Operations Lead (Lab & Facilities)

Position Summary:

We are seeking an Lab & Facilities Operations Lead to help keep our lab, facility, and critical infrastructure running safely and reliably as we scale our manufacturing operations. This is a hands-on role supporting day-to-day lab operations, whilst also helping with wider facilities operations; including managing contractors and facilitating improvements across virtual & physical infrastructure (i.e. electrical/power systems, transformers, generators). As we scale toward manufacturing in mid-2027, this role will be central to building operational maturity and on-site readiness. Please note that this is an on-site position, based in our HQ in Waltham, MA. 

What you’ll be doing

Safety & Compliance:

• Implement and maintain safety practices (chemical hygiene, PPE, signage, training refreshers).
• Manage monthly inspections and safety checks (HVAC, fire, permits, first aid, showers).
• Maintain SDS library and oversee chemical inventory compliance/maintenance.
• Lead incident reporting, documentation processes, and new hire safety onboarding.
• Provide primary oversight for identifying unsafe conditions and leading escalation/fixes.

Lab & Facilities Operations:

• Maintain lab readiness (layout, housekeeping, shared equipment, storage, and waste areas).
• Manage operational logistics (ordering, stocking, receiving) to ensure seamless lab processes.
• Own consumables workflow, including gas cylinders and specialty materials.
• Coordinate routine service for lab support equipment (pumps, chillers, compressors, monitors).
• Support calibration/maintenance scheduling and documentation for shared tools.

Contractor & Vendor Coordination:

• Coordinate on-site contractors (IT, trades, fire, security, cleaning); manage scheduling, access, and work verification.
• Track work orders, quotes, approvals, and completion; ensure safe work practices.
• Serve as point person for routine/recurring contractor activities and compliance.

Electrical & Power Infrastructure Support:

• Support electrical upgrades, resilience planning, and critical load/dependency tracking.
• Assist with commissioning/decommissioning, including checklists, punch lists, and records.
• Implement preventive maintenance routines and periodic infrastructure testing.

Documentation & Continuous Improvement:

• Maintain organized records for all lab and facility activities.
• Implement improvements to lab flow, storage, labeling, and infrastructure reliability.
• Support manufacturing readiness via 5S-style organization and scalable systems.

What experience you’ll bring

Required:

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in lab / facilities operations or maintenance.
• Start-up/scale-up, laboratory or light industrial environments are strongly preferred.
• Contractor coordination expertise (scheduling, scope confirmation, on-site safety execution).
• Working knowledge of lab safety (PPE, signage, housekeeping, and hazard awareness).
• Strong organizational habits for maintaining tidy logs, trackers, inventories, and documentation.
• Physical capability to lift/move up to ~50 lbs and perform hands-on tasks.
• Clear communicator, able to coordinate across engineering, leadership, and vendor teams.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s / Master’s or equivalent level education, preferably in a technical discipline.
• Proven hands-on experience in a chemistry or laser lab.
• Electrical infrastructure or construction exposure (service upgrades, transformers, generators).
• Familiarity with EHS concepts (chemical hygiene, waste handling, incident reporting).
• Basic IT fluency (workstation setup, networking basics, and vendor handoffs).
• Regulated environment experience (ISO, ESD controls, calibration or clean/controlled spaces).

About Us

Irradiant Technologies is pioneering the future of nano-optics and photonics with our proprietary 3D nanofabrication platform. Our technology enables the creation of optical components with geometries and refractive index profiles previously unattainable, opening doors to entirely new classes of photonic devices. By redefining what is possible in optical design and manufacturing, we are accelerating innovations in sensing, communication, imaging, display, and computation. We are expanding our team with passionate individuals who thrive at the cutting edge of technology.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $110,000 and we are committed to equitable compensation across our company. We handle our benefits through an annual reimbursement to give our employees greater flexibility with the plans that meet their needs. We offer a Flexible Paid Time Off policy and encourage people to take regular vacation. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Irradiant Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive team free from discrimination or harassment. We encourage candidates of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status to apply. Applicants with a disability are encouraged to contact us with any requests for accommodation.