Lab Manager - Polymers and Specialty Materials

InvestedintheMission; Bath Township (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AV, Inc. is seeking a Lab Manager for the Polymers and Specialty Materials team at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH.

The role oversees hands-on lab operations, maintenance, procurement support, safety/compliance, and inventory management in a high-safety environment. You will interact with government scientists, AV researchers, base logistics, and purchasing teams to ensure smooth, safe, and uninterrupted laboratory operations.

Qualifications

• Requires U.S. citizenship and ability to work in a government facility.
• Associate’s degree in a relevant field or 3+ years of lab operations/logistics experience.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety protocols and hazardous materials handling.

Responsibilities

• Support laboratory purchasing by obtaining quotes, preparing procurement documents, and coordinating delivery and returns.
• Execute scheduled preventive maintenance and routine cleaning of lab equipment to ensure readiness.
• Log equipment status and calibration schedules using tracking software and Air Force Forms.
• Conduct regular safety inspections and maintain compliance with Air Force rules and regulations.
• Support branch safety activities by inspections and documentation, escalating hazards as needed.
• Provide initial lab safety and instrument orientation for new users.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Learning new systems

Education

Associate’s degree or 3+ years experience

Tools

Air Force Forms

Equipment tracking databases

Procurement systems

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Lab Manager - Polymers and Specialty Materials

Summary

The Lab Manager – Polymers and Specialty Materials will serve as an integral member of AV, Inc.’s Biological & Nanoscale Systems Department and the Polymers and Responsive Materials Team at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. A hands‑on laboratory operations role responsible for executing routine lab management, equipment maintenance coordination, safety/compliance activities, procurement support, inventory/logistics, and day‑to‑day facility coordination under established procedures. This role interfaces directly with government scientists, AV research scientists, AV and government leadership, the base logistics teams, other lab managers, and AV functional groups to ensure smooth, safe, and uninterrupted laboratory operations.

Position Responsibilities

• Support laboratory purchasing activities by obtaining vendor quotes, preparing required procurement documentation, submitting requisitions, and coordinating delivery, receiving, and return of equipment and supplies in accordance with established processes. Monitor inventory and communicate anticipated supply needs to laboratory personnel.
• Execute scheduled preventative maintenance and routine cleaning intervals across multiple pieces of laboratory test equipment to ensure continuous operational readiness.
• Utilize specialized tracking software and Air Force Forms to log equipment status, track calibration schedules, and maintain compliance with manufacturer service intervals.
• Perform regular safety inspections and routine walkthroughs across branch laboratory spaces to eliminate hazards, maintain organization, and ensure full compliance with Air Force rules and regulations.
• Support branch laboratory safety activities by conducting routine inspections, maintaining required documentation, identifying potential hazards, and escalating safety concerns in accordance with established procedures and Air Force requirements.
• Conduct initial laboratory safety and basic instrument orientation for new lab users to ensure proper equipment operation and user safety.
• Support the setup and physical installation of new laboratory equipment, coordinating necessary utilities including electrical, plumbing, compressed air, nitrogen, water supply/drain lines, vacuum, and exhaust venting according to manufacturer guidelines.
• Complete required training and maintain applicable certifications for the handling, packaging, tracking, and shipment of hazardous materials in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare, package, track, and process shipments for both hazardous and non‑hazardous materials in compliance with established procedures and regulatory guidelines.

• Develop and maintain positive professional relationships with internal colleagues, government researchers, facilities staff, base logistics, and corporate purchasing teams.

Position Qualifications

• This job involves working within a government facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and requires U.S. Citizenship
• Associate’s degree in a relevant technical, scientific, or operations/logistics field or 3+ years of working experience in lab operations, logistics, or lab management
• Basic knowledge of or familiarity with laboratory safety protocols, hazardous material handling, and occupational safety regulations
• Strong organizational skills with keen attention to detail and accuracy in tracking records, documentation, and maintenance schedules.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with scientists, engineers, facilities staff, and vendors.
• Proficiency with standard desktop software (Microsoft Office Suite) and the ability to quickly learn web-based equipment tracking databases and procurement systems.

Location

• Onsite in Dayton, OH at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Preferred Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Prior experience working in an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) or equivalent DoW scientific research environment.
• Direct experience with Air Force-specific logistics and equipment tracking systems.
• Active certification for shipping and handling hazardous materials.
• Familiarity with polymer characterization and analytical equipment (e.g., GPC, TGA/DSC, XRD, rheometers) to better support setup, maintenance, and vendor coordination.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven track record of bridging communication gaps.
• High self‑motivation and initiative to address supply chain bottlenecks, equipment maintenance needs, and facility issues before they disrupt research.
• Tactful approach to enforcing strict safety protocols, lab organization standards, and compliance rules while maintaining positive working relationships.
• Flexibility to adjust daily priorities quickly in a dynamic defense R&D setting with evolving requirements.

Physical Demands

• Travel required to domestic US sites – up to 10%.
• Ability to work in an office and lab environment.
• Required to sit and stand for long periods.
• Ability to independently lift, carry, and move objects weighing up to 50 lbs. Required to move heavier equipment or supplies using proper material‑handling equipment (e.g., carts, dollies, hand trucks) or team lifting.
• Manual dexterity required to operate computers, handle delicate laboratory equipment, and use hand tools for light maintenance.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

Salary

$65,000 - $99,250

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission‑obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI‑powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.