R&D Lab Manager

Team Description:

The Lab Manager is an individual contributor within the Logistics organization responsible for the day-to-day operational management of Neuralink's South San Francisco laboratory and engineering spaces. Acting as the primary owner of lab operations, this role partners closely with Engineering, Research, Facilities, Safety, Security, and Logistics teams to ensure laboratories, prototyping areas, storage spaces, and shared work environments remain safe, organized, compliant, and operationally ready. The Lab Manager oversees space utilization, inventory and consumables management, equipment coordination, vendor support, facility readiness, and operational process improvements while providing hands-on support for evolving business needs. As the South San Francisco site continues to scale, this role will help establish the foundation for a dedicated Lab Management function by developing standardized systems, workflows, and best practices that enable efficient growth and support increasingly complex laboratory operations.

Job Description and Responsibilities:

The Lab Manager serves as the primary operational owner for Neuralink's South San Francisco laboratory facility, ensuring teams have the resources, infrastructure, and support needed to execute their work effectively. This role combines facility stewardship, operational coordination, and hands-on execution to support a rapidly evolving environment where research, engineering, and prototyping activities occur simultaneously. The successful candidate will drive organization, accountability, and continuous improvement across the site by coordinating projects, managing operational priorities, maintaining critical systems and resources, and serving as a central point of contact for day-to-day laboratory needs. This position requires a proactive, service-oriented mindset and the ability to navigate changing priorities while supporting the growth and long-term scalability of the facility. The Lab Manager will: 

Daily Operations & Space Management

• Manage daily operations of laboratory, engineering, and prototyping spaces to ensure teams have a safe, organized, and productive working environment.
• Own lab organization standards, including storage systems, workspace layouts, equipment locations, and inventory controls.
• Lead laboratory organization initiatives, workspace reconfigurations, equipment relocations, and internal move projects.
• Monitor facility readiness and proactively identify opportunities to improve efficiency, utilization, organization, and user experience.

Facilities & Vendor Coordination

• Coordinate laboratory setup activities, equipment installations, space expansions, and facility improvement projects.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, equipment servicing, vendor visits, contractor access, and facility-related work orders.
• Support audits, inspections, corrective actions, and documentation requests in partnership with Safety, Quality, and Legal teams.

Inventory, Procurement & Logistics

• Track and replenish consumables, PPE, tooling, chemicals, and operational supplies while maintaining accurate inventory records.
• Support procurement activities, purchase requests, receiving operations, asset tracking, and inventory reconciliation efforts.
• Assist with shipping, receiving, material handling, and other logistics-related activities supporting engineering and research programs.

Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain compliance with safety programs, chemical management requirements, waste disposal procedures, and internal operational standards.
• Create and maintain SOPs, training materials, signage, and documentation to support consistent lab operations.

Cross-functional Partnership & Escalation

• Partner with Facilities, Safety, Security, Logistics, Supply Chain, and Engineering teams to resolve operational issues and support business needs.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for day-to-day laboratory operational needs, escalating issues and driving resolutions as required.
• Provide operational support during periods of rapid growth, construction activities, changing priorities, and evolving facility requirements.

Required Qualifications

Background & Physical Requirements

• High school diploma or GED. Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to lift or move items weighing up to 50 lbs.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with technical, operational, and facilities teams.
• Ability to maintain organization and operational consistency across multiple shared spaces.
• Hands-on mindset with willingness to support both strategic and day-to-day operational tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

Technical Workspace Experience

• Prior experience managing laboratory, prototyping, R&D, manufacturing, or other technical workspaces.
• Experience supporting engineering, robotics, medical devices, biotech, or other highly-regulated environments.
• Experience supporting new facility builds, laboratory expansions, workspace reconfigurations, or site scaling efforts.

Systems & Tools

• Experience with inventory management systems, ERP software, CMMS platforms, asset tracking tools, or other operational management systems.
• Experience coordinating vendors, contractors, facilities projects, equipment installations, or preventative maintenance programs.

Safety & Compliance

• Familiarity with laboratory safety programs, EHS coordination, Lean/Six Sigma methodologies, chemical inventory management, or hazardous waste procedures.

Process Improvement & Documentation

• Experience developing SOPs, training documentation, operational workflows, or organizational standards.
• Demonstrated ability to improve operational processes, optimize space utilization, and maintain high organizational standards.

 Execution & Problem-Solving

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to independently manage projects and drive operational initiatives from planning through execution.

Additional Requirements

• May require travel.