Hardware Lab Manager

What MatX Is Building

MatX's mission is to make the world’s best AI models run as efficiently as allowed by physics, bringing the world years ahead in AI quality and availability.

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Lab Manager to oversee daily operations and organization for our hardware lab. This is an active role focused on maintaining equipment, board rework, bench organization, inventory, and remote support. The ideal candidate handles technical troubleshooting, logistics, and facilities management. You take pride in a clean and organized lab. You'll own the lab that our board, system, and validation engineers rely on every day, and keep it productive when they're testing remotely or from another timezone.

What You'll Do

• Do precision rework on prototype and validation boards: fine-pitch SMT

• Carry out engineering change orders on prototype PCBs (component swaps, trace cuts, jumpers, test points), and run board-level failure analysis on solder joints, traces, pads, and ESD damage under stereo and digital microscopes.

• Support new board bring-up alongside the engineers: first power-on, rail and current checks, probing, and isolating shorts or damaged parts so a bad board gets diagnosed quickly instead of blocking a test plan.

• Keep the bench ready to measure. You'll be first-line support for oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, programmable power supplies, electronic loads, and spectrum analyzers, and you'll own the calibration schedule, equipment records, and third-party servicing so nothing falls out of cal mid-project.

• Be the engineers' hands in the lab. Configure instruments over GPIB, LAN, and USB, check that automation scripts work, and during live remote sessions connect probes, swap cables, change DUT configurations, and cycle power. Schedule after-hours and cross-timezone test windows, and keep handoff logs a remote engineer can pick up cold.

• Run lab logistics: source equipment and parts, handle POs, vendor quotes, and RMAs, and keep a live inventory of boards, assets, serial numbers, and reorder thresholds. Keep critical consumables (solder, flux, IPA, common SMT parts) stocked.

• Own the lab space itself: bench layout and floor plans as the team grows, the ESD control program, and day-to-day lab safety.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years in an electronics test lab, hardware prototyping lab, or similar, including ownership of lab operations beyond your own bench work. An Associate's or Bachelor's in Electronics Technology, EET, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.

• Expert hand soldering and SMT rework

• Hands-on proficiency with standard bench instruments (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, electronic loads), and comfortable running them on a remote engineer's behalf.

• Experience running calibration databases, asset tracking, and procurement systems (e.g. SAP, Coupa), including coordinating third-party service vendors.

• Working knowledge of ESD control and lab safety standards (OSHA/EHS).

• Strong communication skills. You keep engineers clearly informed on equipment status, rework progress, and schedule conflicts, and you can manage many concurrent requests without dropping any.

• A customer-service orientation toward the engineers you support: proactive and solution-focused, you anticipate what a test session needs before anyone asks.

Bonus Points If You Have

• J-STD-001 or IPC-7711/7721 rework certification

• Experience in a high-speed or signal/power integrity lab (VNAs, BERTs, TDR, eye-diagram measurements), or with optical fiber handling (connector inspection and cleaning, polarity verification)

• Instrument automation in Python (PyVISA, SCPI)

• Experience with 0201, QFN, LCC, 0.4 mm-pitch BGA), BGA reballing, flex connectors, and RF/coaxial connectors

• Built out a lab from scratch or through a major expansion: layout, power distribution, ESD flooring, benches

• Supported first-silicon or new-board bring-up at an AI accelerator company or a hyperscaler silicon team

Compensation

The US base salary for this full-time position is determined based on a variety of factors including role, experience, location, job-related skills, and relevant education and training. Career length is only a guideline for compensation.

• Early Career - $160,000 - $275,000 + equity

• Mid Career - $175,000 - $400,000 + equity

• Senior Career - $250,000 - $600,000 + equity

What We Offer

• Time off: 4 weeks PTO (accrued) + 12 company Holidays + 3 religious observance days

• Health:

  • Medical. Company-subsidized Medical (Kaiser or Anthem) for employees & dependents

  • Dental + Vision. Guardian Dental and Vision insurances for employee & dependents

  • HSA and FSA offerings via Lively (HSA includes MatX lump sum contribution)

  • Concierge Care Advocates via Mishe. A white-glove service to help you navigate the maze of insurance, find providers, file (and appeal) claims

  • Travel medical insurance. Covers both business and personal trips

• MatX Family Fund. $6k fund via Benepass to fill the gaps in traditional insurance. Covers family-building, maternity, menopause, mental health and bodywork.

• Financial Wellbeing:

  • Retirement. Choose from Roth/ 401K (or both) retirement plans with up to 5% company contribution to 401K (even if you don't contribute).

  • Wealthfront Workplace Accounts. Non-401K investment, high-yield savings & brokerage. MatX pays your fees for the 1st $100K

  • Life, AD&D and Disability. Company-paid life insurance (up to $300K) and long-term disability insurances.

• Daily Meals: MatX provides $80/day budget for onsite and remote meals, via a plethora of options including Webox, Locale, plus Ramp virtual cards.

• Commute on Us: Commute on our company Uber account, or reimburse your train rides. Either way, we pay 100% for your daily commute.

• WFH Support:

  • Home Setup. $1500 to make your home office comfortable & productive for you

  • Cell & Internet Reimbursement. $60/mo for cellular and $60/mo for wifi

• Professional Development: $1500 Professional Development Budget (per year)

• MatX E[x]tras: $50/mo to use on whatever perk you value most

• Mental Wellbeing: 100% paid mental health benefit via SpringHealth and Guardian EAP

• Support to Parents: Up to 20 weeks paid parental leave regardless of path to parenthood, up to 18 weeks pregnancy disability leave, and flexible return-to-work hours

As part of our dedication to the diversity of our team and our focus on creating an inviting and inclusive work experience, MatX is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, genetic information or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.
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This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant's capacity to perform job functions in compliance with U.S. export control laws without obtaining a license from U.S. export control authorities.
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MatX does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or People team and any resumes submitted are deemed to be the property of MatX.