Lab Manager

The Lab Manager leads the daily operations of the Special Processes Laboratory, ensuring compliance with customer, industry, regulatory, and internal quality requirements. Oversees laboratory personnel, process development, testing, qualification activities, equipment maintenance, and continuous improvement initiatives. Responsible for managing chemical, metallurgical, and process control activities that support production and engineering objectives. Ensures process integrity through strict adherence to specifications, audits, safety standards, and accreditation requirements.

Collaborates cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and Customers to resolve technical issues, improve process capability, drive operational excellence, and achieve business goals related to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

This role requires daily on-site presence at our manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Partner with laboratory personnel to maintain bath chemistry and analytical testing programs.
• Direct and supervise the daily operations of the Special Processes Laboratory, including gold plating, electroless nickel plating, and associated chemical processing activities.
• Ensure all special processes are performed in accordance with customer specifications, industry standards, NADCAP requirements, and company procedures.
• Manage laboratory personnel, including hiring, training, performance evaluations, scheduling, and professional development.
• Oversee process control testing, chemical analysis, bath maintenance, solution additions, and verification activities to ensure process compliance and product quality.
• Review and approve laboratory test results, certifications, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Monitor key process parameters and implement corrective actions to maintain plating bath integrity, process capability, and product conformity.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective/preventive actions related to nonconforming product, process deviations, customer complaints, and audit findings.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations governing chemical handling, hazardous waste management, and laboratory operations.
• Develop, revise, and maintain standard operating procedures, process specifications, and laboratory work instructions.
• Coordinate internal, customer, regulatory, and NADCAP audits and ensure timely closure of audit findings.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Customer representatives to resolve technical issues and support new product/process qualifications.
• Oversee calibration, maintenance, and qualification of laboratory equipment and testing instruments.
• Analyze process performance data, identify improvement opportunities, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality, productivity, and cost efficiency.
• Manage laboratory inventory, chemical procurement, and supplier interactions to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Support production activities by providing technical expertise related to plating processes, surface finishing, corrosion protection, and coating performance.
• Ensure proper training and certification of personnel performing laboratory testing and special process activities.
• Prepare and present operational metrics, quality performance reports, and process capability data to management.
• Maintain compliance with AS9100, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• In-depth knowledge of gold plating, electroless nickel plating, electroplating, immersion plating, and related metal finishing processes.
• Strong understanding of plating chemistry, solution maintenance, bath control, chemical analysis, and process troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of aerospace, defense, and commercial industry specifications, including AMS, ASTM, MIL, IPC, and customer-specific requirements.
• Experience with NADCAP accreditation requirements and special process compliance.
• Proficiency in laboratory testing methods, including titrations, pH measurement, analytical chemistry techniques, and coating verification.
• Understanding of coating thickness measurement, adhesion testing, porosity testing, solderability testing, and corrosion evaluation.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, process specifications, technical standards, and customer requirements.
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC), process capability analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with root cause analysis,…