Director of R&D and Laboratory Operations

Pivotal Systems; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Pivotal Systems seeks a Director of R&D and Laboratory Operations to lead and optimize research labs and facilities across Fremont, CA and Reno, NV. The role combines strategic direction with day-to-day management of personnel, budgets, and capital projects to enable safe, efficient operations that support product development and scientific excellence.

Travel to global facilities and frequent trips to Fremont will be required, with a focus on implementing best practices, regulatory compliance,

Qualifications

• Leadership of R&D laboratory operations and facilities teams.
• Experience managing facilities, labs, budgets, and capital projects.
• Oversight of EHS programs and laboratory quality systems.
• Knowledge of ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO95001, ISO17025 requirements.
• Coordination with engineering, manufacturing and product development teams.
• Experience with enterprise software tools such as ERP and calibration databases.

Responsibilities

• Manage facilities and laboratory personnel, budgets, equipment, and capital projects.
• Oversee laboratory quality systems, EHS programs and safe operation of process chemistries.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities with engineering, manufacturing and product development teams.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement and resource optimization.
• Advise on enterprise software tools (ERP, data acquisition, building automation, calibration databases).
• If needed, hire and manage CNC machine shop equipment and cleanroom ops.

Skills

People management

Budget management

Regulatory compliance

ISO standards

Cross-functional collaboration

Process improvement

Tools

ERP systems

Data acquisition software

Building automation

Job description

Director of R&D and Laboratory Operations

The Director of R&D Laboratory Operations for Pivotal is responsible for strategic leadership, daily management, and continuous improvement of research and development laboratory operations and facilities at all Pivotal locations, primarily Fremont CA and Reno NV, and will advise as best possible for other global facilities as requested.This role will primarily reside in Reno NV, but will require travel to all global Pivotal facilities worldwide with frequent travel to Fremont CA.

This role ensures laboratories and related facilities are built properly, operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with regulatory and quality requirements while supporting innovation, product development, and scientific excellence.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing facilities and laboratory personnel, budgets, equipment, and related capital projects.
• Establishing operational policies and best practices; overseeing laboratory quality systems and EHS programs with deep focus on safe installation and operation of hazardous semiconductor process chemistries, both liquid and gaseous.
• Coordinating cross-functional activities with engineering, manufacturing, and product development teams; and driving operational excellence through process improvement, resource optimization, and technology implementation.
• Involvement in industry roadmaps, R&D, and product development efforts in the areas of semiconductor fluid delivery and process control.
• Helping to advise, develop, and/or implement enterprise software tools such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), data acquisition, building automation/control systems, laboratory or calibration specific software tools and calibration databases.
• If requested, make provisions to hire/install and manage CNC machine shop capital equipment and operations personal as well as small scale cleanroom manufacturing/ system integration operations, including orbital welding, assembly, and QA/QC test.
• Supervision, coordination with quality and engineering people, and implementation help in attaining and maintaining, ISO9001 for quality, ISO14001 for environmental compliance, ISO95001 for safety, and ISO17025 for accredited calibration laboratories.