Director of AI Lab Validation & Test 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 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.