Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Office
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies, or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them.
This is an onsite role in Marietta, OH. Relocation support may be available.
DESCRIPTION:
As Sr. Manager, R&D – Technology Center, you will lead a critical hub for prototype development, verification, validation, reliability, and performance testing of laboratory equipment and components. The Technology Center supports product development teams across the full product lifecycle and plays a key role in Product Approval definition and execution.
In this hands-on leadership role, you will define and execute the vision for test and evaluation capabilities, ensure safe and reliable operation of controlled-environment test assets, and develop a high-performing technical team. Your work will directly influence product quality, regulatory readiness, time-to-market, and customer confidence.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
- Lead and manage the Technology Center test, evaluation, and prototyping team supporting new and existing lab equipment programs.
- Own verification, validation, reliability, and performance testing strategies aligned with product requirements and regulatory expectations.
- Oversee operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of controlled-environment chambers and specialized test equipment used for performance and reliability evaluation.
- Partner closely with Product Development, Systems Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations teams throughout discovery, development, qualification, and commercialization phases.
- Support and influence Product Approval definition, including test methods, acceptance criteria, documentation, and compliance strategies.
- Manage capital planning and execution for test lab infrastructure, automation, and capability expansion.
- Ensure Technology Center assets are safe, calibrated, compliant, and operational, meeting internal standards and external regulatory requirements.
- Provide technical leadership and hands-on problem solving related to refrigeration, HVAC/R, mechanical, electrical, and control systems.
- Drive automation and digitization of testing, including data acquisition, analysis, reporting, and test execution.
- Establish and maintain standard work, test methods, and documentation to enable repeatable, high-quality results.
- Foster a strong safety culture, including 5S, risk assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Develop and mentor team members, supporting cross-training, technical growth, and leadership development.
- Champion Lean, PPI, and continuous improvement practices to increase efficiency and reduce variability.
- Domestic travel up to 10%.
REQUIREMENTS:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, computer engineering, or related technical discipline
- Master’s degree preferred
Experience
- 10+ years of experience in test engineering, reliability engineering, or product verification and validation for complex electromechanical systems
- 3+ years of people management or technical leadership experience
- Experience working with HVAC/R, refrigeration, or thermal systems strongly preferred
- Experience supporting regulated product testing (e.g., UL, IEC, NSF, Energy Star, DIN, or similar standards)
- Hands-on experience with prototype development, test method development, and failure analysis
- Experience with data acquisition systems, automated testing, and technical reporting
- Demonstrated experience troubleshooting electrical, mechanical, and refrigeration systems
- Experience managing capital equipment, lab infrastructure, and facility upgrades
- Familiarity with Lean / PPI methodologies and continuous improvement systems
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Ability to balance hands-on technical work with strategic planning and people leadership
- Excellent organizational skills in a fast-paced, multi-project environment
- Strong understanding of system-level product testing and reliability principles
- Working knowledge of LabVIEW or similar test automation platforms
- Experience using measurement devices such as thermocouples, pressure transducers, force gauges, and oscilloscopes
- Understanding of motor control circuits, sensors, power electronics, and control architectures
- Data-driven mindset with ability to translate test results into actionable design insights
- Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence
