Lab Engineering Manager

Vertiv is a global critical infrastructure and data center technology company, and they are seeking a Lab Engineering Manager to lead their Dearborn Liquid Cooling Lab. This role involves overseeing product validation, design verification testing, and lab capability development to support next-generation liquid cooling technologies for AI-driven data centers.

Responsibilities:

• Lead laboratory engineering operations including DVT, performance testing, reliability validation, and factory witness testing (FWT)
• Manage lab scheduling, resource allocation, and coordination of internal and customer testing activities
• Ensure compliance with internal engineering standards and applicable industry testing standards (ASHRAE/AHRI)
• Establish standardized test methods, documentation practices, and data reporting processes
• Support product development teams by ensuring lab readiness for validation activities across the NPDI lifecycle, from concept through product qualification
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, firmware/controls, manufacturing, and quality teams to validate designs and address technical risks
• Provide verification data and validation status to support design reviews and product development gate decisions
• Lead planning and execution of lab upgrades including test loop expansions, instrumentation improvements, and automation initiatives
• Manage capital planning and facility improvements to support evolving product roadmaps and increasing testing demand
• Ensure the lab supports high-density liquid cooling validation and advanced CDU testing capabilities
• Lead and develop a team of lab engineers, DVT engineers, and technicians
• Drive capability development through hiring, mentorship, and technical growth opportunities
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and engineering excellence
• Lead root-cause investigations for validation issues and field-return analysis
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to increase test throughput, repeatability, and lab efficiency
• Develop and track KPIs related to lab utilization, validation cycle time, and testing effectiveness

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline
• 8+ years of experience in product development, test engineering, or validation of thermal or electromechanical systems
• 3+ years of experience leading engineering teams or laboratory operations
• Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer systems
• Experience supporting structured NPDI or gated product development processes
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Experience with liquid cooling systems, coolant distribution units (CDUs), or thermal management systems
• Familiarity with ASHRAE/AHRI testing standards
• Experience supporting factory witness testing (FWT) or customer validation events
• Experience with lab facility expansion, capital planning, and test infrastructure development