Lab Operations Manager

About Etched

Etched is building hardware for frontier intelligence. We co-design chips, racks, software, and manufacturing to deliver best-in-class throughput and latency across both prefill and decode workloads. Our first products are heavily focused on inference. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.

Job Summary

Etched is looking for a Lab Operations Manager to own the day-to-day operational backbone of our Platforms Validation lab. This is a hands-on operational role reporting to the Head of Lab Operations, responsible for everything between hardware arriving at our dock and engineers running it in a rack - board intake and serialization, request tracking and prioritization, rework coordination, physical lab infrastructure, equipment commissioning, inventory management, safety compliance, and end-to-end workflow execution. You will work alongside Lead Technicians and coordinate with Test Operators, Engineering Technicians, Rework Technicians, and Mechanical Technicians, and will interface closely with the Head of Lab Operations and the Head of Platform Validation Engineering to ensure lab operations are aligned with engineering priorities and program schedules.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in lab or infrastructure operations and the operational rigor to build and maintain the systems that keep a fast-moving hardware lab running, including accurate inventory tracking, intake and triage of engineering requests, equipment lifecycle management, and the technical depth to engage meaningfully with hardware validation workflows such as reading schematics, understanding bring-up sequences, and coordinating PCB rework activities.

Key Responsibilities

- Lab Operations & Board Flow

- Own end-to-end board flow: incoming serialization, rework coordination, mechanical assembly, screening, and rack integration.

- Serve as the central point of contact for hardware resource allocation, developmental server assignments, and board status tracking.

- Maintain a live status tracker for all boards in-flight across lab stages; communicate status and risks to engineering and program leadership.

- Drive rework prioritization in coordination with validation engineers; coordinate rework technicians and interface with rework partners.

- Request Intake & Tracking

- Own the intake process for all lab operations requests from engineering - triage, prioritize, and assign work to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

- Maintain accurate, real-time tracking of all active requests, board statuses, and task queues using project management tools (Jira, Wrike, or similar).

- Provide regular status updates and reporting to the Head of Lab Operations and engineering stakeholders.

- Identify recurring request patterns and propose process improvements to reduce turnaround time.

- Physical Lab Infrastructure & Safety

- Receive, commission, and stand up incoming lab equipment - instruments, servers, benches, fixtures, and rack systems.

- Maintain equipment health, calibration records, and maintenance schedules across the lab.

- Own equipment ordering, shipping, and receiving; negotiate with suppliers and manage vendor relationships.

- Collaborate with site services and facilities to maintain and improve physical lab infrastructure to support system deployments.

- Coordinate rack build scheduling; prepare lab areas to streamline installation and deployment.

- Own lab safety programs: enforce ESD protocols, maintain safety documentation, conduct regular audits, and ensure compliance with environmental health and safety (EH&S) standards.

- Manage chemical, material, and consumable inventories; ensure proper storage, labeling, and disposal procedures.

- Inventory Management

- Build and maintain a comprehensive inventory system for all lab assets - boards, equipment, fixtures, cables, consumables, and spares.

- Track asset locations, conditions, and lifecycle status; flag end-of-life or low-stock items proactively.

- Manage procurement workflows for lab supplies and equipment; maintain relationships with suppliers and ensure timely fulfillment.

- Conduct periodic physical inventory audits and reconcile against system records.

- Process & Cross-Functional Coordination

- Define, document, and continuously improve lab operational processes from receipt through system integration.

- Identify and escalate workflow bottlenecks with structured mitigation proposals.

- Work closely with validation engineers, electrical engineers, firmware engineers, and program managers to maintain clear understanding of lab priorities and design requirements.

- Support system validation test activities where relevant - including understanding