Robotics Lab Manager (Mechanical)

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group; San Jose (CA); In loco; USD 120.000 - 180.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group seeks an experienced Robotics Lab Manager to oversee a fast-paced robotics lab in San Jose, CA. You will manage safety, equipment readiness, and cross-functional support for mechanical, electrical, firmware, and test teams.

You will lead lab layout optimization, maintenance programs, and tooling provisioning, coordinating with contractors and suppliers to keep prototype development on track and safe.

Competenze

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in robotics, automation, or R&D labs.
• Experience managing a robotics or hardware lab environment.
• Hands-on mechanical engineering and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience with prototype fabrication and lab equipment maintenance.
• SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD experience.

Mansioni

• Own the day-to-day operation, organization, maintenance, and safety of the robotics lab.
• Optimize lab layout to support robot development, testing, and integration.
• Configure workstations, test areas, safety barriers, and robotic systems.
• Develop lab procedures, equipment standards, and safety practices.
• Ensure teams have access to the necessary tools, components, and resources.
• Manage lab inventory, spare parts, and procurement with vendors.

Conoscenze

Mechanical engineering

Lab operations

Safety management

Problem solving

Cross‑functional collaboration

Onsite work

Formazione

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Strumenti

SolidWorks

CAD software

Lab equipment maintenance

Descrizione del lavoro

We are seeking an experienced Robotics Lab Manager to lead the day-to-day operations, organization, safety, and technical readiness of a robotics engineering laboratory. This individual will be responsible for maintaining a highly functional lab environment that supports the development, integration, testing, troubleshooting, and validation of advanced robotic systems.

The Robotics Lab Manager will work closely with mechanical, electrical, firmware, robotics, and test engineering teams to ensure robotic platforms, prototype hardware, tools, equipment, test areas, and facilities are properly maintained and available to support engineering activities.

This is a highly hands-on position requiring a strong Mechanical Engineering background, experience working with complex electromechanical hardware, and the ability to independently manage the technical and operational needs of a fast-paced robotics lab.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day operation, organization, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the robotics engineering lab.
• Establish and maintain an efficient lab layout supporting robot development, prototype assembly, troubleshooting, integration, and testing.
• Coordinate the installation and configuration of workstations, test areas, safety barriers, equipment, and robotic systems.
• Develop and maintain lab procedures, equipment standards, safety practices, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure engineering teams have access to the appropriate tools, equipment, hardware, components, and test resources.
• Maintain lab inventory, spare parts, consumables, tools, and engineering equipment.
• Identify opportunities to improve lab efficiency, equipment utilization, organization, safety, and engineering workflow.

Robotics Hardware Support

• Maintain and support multiple robotic platforms and complex electromechanical systems.
• Perform and oversee hands-on troubleshooting, assembly, disassembly, repair, modification, and rework of robotic hardware.
• Partner with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and robotics engineers to diagnose system failures and resolve hardware issues.
• Support the replacement and integration of motors, actuators, sensors, mechanisms, structural components, and other robotic hardware.
• Assist engineering teams with prototype builds, hardware modifications, system integration, and engineering experiments.
• Perform root-cause investigations and help implement corrective actions for recurring hardware problems.

Testing & System Readiness

• Support firmware updates and configuration changes on laboratory robotic systems.
• Perform functional testing following firmware updates, hardware repairs, or engineering modifications.
• Ensure robotic platforms are properly configured, maintained, and ready for engineering development and testing.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance and repair activities.
• Document equipment issues, failures, repairs, hardware changes, and maintenance activities.
• Support development and implementation of test procedures and lab operating processes.

Mechanical Engineering Support

• Review mechanical designs, drawings, assemblies, and engineering documentation related to laboratory equipment and robotic systems.
• Develop or modify fixtures, brackets, guarding, test equipment, and other mechanical hardware required to support laboratory operations.
• Utilize SolidWorks or similar CAD software to create or modify components, assemblies, and lab infrastructure.
• Apply knowledge of machining, sheet metal fabrication, additive manufacturing, injection molding, and other manufacturing processes when supporting prototype development.
• Work with engineers, machine shops, and fabrication partners to support custom hardware needs.
• Maintain a safe working environment for personnel operating and testing robotic systems.
• Coordinate appropriate guarding, safety barriers, signage, work zones, and equipment placement.
• Partner with internal safety and facilities teams to address laboratory requirements.
• Manage relationships with contractors, equipment suppliers, machine shops, and other external vendors.
• Coordinate procurement, installation, maintenance, calibration, and repair of laboratory equipment.
• Obtain quotes and coordinate purchases for equipment, tools, hardware, and laboratory improvements.
• Ensure contractors and vendors complete work in accordance with laboratory and facility requirements.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• 5+ years of professional experience supporting robotics, automation, R&D laboratories, prototype development, electromechanical systems, or engineering test environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing or maintaining an engineering, robotics, hardware, prototype, or test laboratory.
• Strong hands-on mechanical engineering and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Experience supporting complex mechanical and electromechanical equipment.
• Experience with prototype fabrication, hardware assembly, mechanical rework, and equipment maintenance.
• Experience interpreting engineering documentation, including:
  • Mechanical drawings
  • Assembly drawings
  • Manufacturing documentation
• Working knowledge of SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software.
• Knowledge of common manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, additive manufacturing, and injection molding.
• Experience coordinating with vendors, contractors, suppliers, or fabrication partners.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to independently solve technical and operational problems in an ambiguous, fast-paced engineering environment.
• Ability to work onsite five days per week in the San Jose, CA area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience managing a robotics, automation, prototype, hardware development, or R&D laboratory.
• Experience working directly with robotic platforms or autonomous systems.
• Experience with motors, actuators, sensors, encoders, bearings, gearboxes, mechanisms, and other robotic components.
• Experience implementing laboratory safety procedures for robotic or automated equipment.
• Experience with engineering inventory management, equipment tracking, and preventative maintenance programs.
• Experience developing laboratory SOPs, maintenance procedures, and equipment documentation.
• Experience performing or supporting firmware updates and system-level hardware testing.
• Experience designing mechanical fixtures, tooling, test equipment, guarding, or prototype components.
• Experience with engineering change management, configuration control, and BOM management.
• Familiarity with root-cause analysis and structured troubleshooting methodologies such as 5 Whys, Fishbone/Ishikawa analysis, and FMEA.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate combines the technical capabilities of a Mechanical Engineer with the organizational and operational ownership of a Lab Manager.

This person should be comfortable moving between managing contractors and equipment purchases, organizing laboratory operations, reviewing a SolidWorks model, troubleshooting a robotic system, replacing mechanical components, coordinating repairs, and helping an engineering team prepare a robot for testing.

The role is best suited for an engineer who enjoys being highly hands-on and close to the hardware, while taking ownership of the overall laboratory environment.