R&D Lab Operations Manager

Nvidia Corporation; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 84,000 - 143,750; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

NVIDIA is seeking an experienced R&D Lab Operations Manager to lead the lifecycle of hardware in a high‑end engineering lab supporting enterprise server platforms and prototype systems. You will track, deploy, repair, and retire hardware, coordinating with multiple teams to keep labs safe, reliable, and easy to use.

The role emphasizes hands-on hardware judgment, safety, and process improvement, with a focus on prototyping boards, test equipment, and lab automation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in an engineering lab, data center, hardware validation, or similar technical environment.
• Hands-on familiarity with enterprise server hardware, PC components, networking gear, power equipment.
• Experience assembling, configuring, troubleshooting, repairing, and deploying hardware systems.
• Strong organization for inventory, asset tracking, ticketing, documentation, and lifecycle management.
• Understanding of ESD, lab safety, and safe handling of critical hardware.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Ability to communicate clearly with engineers, program managers, vendors, and cross-functional partners.
• Experience with Linux systems, BIOS/firmware updates, BMC/IPMI, networking, server bring-up, or hardware debug is a plus.
• Experience with RMA workflows or lab automation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Keep critical engineering hardware tracked, deployed, repaired, and retired with clarity.
• Work with engineering, operations, facilities, IT, security, vendors, and logistics teams to improve safety and reliability.
• Manage lab hardware inventory: servers, prototypes, fixtures, cables, test equipment.
• Receive, label, rack, configure, deploy, maintain, and decommission hardware for engineering teams.
• Troubleshoot hardware, firmware, system bring-up, part swaps, repair coordination, and RMA workflows.
• Track ownership, location, configuration, status, usage, and retirement readiness.
• Improve lab check-in/check-out, deployment requests, repairs, safety, and equipment readiness.
• Use AI tooling to automate and optimize daily operations.

Skills

Lab operations

Hardware deployment

Troubleshooting

Inventory management

RMA workflows

Linux basics

BIOS/firmware

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

BMC/IPMI

Job description

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent. As an NVIDIAN, you'll be part of a diverse, supportive environment where we inspire one another to do our best work. Come join the team and make a lasting impact on the world!

Do you enjoy bringing order to complex engineering environments? Are you energized by helping engineers move faster because the right hardware is available, working, and easy to find? We are looking for an R&D Lab Operations Manager to lead the lifecycle of hardware in an advanced engineering lab supporting enterprise server platforms, prototype systems, benchtop fixtures, development boards, test equipment, and related infrastructure. This is a hands-on role where we need practical hardware judgment, strong lab operations instincts, and the ability to keep fast-moving Research & Development teams unblocked. We value people who are organized, technically curious, comfortable with complex systems, and ready to improve how a lab runs day to day.

What you'll be doing:

We will rely on you to keep critical engineering hardware tracked, deployed, repaired, and retired with clarity. You'll work closely with engineering, operations, facilities, IT, security, vendors, and logistics teams to make the lab safer, more reliable, and easier to use.

• Manage lab hardware inventory, including enterprise servers, prototype platforms, chips, fixtures, cables, peripherals, spare parts, and test equipment.
• Receive, label, rack, configure, deploy, maintain, and decommission hardware for engineering teams.
• Troubleshoot hardware, firmware, system bring-up, part swaps, repair coordination, and RMA workflows for benchtop and in-rack systems.
• Track hardware ownership, location, configuration, status, usage, lifecycle stage, and retirement readiness.
• Improve lab processes for check-in/check-out, deployment requests, repairs, safety, asset hygiene, and equipment readiness.
• Use AI tooling to automate and optimize daily operations rapidly and systematically.

What we need to see:

We are looking for someone who can lead lab operations while staying close to the hardware. The best fit is comfortable working with prototype systems, incomplete information, shifting priorities, and hands-on operational work.

• 5+ years of experience in an engineering lab, data center, hardware validation lab, manufacturing lab, infrastructure lab, or similar technical environment.
• Hands-on familiarity with enterprise server hardware, PC components, networking gear, power equipment, lab fixtures, and prototype hardware.
• Experience assembling, configuring, troubleshooting, repairing, and deploying hardware systems.
• Strong organization skills for inventory, asset tracking, ticketing, documentation, and hardware lifecycle management.
• Understanding of ESD practices, lab safety, and safe handling of critical or pre-production hardware.
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience.
• Ability to communicate clearly with engineers, program managers, vendors, operations teams, and cross-functional partners.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

• We'd love to hear from you if you have experience with Linux systems, BIOS or firmware updates, BMC/IPMI, networking, server bring-up, or hardware debug.
• Familiarity with RMA workflows, or lab automation will also help you stand out.
• Experience supporting R&D teams working with silicon, boards, platforms, or pre-production systems is especially valuable. Scripting / Agentic experience for inventory, reporting, dashboards, or lab operations is a plus.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 84,000 USD - 143,750 USD.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits .

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until August 1, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.