How to hire an engineering laboratory manager

How to hire an engineering laboratory manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step engineering laboratory manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an engineering laboratory manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new engineering laboratory manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your engineering laboratory manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an engineering laboratory manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An engineering laboratory manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, engineering laboratory managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of engineering laboratory managers.

   Type of Engineering Laboratory Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Engineering Laboratory Manager	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.	$35-72
   Research And Development Director	A research and development director spearheads and oversees the research and development initiatives and projects in a company. It is their duty to set goals and guidelines, establish timelines and budgets, direct and manage different departments, liaise with internal and external parties, gather and analyze data to implement solutions against problem areas, and utilize expertise in developing strategies to optimize company operations... Show more	$45-96
   Research And Development Manager	A research and development manager is responsible for supervising project development procedures to support business operations and identify business opportunities that would pave the way for more revenue resources and profits. Research and development managers monitor the production plans from the conceptualization to the final outputs, inspecting inconsistencies and flaws in every phase and revising strategies as needed to achieve the required specifications and requirements... Show more	$37-83

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • R
   • Engineering Lab
   • Lab Equipment
   • Test Equipment
   • Windows
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Test Procedures
   • Lab Operations
   • Prototype
   • RF
   • DOD
   • Sigma
   • ISO
   • Switches

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage use of compact radar range facility for RF testing.
   • Manage the laboratory's IP address scheme and network connections.
   • Manage the lab that has capabilities of ISO, ISTA and ASTM standard testing.
   • Manage and oversee client and project management of geotechnical engineering projects.
   • Manage a top-notch team of chemists and technicians in deployment, configuration and validation of laboratory instruments/software and chemistry laboratory operation.
   • Design RF test system to measuring power full power spectrum.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your engineering laboratory manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An engineering laboratory manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, engineering laboratory managers' average salary in florida is 43% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level engineering laboratory managers earn 52% less than senior-level engineering laboratory managers.
   • Certifications. An engineering laboratory manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an engineering laboratory manager's salary.

   Average engineering laboratory manager salary

   $105,891yearly

   $50.91 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engineering laboratory manager salary

   $73,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing an engineering laboratory manager job description

   A good engineering laboratory manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an engineering laboratory manager job description:

   Engineering laboratory manager job description example

   San Diego,California,United States
   
   Corporate Functions
   
   + 3+ yrs of Linux system administration
   
   + 2+ years of experience in lab management, contractor management and the improvement of processes across these domains
   
   + Experience interpreting designs and assembling data center equipment: Servers, Networking, Power, Racks
   
   + Experience procuring and keeping inventory of electronic parts, tools, and laboratory consumables
   
   + Experience running mac OS machines at scale, in a data center or lab environment
   
   + Mastery of lab safety
   
   + Flexibility and comfort working in a quickly changing environment
   
   + Meticulous organizational skills
   
   + You have strong written and verbal interpersonal skills
   
   **Description**
   
   As an Engineering Lab Manager you will be very hands on in the building, maintaining, and operating our engineering labs. You will be responsible for physical computer lab build outs, network design, switch installation, DNS, ACL rules, and VLAN configuration. You will be responsible for providing work direction to onsite lab technicians, contracted to assist with day to day lab duties. You will be responsible for project estimates, and oversight of progress across onsite contracted lab technicians. You must be an expert with using server equipment, tools, and able to lift and move equipment within the lab. You will be the point-of-contact for engineering lab-related activities. You will be helping to procure materials for engineering needs and inventory control, manage inventory of hardware components, equipment, products, and other supplies, and procure spare parts, and supplies to ensure all supplies are stocked and available when needed. You will be assisting in the lab day-to-day operations including lab organization, lab space access and security, and safety protocols. You will be engineering adherence to safety, regulatory, and quality requirements as needed to maintain compliance with lab certifications and local requirements. You will be organizing the lab layout and moving tools, equipment, and inventory as required for optimum performance. You will be performing lab asset management duties including storing specialized development hardware, overseeing vehicle use for transporting equipment between lab spaces, maintaining instrument calibrations, servicing laboratory equipment, and managing equipment and asset database. You will be collaborating with engineers on new equipment designs, installation, and operation. You will be analyzing and communicating effectively lab related issues, and make recommendations for next steps in lab tools and infrastructure. You will also be helping to plan for new locations and spaces accounting for lab growth. You will be working with various equipment and services both multi-functional and external vendors.
   
   **Education & Experience**
   
   BS/MS in Computer Science/Computer Engineering, or equivalent
   
   **Additional Requirements**
   
   **Apple Footer**
   
   Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. United States Department of Labor. Learn more (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple is required to comply with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate issued by the New York City Department of Health. We will verify the vaccination status of all New York City team members who are working at an Apple Store, office, or partner store in New York City. New York City Department of Health Learn more (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you're applying for a position in San Francisco, review the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance guidelines (opens in a new window) applicable in your area.
   
   Apple participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace. Reasonable Accommodation and Drug Free Workplace policy Learn more (Opens in a new window) .

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5. Post your job

   To find engineering laboratory managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any engineering laboratory managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level engineering laboratory managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your engineering laboratory manager job on Zippia to find and recruit engineering laboratory manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting engineering laboratory managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new engineering laboratory manager

   Once you've selected the best engineering laboratory manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new engineering laboratory manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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