Lab Operations - Director
Qualcomm · Posted Nov 3
Semiconductor, 5G wireless technology, mobile platform, and AI computing solutions
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About the role
Qualcomm India's Operations Group owns the engineering lab infrastructure that supports product development and validation across multiple engineering labs. The role leads lab strategy, capacity planning, test equipment deployment, power/cooling/space planning, safety and compliance, partnering with engineering, facilities, IT, EHS, security, procurement, and suppliers. It oversees a team of lab engineers and technicians and drives lab readiness, capital planning, and infrastructure modernization.
What you will do
- Define and execute lab infrastructure strategy across multiple engineering labs.
- Own power, cooling, space, and capacity planning to support current and future product roadmaps.
- Conduct feasibility studies, site assessments, and trade-off analyses for lab expansion, upgrades, and new builds.
- Develop demand forecasts, capacity models, and utilization plans to optimize infrastructure investments.
- Lead day-to-day operations of engineering labs supporting validation, and product development.
- Own capital and expense planning, purchasing, warranty, calibration, and inventory shipment, import, EC components, bonding with a clear, auditable process across all labs.
- Ensure lab readiness, uptime, equipment availability, and operational excellence.
- Manage lab deployments, reconfigurations, scaling activities, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.
- Partner with engineering teams to ensure infrastructure, equipment, and resources are available ahead of key milestones.
- Drive efficient lab workflows, layouts, and utilization improvements.
- Lead and develop teams of lab engineers, technicians, and outsourced resources.
- Drive workforce planning, capability development, and operational accountability.
- Own execution of capital and operational plans, budgets, procurement, and resource allocation.
- Ensure successful execution of roadmap-driven growth, consolidation, and transformation initiatives.
- Serve as the accountable leader for lab ESD, EHS, physical security, and compliance programs.
- Maintain audit-ready processes, documentation, and infrastructure records.
- Drive compliance with safety, security, and regulatory requirements across all lab environments.
- Protect physical and intellectual assets through effective governance and control mechanisms.
- Lead risk assessments, corrective actions, and continuous compliance improvements.
- Partner with Engineering, Facilities, IT, Networking, EHS, Procurement, Finance, and external suppliers to deliver lab solutions.
- Influence decisions through technical expertise, business cases, and executive-level communication.
- Drive collaboration across global teams to establish best practices and scalable operating models.
- Serve as the primary escalation and decision point for infrastructure, capacity, readiness, and operational challenges.
Skills used in this role
What the employer is looking for
- Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant operations experience.
- OR
- High School Diploma or equivalent and 12+ years of relevant operations experience with 2+ of those years involving leadership experience.
- *Completed advanced degrees in a relevant field may be substituted for up to two years (Master’s = one year, Doctorate = two years) of work experience.
- Bachelor’s or Associate degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
- 15+ years of experience in engineering support, silicon or hardware lab operations, lab infrastructure deployment, and laboratory management.
- Proven experience leading large-scale engineering labs supporting silicon bring-up, validation, and product development activities.
- Strong knowledge of lab infrastructure, including power, cooling, networking, test equipment, RF systems, and operational processes.
Preferred qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering with hands on experience managing and supporting R&D labs for large-scale engineering, validation, and silicon development programs within the semiconductor, networking, telecommunications, or high-tech industries.
Benefits and support
- Compensation and benefits are detailed in the job posting
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm is a global leader in the development and commercialization of foundational technologies for the wireless industry, including mobile processors, 5G, and on-device artificial intelligence. The company designs and markets digital communications products, semiconductor solutions, and system software used globally across smartphones, automotive solutions, IoT devices, and computing systems. Through extensive R&D and intellectual property licensing, Qualcomm powers a highly interconnected and smarter world.
- Industry
- Semiconductors
- Company size
- 50000+ employees
- Founded
- 1985
- Location
- San Diego, California, USA
- Funding stage
- Public Company
Funding
Public Company · $53M raised
- 2018-11-01Grant
Leadership
President and Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
James H. Thompson
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Marketing Officer
Ann Chaplin
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
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