Lab Manager

Job Title: Production and Laboratory Operations Manager

Job Description

This hands-on, customer-facing technical role manages day-to-day production and laboratory operations for ultrasonic cleaning equipment, including performance testing, customer trials, and technical support. The position oversees ultrasonic machine production and testing, leads customer demonstrations and evaluations, and partners closely with the sales team to support new business development and grow existing accounts across industries such as medical device, aerospace, electronics, and precision manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the production and laboratory areas for ultrasonic cleaning equipment.
• Oversee production activities and ensure ultrasonic machines are built, configured, and prepared according to specifications.
• Lead performance testing of ultrasonic machines to verify functionality, reliability, and cleaning effectiveness.
• Plan, run, and document customer trials to evaluate ultrasonic cleaning processes and equipment performance against customer parts and contamination challenges.
• Perform cleanliness testing and analysis to assess results and verify compliance with customer and industry requirements.
• Develop trial protocols tailored to customer specifications, industry standards, and cleanliness requirements.
• Prepare clear, professional trial reports and recommendations for customers and the sales team, including process parameters and chemistry guidance.
• Host customers on-site for demonstrations, trials, and technical consultations in the lab or production environment.
• Serve as a technical resource during customer visits by explaining cleaning processes, ultrasonic equipment capabilities, and chemistry options.
• Provide responsive technical support to customers via phone and email regarding equipment usage, troubleshooting, and process optimization.
• Partner with the sales team on the technical aspects of new project opportunities, including chemistry recommendations and process design.
• Support proposal development by supplying trial data, technical write-ups, and detailed chemistry specifications.
• Assist in identifying upsell and cross-sell opportunities for chemistry products within existing customer accounts based on trial results and process reviews.
• Participate in sales calls, trade shows, or customer meetings as the technical and chemistry subject matter expert when needed.
• Work cross-functionally with sales and operations teams to align production, testing, and customer support activities.
• Prioritize and manage laboratory workload independently, ensuring that customer trials, internal testing, and production support tasks are completed on time.
• Maintain accurate documentation, records, and reports for all trials, tests, and production-related activities.
• Support adherence to relevant cleanliness testing standards and regulatory requirements related to industrial cleaning materials, where applicable.

Essential Skills

• Experience managing production operations or laboratory environments, including day-to-day coordination of activities.
• Hands-on experience working with technical equipment, ideally in a testing, production, or laboratory setting.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a curious, experimental mindset and enjoyment of testing and process development.
• Demonstrated ability to perform cleanliness testing and analysis in support of precision cleaning applications.
• Proven customer service orientation with a professional presence when hosting clients and conducting demonstrations.
• Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to customers and internal stakeholders, including cleaning processes and equipment capabilities.
• Experience documenting technical work, including preparing clear trial reports, test summaries, and recommendations.
• Strong attention to detail and disciplined documentation and reporting habits.
• Collaborative approach and ability to work effectively with sales and operations teams.
• Self-motivation and comfort managing laboratory priorities and workload independently.
• Familiarity with supervision or oversight of production or laboratory staff and activities.
• Comfort working in environments that may include laboratories, production areas, and cleanroom conditions.
• Experience handling chemicals safely in a production or laboratory context.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience specifically with ultrasonic cleaning equipment and processes.
• Familiarity with cleanliness testing standards relevant to precision cleaning industries, such as IPC and similar industry standards.
• Prior experience in a customer-facing technical or applications engineering role.
• Experience supporting a sales team with technical documentation, trial data, and proposal inputs.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements for industrial cleaning materials, including EPA, OSHA, and DOT guidelines.
• Background in chemistry, chemical handling, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience working in cleanroom environments or precision manufacturing settings.
• Production management, supervision, or manufacturing leadership experience.
• Comfort representing the technical function at trade shows, customer meetings, and sales calls.

Why Work Here?

You will join a technically focused organization that values hands-on problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and strong customer partnerships. The role offers meaningful variety, combining laboratory work, production oversight, and direct customer interaction across multiple high-precision industries. You will have the opportunity to shape cleaning processes, influence new business opportunities, and develop subject matter expertise in ultrasonic cleaning and chemistry, all within a supportive environment that encourages initiative, professional growth, and continuous learning.

Work Environment

The work environment combines production, laboratory, and customer-facing settings focused on ultrasonic cleaning systems. You will spend significant time in a lab environment conducting trials, cleanliness testing, and equipment performance evaluations, as well as in production areas overseeing ultrasonic machine operations. The role may involve working in or around cleanroom conditions and handling industrial cleaning chemicals in a controlled, safety-conscious setting. Typical hours follow a standard business schedule, with occasional flexibility to support customer visits, trials, or sales-related events such as trade shows. The position requires professional attire when hosting customers or attending external meetings, and appropriate safety gear when working in laboratory, production, or cleanroom areas.

This is a Permanent position based out of Ewing, NJ.

The pay range for this position is $75000.00 - $90000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Medical, dental and vision 401K Paid holidays and sick time

This is a fully onsite position in Ewing,NJ.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 28, 2026.

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meet their goals, skills, and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role in solving companies’ construction, manufacturing, and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are-everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.