Director of Lab Operations

HRL Laboratories pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned jointly by Boeing and GM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art. General Description:  HRL Laboratories advances critical structural and functional materials and semiconductor devices that enable precision navigation, quantum technologies and extreme-environment performance. With expertise from design through deployment, we deliver scalable, high-performance solutions that transform our customers’ missions. Our work leverages digital manufacturing and scalable microfabrication techniques to meet tomorrow’s toughest challenges. The HRL Materials and Microsystems Laboratory (MML) is seeking a dynamic, results-driven leader to join our senior management team as the Director of Operational Excellence. In this critical role, you will directly support the Vice President, driving operational efficiency, managing cross-organizational priorities, and ensuring rigorous execution of MML’s research and development programs.  MML supports The Boeing Company, General Motors, and numerous government organizations, developing advanced technologies across the aerospace, automotive, and national security sectors.  Our core competencies include high performance materials and digital manufacturing, compact precision sensing and timing devices and subsystems, quantum device technologies, and advanced testing systems.  This is an opportunity to lead at the intersection of technology, strategy, and operations ensuring MML’s continued success as a cutting-edge technology incubator and technology solutions provider.   Essential Duties: • Operational Leadership: Drive lab-wide operational efficiency for space, facilities, staffing, and resources. • Identify and implement workflow process improvements to facilitate improved execution. • Lead cross organizational coordination to align goals and set priorities. • Oversee and manage overall process execution for internal proposals, reviews, and customer engagement activities. • Strategic Execution and Risk Management: Support effective program execution through data-driven decision making and risk management.  Triage and manage day-to-day programmatic and organizational demands, addressing issues quickly and effectively and elevating as required to address urgent issues. • Project Execution: Organize and host regular internal MML program reviews, track deliverable execution, and support teams in addressing issues and OFIs. Support proposal planning and execution to manage resource conflicts. • Financial Operations: Partner with finance teams to oversee budget forecasting, resource allocation (space and people), capital planning, and overhead expenditures. • Leadership and Organization Representation: Represent MML for internal initiatives and for external relations as required.  Support leadership in staff meetings, customer visits, and in events and external relations. Required Qualifications: • Bachelors, Masters or PhD in related engineering, science and technology field  10 yrs+ in R&D operations, program management, or applied technology development in industry or government  • 5 yrs+ leading technical teams, with experience in organizational strategy, and resource planning  • History of solving complex organizational and bureaucratic challenges through effective stakeholder engagement and influence • Experience in financial management, including budget oversight, and capital resource oversight • R&D proposal and contracting experience with diverse federal agencies  Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience): • Preferred: Experience in technology, aerospace and defense, or advanced manufacturing environments • Preferred: Exceptional communication and leadership skills with ability to influence across the organization Special Requirements: • US citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain US Government security clearance Compensation and Benefits: • Pay Range: $243,000 - $311,350 Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process. • Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment. • For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.) Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.  If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy