Director, Lab Systems Engineering

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Build and sustain strong, trust‑based relationships with senior business, quality, and DTE leaders, acting as a strategic partner with sustained impact on enterprise laboratory goals.

• Lead, develop, and retain a highly effective Lab Engineering Support team, leveraging internal resources and external partners through a managed service provider model.

• Ensure stable, secure, and compliant laboratory technology operations across both IT and OT environments by implementing industry‑standard best practices aligned with cyber security, ITSM, ITIL, and DTE system lifecycle standards.

• Serve as the primary point of accountability for laboratory technology (including laboratory IT and OT systems) operating within GxP‑ and SOX‑regulated environments, partnering closely with DTE Compliance, Cyber Security, Internal Audit, and Quality Assurance.

• Own and manage an approximately $10M operating budget, ensuring disciplined financial planning, forecasting, vendor management, and value realization across services and platforms.

• Partner with business stakeholders across the enterprise to manage and prioritize service demand, balancing operational stability, risk, and strategic investment.

• Oversee a portfolio of programs, projects, platform releases, and enhancements, ensuring high‑quality delivery, adherence to timelines, and alignment with business outcomes.

• Establish, track, and communicate operational performance metrics, financial impact, and value drivers associated with laboratory technology investments.

• Continuously enhance internal processes related to security, demand management, resource planning, project delivery, platform releases, and ongoing operational support.

• Lead technology‑driven initiatives that modernize the laboratory environment by evaluating and advancing emerging capabilities such as intelligent automation, agentic workflows, passive data capture, IoT‑enabled instruments, and connected lab environments.

• Translate innovation opportunities into pragmatic, compliant roadmaps that improve scientific productivity, operational efficiency, and long‑term scalability.

• Document and present complex technical issues, architectural options, and recommendations clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.

• Manage strategic relationships with technology vendors and service providers to ensure performance, security, compliance, and long‑term value.

• Attract, develop, and retain top talent; serve as a people manager with full accountability for performance management, talent development, and financial stewardship of assigned staff.

Required Education Level

• Bachelor’s degree required (B.S. or equivalent).
• Advanced degree preferred.

Required Experience

• Requires 10+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing enterprise‑scale technology platforms and support organizations.

• Proven experience operating within GxP‑ and SOX‑regulated environments.

• Experience leading complex programs, portfolios, and vendor ecosystems with financial accountability.

Required Knowledge / Skills

• Strong senior‑level business engagement and stakeholder partnership capabilities.

• Deep understanding of enterprise technology operations, cyber security, IT service management, and system lifecycle practices.

• Proven people leadership experience with a track record of building and sustaining high‑performing teams.

• Program, portfolio, demand, and financial management expertise.

• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, communication, and executive‑level presentation skills.

• Ability to balance operational stability with innovation in regulated environments.

• Experience working across global, multi‑site laboratory organizations.

• Experience leveraging managed services and external partners at scale.

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