia, seeks a Section Manager, R&D Lab Operation to lead engineering teams responsible for lab testing, verification activities, and lifecycle support across Ambu's product portfolio.

You will manage day-to-day lab operations, develop governance, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and partner with R&D, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Supply Chain globally to deliver projects on time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Engineering.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience in a laboratory, testing, verification, or product development environment.
• Experience establishing, implementing, and maintaining laboratory governance with quality-compliant testing.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems and engineering process controls.
• Experience leading technical teams, managing resources, and driving performance.
• Fluent written and spoken English; cross-functional and global collaboration experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lifecycle Engineering strategies and initiatives to support product improvements and process optimization.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the R&D laboratory, including testing, verification activities, governance, and storage.
• Coach and develop engineers and technicians through performance management and resource planning.
• Plan annual objectives including budgeting, capacity planning, and project prioritization.
• Support product design through test method development and verification planning.
• Provide technical leadership and hands-on support in laboratory testing and investigations.
• Drive design changes and lifecycle projects in compliance with procedures and regulatory standards.
• Maintain and improve laboratory governance for stable, reproducible, and compliant operations.
• Collaborate with global stakeholders to deliver product and business objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Analytical

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical/Materials Eng

Job description

Ambu A/S is currently looking for a Section Manager, R&D Lab Operation to be based in Penang, Malaysia. Are you passionate about leading engineering teams, driving operational excellence, and enabling innovation in a highly regulated environment? As our Section Manager, R&D Lab Operation, you will play a key role in ensuring efficient laboratory operations that support product development, verification activities, and lifecycle management initiatives across Ambu's product portfolio.

In this role, you will lead a team responsible for R&D laboratory testing, verification activities, storage management, and lifecycle engineering support. You will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders including R&D, Quality Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and Product Development teams to ensure robust governance, compliance, and execution of engineering projects.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced engineering leader who enjoys balancing people leadership, technical problem-solving, process optimization, and strategic planning in a dynamic international environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute Lifecycle Engineering strategies, projects, and initiatives to support product improvements, process optimization, and operational excellence.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the R&D laboratory, including testing, verification activities, laboratory governance, and storage management.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of engineers and technicians through performance management, capability development, and resource planning.
• Plan and monitor annual Lifecycle Engineering objectives, including budgeting, capacity planning, resource allocation, project prioritization, and performance tracking.
• Support product design and development activities through test method development, verification planning, storage specifications, technical documentation, and technical sourcing activities.
• Provide technical leadership and hands-on support in laboratory testing, investigations, problem-solving activities, and verification execution when required.
• Drive design changes and lifecycle management projects in compliance with Ambu procedures, quality requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve laboratory governance processes to ensure stable, reproducible, and compliant operations.
• Collaborate effectively with global and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of product and business objectives.

Suggested Candidate Profile

Skills

• Hold a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Bring at least 5 years of leadership or management experience within a laboratory engineering, testing, verification, or product development environment.
• Have proven experience establishing, implementing, and maintaining laboratory governance processes and quality-compliant testing environments.
• Possess strong knowledge of quality systems, quality engineering principles, and engineering process controls.
• Have experience leading technical teams, managing resources, and driving performance in a structured and results-oriented manner.
• Demonstrate excellent analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project management capabilities.
• Have strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions, cultures, and global locations.
• Ideally have experience from the medical device industry or another highly regulated industry.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment and demonstrate a proactive mindset, a strong sense of ownership, and urgency in delivering results.
• Are comfortable working independently while promoting knowledge sharing, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Communicate fluently in written and spoken English, with the ability to engage stakeholders at both operational and management levels.