Hardware Lab Manager

WHOOP; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

WHOOP is hiring a Hardware Lab Manager based in Boston, MA to own and scale the hardware development lab supporting rapid prototype through validation.

You will lead a team of lab technicians and partner with Hardware Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and TPM to prioritize resources, expand capabilities, and create a high-throughput platform for product development. The role requires hands-on lab leadership and a focus on safety and efficiency.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in hardware development or lab environment.
• Experience leading lab operations or technical teams.
• Experience managing lab equipment, prototyping tools, metrology or calibration.
• Hands-on prototyping, debugging, and testing activities.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Commitment to AI tools in day-to-day tasks.

Responsibilities

• Own the hardware development labs, comprising electrical, mechanical, test and reliability engineering capabilities, ensuring it operates as a high-throughput system that accelerates product development from prototype through validation.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of lab technicians, fostering a culture of operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Engineering Program Managers and engineering leaders to prioritize shared lab resources, balancing competing program needs and removing development bottlenecks.
• Build and continuously improve scalable lab systems for scheduling, work intake, inventory, equipment tracking, and resource planning.
• Own the lifecycle of lab infrastructure, including test equipment, mechanical prototyping tools, metrology systems, calibration, maintenance, and long-term capability planning.
• Partner with Hardware Engineering, Product Integrity, Manufacturing, and external labs to support prototype builds, testing, and validation.
• Establish and maintain a safe, organized, and compliant laboratory environment through standardized processes, training, and documentation.
• Manage the lab budget and plan future investments in equipment, tools, and infrastructure to support product development.

Skills

Lab leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Hardware prototyping support

Lab safety programs

Strong communication

AI tools usage

Tools

Metrology equipment

Calibration tools

Inventory management systems

Lab equipment maintenance

Scheduling systems

Job description

At WHOOP, we're on a mission to unlock human performance and healthspan. WHOOP empowers members to perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives.

WHOOP is hiring a Hardware Lab Manager to own and scale the hardware development lab that enables rapid product innovation from prototype through validation. In this role, you will lead the people, systems, and infrastructure that allow engineering teams to move quickly from build to insight, ensuring the lab operates as a high-throughput platform that accelerates hardware development rather than becoming a bottleneck. You will partner closely with Hardware Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Technical Program Management to prioritize resources, expand capabilities, and build the operational foundation that supports WHOOP's next generation of products.

Responsibilities

• Own the hardware development labs, comprising electrical, mechanical, test and reliability engineering capabilities, ensuring it operates as a high-throughput system that accelerates product development from prototype through validation.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of lab technicians, fostering a culture of operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Engineering Program Managers and engineering leaders to prioritize shared lab resources, balancing competing program needs and removing development bottlenecks.
• Build and continuously improve scalable lab systems for scheduling, work intake, inventory, equipment tracking, and resource planning.
• Own the lifecycle of lab infrastructure, including test equipment, mechanical prototyping tools, metrology systems, calibration, maintenance, and long-term capability planning.
• Partner with Hardware Engineering, Product Integrity, Manufacturing, and external labs to support prototype builds, testing, and validation.
• Establish and maintain a safe, organized, and compliant laboratory environment through standardized processes, training, and documentation.
• Manage the lab budget and plan future investments in equipment, tools, and infrastructure to support product development.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in a hardware development, test, or laboratory environment, including experience leading lab operations or technical teams.
• Proven experience improving lab operations and enabling fast-paced hardware development across multiple programs.
• Experience managing lab equipment, prototyping tools, metrology equipment, calibration, inventory, and safety programs.
• Hands‑on experience supporting hardware prototyping, debugging, and engineering test activities.
• Strong communication, organization, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Strong commitment to embracing and leveraging AI tools in day‑to‑day tasks, ensuring AI‑assisted work aligns with the same high‑quality standards as personal contributions.

This role is based in the WHOOP office located in Boston, MA. The successful candidate must be prepared to relocate if necessary to work out of the Boston, MA office.

WHOOP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-verify to determine employment eligibility.

The WHOOP compensation philosophy is designed to attract, motivate, and retain exceptional talent by offering competitive base salaries, meaningful equity, and consistent pay practices that reflect our mission and core values.

At WHOOP, we view total compensation as the combination of base salary, equity, and benefits, with equity serving as a key differentiator that aligns our employees with the long‑term success of the company and allows every member of our corporate team to own part of WHOOP and share in the company's long‑term growth and success.

The U.S. base salary range for this full‑time position is $140,000 - $195,000. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within each range, individual pay is based on factors such as job‑related skills, experience, performance, and relevant education or training. In addition to the base salary, the successful candidate will also receive benefits and a generous equity package. These ranges may be modified in the future to reflect evolving market conditions and organizational needs. While most offers will typically fall toward the starting point of the range, total compensation will depend on the candidate's specific qualifications, expertise, and alignment with the role's requirements.