Lab Manager

BWX Technologies, Inc.; Jonesborough (TN); On-site; USD 115,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Professional development

Leadership-growth opportunities

Mission-focused culture

Job summary

BWX Technologies, Inc. in Tennessee seeks a Lab Manager to oversee chemical laboratory operations supporting BWXT Ordnance’s quality and production activities.

This leadership role manages chemists and chemical lab technicians, ensures all analytical testing meets strict regulatory and quality standards, and maintains laboratory capability, equipment reliability, and safe work practices. Your day-to-day involves directing staff, prioritizing testing, developing analytical methods, and ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific field.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership or supervisory experience within a laboratory or technical environment.
• Strong knowledge of analytical chemistry, laboratory equipment, and standard chemical testing methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and team development skills.
• Strong organizational capability and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret data, identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and ensure testing accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily leadership, direction, and coaching to chemists and technicians; maintain high-performance and safety-focused work culture.
• Manage laboratory workflow, testing priorities, and resource allocation in support of production, quality assurance, and R&D needs.
• Oversee development, validation, and maintenance of analytical methods, test procedures, and laboratory documentation.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, safety, and quality requirements, including DU/hazardous material controls where applicable.
• Maintain training programs ensuring staff competency in analytical methods, chemical handling, equipment use, and laboratory safety.
• Oversee calibration, preventive maintenance, and performance verification of laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Lead investigations into test failures, discrepancies, and nonconforming materials; support root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement in laboratory processes, accuracy, efficiency, readiness, and safety performance.
• Partner with Quality leadership to support internal and external audits, customer requirements, regulatory inspections, and site initiatives.
• Ensure proper chemical inventory, storage, labeling, housekeeping, and compliance with EHS expectations for laboratory environments.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical chemistry

Laboratory supervision

Communication

Project management

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Analytical instruments

ISO 17025 familiarity

Job description

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At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT’s technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com . Follow us on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and Instagram .

Welcome to BWXT!

At BWXT’s Nuclear Operations Group, you will support mission‑critical defense manufacturing and quality operations in a highly regulated, precision‑driven environment. Our teams operate with discipline, technical rigor, and a deep commitment to safety, quality, and national‑security excellence. Whether you’re building leadership experience or bringing advanced technical expertise, BWXT offers opportunities to grow and make a meaningful impact.

Position Overview

The Lab Manager oversees all chemical laboratory operations supporting BWXT Ordnance’s quality and production activities. This leadership role manages chemists and chemical lab technicians, ensures all analytical testing meets strict regulatory and quality standards, and maintains laboratory capability, equipment reliability, and safe work practices. The Lab Manager provides technical guidance, drives continuous improvement, and ensures the laboratory consistently supports the plant’s production, compliance, and customer‑driven requirements.

Your Day to Day as Lab Manager

• Provide daily leadership, direction, and coaching to chemists and technicians; maintain high-performance and safety-focused work culture.
• Manage laboratory workflow, testing priorities, and resource allocation in support of production, quality assurance, and R&D needs.
• Oversee development, validation, and maintenance of analytical methods, test procedures, and laboratory documentation.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, safety, and quality requirements, including DU/hazardous material controls where applicable.
• Maintain training programs ensuring staff competency in analytical methods, chemical handling, equipment use, and laboratory safety.
• Oversee calibration, preventive maintenance, and performance verification of laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Lead investigations into test failures, discrepancies, and nonconforming materials; support root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement in laboratory processes, accuracy, efficiency, readiness, and safety performance.
• Partner with Quality leadership to support internal and external audits, customer requirements, regulatory inspections, and site initiatives.
• Ensure proper chemical inventory, storage, labeling, housekeeping, and compliance with EHS expectations for laboratory environments.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific field.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership or supervisory experience within a laboratory or technical environment.
• Strong knowledge of analytical chemistry, laboratory equipment, and standard chemical testing methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and team development skills.
• Strong organizational capability and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret data, identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and ensure testing accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated industries such as defense, nuclear, aerospace, or medical device manufacturing.
• Familiarity with ISO 17025 or similar laboratory quality systems.
• Experience supporting quality audits or operating within a highly quality‑driven organization.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Professional development, technical training, and leadership‑growth opportunities.
• A mission‑focused culture supporting national defense and high‑precision manufacturing.
• Opportunities for long‑term career advancement within BWXT.

Pay: $115,000- $180,000

The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $115,000 and $180,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at‑will,’ unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.

As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities (“BWXT” or the “Company”) complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols. As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre‑employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.

BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.

Nearest Major Market: Asheville
Nearest Secondary Market: Knoxville
Job Segment: Laboratory, Chemical Research, Compliance, Nuclear Engineering, Quality Assurance, Science, Engineering, Legal, Technology