Director, Engineering Labs & Validation Operations

Flex; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Flex is seeking a Director, Engineering Labs & Validation Operations to lead the engineering laboratory strategy, validation infrastructure, test operations, and technical facility capabilities in Austin, TX.

Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer, you will shape lab roadmaps, oversee testing and certification activities, and collaborate with Engineering, Product, Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Facilities, and Supply Chain teams to enable next‑generation AI data center platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of experience in engineering, validation, testing, laboratory operations, product development, and technical leadership.
• Proven leadership of engineering organizations supporting complex hardware, data center infrastructure, AI/HPC platforms, or other mission‑critical systems.
• Extensive experience managing engineering laboratories, validation environments, technical facilities, test operations, and certification activities.
• Strong technical knowledge of electrical power systems, liquid cooling, automation and controls, instrumentation, data acquisition, reliability engineering, and validation methodologies.
• Demonstrated success managing capital investments, operating budgets, laboratory assets, capacity planning, and resource allocation while driving operational excellence.
• Proven ability to build and lead high‑performing technical teams, influence executive stakeholders, and thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the engineering labs and validation operations strategy.
• Lead multidisciplinary lab operations, validation engineering, test engineering, technician, and technical services teams.
• Establish scalable validation capabilities for rack-level, cluster-level, modular, and facility-scale systems.
• Oversee prototype, qualification, reliability, performance, compliance, and certification testing.
• Define laboratory roadmaps, capacity models, investment plans, operating budgets, and asset utilisation strategies.
• Establish validation methodologies, engineering standards, safety requirements, procedures, and governance processes.
• Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Facilities, and Supply Chain teams.
• Support customer demonstrations, proof‑of‑concept testing, technical reviews, and executive technology showcases.
• Drive lab automation, digital instrumentation, data acquisition, analytics, and AI-enabled test environments.
• Monitor lab utilisation, schedules, capital investments, operating expenses, safety, and productivity performance.

Skills

Leadership

Lab operations

Validation

Electrical power systems

Automation & controls

Data acquisition

Team building

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Electrical testing equipment

Instrumentation

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world. A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.

Flex intends to spin off its Cloud and Power Infrastructure segment into a new, independent publicly traded company, which we’re calling SpinCo, until the name is unveiled. The spin is planned for Q1 2027. If the intended spin occurs, this role will support SpinCo, which will focus on critical digital infrastructure, delivering end-to-end power and thermal management solutions for AI data centers and other mission‑critical applications.

To support our extraordinary teams who build great products and contribute to our growth, we’re looking to add a Director, Engineering Labs & Validation Operations located in Austin, TX.

Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer, the Director, Engineering Labs & Validation Operations will be responsible for leading the engineering laboratory strategy, validation infrastructure, test operations, and technical facility capabilities supporting the development of next‑generation AI data center platforms. This role will oversee the planning, operation, expansion, and continuous improvement of laboratory and test environments used to validate electrical systems, power infrastructure, cooling solutions, controls, compute platforms, modular infrastructure products, and integrated system architectures.

What a typical day looks like:

• Develop and execute the engineering labs and validation operations strategy.
• Lead multidisciplinary lab operations, validation engineering, test engineering, technician, and technical services teams.
• Establish scalable validation capabilities for rack-level, cluster-level, modular, and facility-scale systems.
• Oversee prototype, qualification, reliability, performance, compliance, and certification testing.
• Define laboratory roadmaps, capacity models, investment plans, operating budgets, and asset utilisation strategies.
• Establish validation methodologies, engineering standards, safety requirements, procedures, and governance processes.
• Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Facilities, and Supply Chain teams.
• Support customer demonstrations, proof‑of‑concept testing, technical reviews, and executive technology showcases.
• Drive lab automation, digital instrumentation, data acquisition, analytics, and AI-enabled test environments.
• Monitor lab utilisation, schedules, capital investments, operating expenses, safety, and productivity performance.

The experience we’re looking to add to our team:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of experience in engineering, validation, testing, laboratory operations, product development, and technical leadership.
• Proven leadership of engineering organizations supporting complex hardware, data center infrastructure, AI/HPC platforms, or other mission‑critical systems.
• Extensive experience managing engineering laboratories, validation environments, technical facilities, test operations, and certification activities.
• Strong technical knowledge of electrical power systems, liquid cooling, automation and controls, instrumentation, data acquisition, reliability engineering, and validation methodologies.
• Demonstrated success managing capital investments, operating budgets, laboratory assets, capacity planning, and resource allocation while driving operational excellence.
• Proven ability to build and lead high‑performing technical teams, influence executive stakeholders, and thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment.

EA42

SS26

AA01

CH12

MS14

CC11

EC37

PF38

JS21

NV60

FL75

Flex is an Equal Opportunity Employer and employment selection decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We do not discriminate based on: age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, pregnancy status, or any other status protected by law. We're happy to provide reasonable accommodations to those with a disability for assistance in the application process. Please email [e-mail] and we'll discuss your specific situation and next steps (NOTE: this email does not accept or consider resumes or applications. This is only for disability assistance. To be considered for a position at Flex, you must complete the application process first).