R&D Test Operations Supervisor (Kansas City, Missouri (MO), US, 64133)

Job description

Building the people that build the world. With platforms in HVAC and Detection and Measurement, SPX Technologies builds innovative solutions that enable a safer, more efficient, sustainable world. Through our RiSE talent development framework, we Reach, Identify, Strengthen, and Engage our employees to support them in their continued development. We’re a global company of problem solvers, collaborators, and innovators, and our businesses build solutions that impact the world. As part of HVAC Cooling, SPX Cooling Technologies is a leader in high quality industrial HVAC equipment used to cool large facilities like hospitals, data centers, and power plants. With cooling towers, fans, and refrigeration units, companies rely on brands like Marley, Recold, and SGS to provide comfort and mission critical and industrial cooling solutions. How you will make an Impact (Job Summary) SPX is a diverse team of unique individuals who all make an impact. As a Test Operations Supervisor, you will be responsible for leading the day-to-day planning, scheduling, coordination, and execution of R&D testing activities to ensure personnel, equipment, facilities, and customer priorities are aligned for safe, efficient, and successful test execution. This role directly supervises Engineering Technicians, owns the Master Test Schedule, and coordinates staffing, test resources, equipment availability, and facility capacity across multiple projects. Working closely with Project Engineers, the Engineering Manager – R&D Test Center, Maintenance & Capital Projects Manager, and other stakeholders, the supervisor proactively resolves resource and scheduling conflicts, maintains test readiness, and communicates operational impacts. Success in this role requires strong people leadership, technical and operational judgment, customer focus, and a continuous improvement mindset focused on safety, schedule performance, resource utilization, and test execution. This role promotes innovation and continuous improvement in testing operations, develops technical capability within the team, and supports changes in equipment, controls, materials, and test methods that improve facility capability and performance. What you can expect in this role (Job Responsibilities) While each day brings new opportunities at SPX, your core responsibilities will be: Test Planning, Scheduling & Capacity Develop, maintain, and communicate the Master Test Schedule, establishing daily, weekly, and monthly priorities based on customer requirements, business objectives, project needs, available personnel, equipment, and facility capacity. Partner with Project Engineers and other stakeholders to understand test scope, requirements, timing, resource needs, facility readiness, and expected outcomes. Plan and allocate technicians, test cells, laboratory space, equipment, instrumentation, and other resources required to execute scheduled testing. Monitor schedule performance, capacity, and facility utilization; proactively identify conflicts, delays, and constraints and implement recovery or mitigation plans to maintain commitments. Team Leadership & Workforce Management Provide direct supervision, daily work direction, prioritization, and workload management for Engineering Technicians supporting testing operations. Organize and assign technician resources based on workload, technical skills, certifications, project requirements, and testing priorities while maintaining appropriate staffing and coverage. Lead performance management, coaching, mentoring, training, cross-training, employee development, and workforce planning to strengthen team capability and support succession needs. Promote a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, customer focus, engagement, and continuous improvement while partnering with Human Resources and leadership as appropriate. Test Execution, Facility Readiness & Stakeholder Coordination Serve as the primary operational point of contact for test scheduling and resource planning, coordinating with Project Engineers, Engineering Technicians, facility resources, customers, and leadership to support successful test execution. Ensure personnel, materials, equipment, instrumentation, engineering direction, and facility requirements are available and ready prior to testing; resolve gaps before they affect project schedules. Coordinate testing schedules with maintenance activities, calibration requirements, capital projects, facility modifications, and planned outages to minimize disruption and maintain test capacity. Communicate schedule status, resource availability, customer impacts, operational risks, and recovery plans in a timely manner while balancing customer expectations with facility capabilities and business priorities. Operational Excellence, Equipment Readiness & Continuous Improvement Establish and maintain standard work and safe operating practices that support consistent, efficient, and reliable test operations. Coordinate equipment calibration and testing-related preventive maintenance schedules to maintain compliance, equipment availability, and operational readiness while minimizing disruption. Develop and maintain measures for schedule adherence, testing capacity, technician utilization, equipment readiness, operational performance, and other key indicators; provide appropriate visibility to leadership. Identify and implement improvements to workflows, resource utilization, facility organization, test-cell capability, training, material readiness, and overall productivity. What we are looking for (Required/Ideal Experience, Skills, Education) We each bring something to the table, and we are looking for someone who has: Required Experience & Skills 5–8+ years of experience in testing operations, engineering laboratories, manufacturing/industrial operations, product development, or a similar technical environment. 2+ years of demonstrated leadership or supervisory responsibility. Strong leadership and employee development skills with the ability to direct, coach, mentor, and develop technical personnel. Strong planning, scheduling, capacity planning, and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and competing business demands. Technical aptitude and working knowledge of testing operations, laboratory workflows, engineering test requirements, equipment, instrumentation, materials, and facility resource needs. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to anticipate operational constraints and resolve scheduling and resource conflicts. Effective written, verbal, and presentation communication skills with the ability to manage customer expectations and communicate across technical, operational, and leadership audiences. Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, accountability, customer focus, continuous improvement, and operational efficiency. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with project scheduling, resource planning, ERP, SharePoint, or other work management and tracking tools. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, hands-on laboratory and testing environment and support test setup or operation when business needs are required. Ideal Experience & Skills Experience in HVAC, industrial, laboratory, or product testing environments and experience directly supervising Engineering Technicians preferred. Experience with equipment calibration programs, preventive maintenance coordination, project/resource planning systems, and continuous improvement initiatives preferred. Education & Certifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Business Management, or a related discipline preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered. Travel & Working Environment Onsite office environment, Monday – Friday The position may require working occasionally outside normal work hours. Lifting up to 70 pounds. Bending and stooping. Ability to communicate effectively verbally. Working at heights less than 50 feet above ground. Work with exposure to bad weather and/or excessive heat. How we live our culture Our culture is at the center of what we do and, more importantly, who we are. Our core values set a standard for how we manage ourselves, and our Leadership Model sets the standard for how we engage with each other. Whether you are an individual contributor or you lead a large team, each of us leads at SPX. What benefits do we offer? We know that the well-being of our employees is integral. Our benefits include: Generous and flexible paid time off including paid personal time off, caregiver, parental, and volunteer leave Competitive health insurance plans and 401(k) match, with benefits starting day one Competitive and performance-based compensation packages and bonus plans Educational assistance, leadership development programs, and recognition programs Our commitment to embrace diversity to build a culture of inclusion at SPX We value different backgrounds, experiences, and voices at SPX, and we are committed to challenging ourselves, openly communicating, and striving to improve every day. We believe in creating an inclusive work environment where everyone has a voice and is encouraged to realize their fullest potential. SPX is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer committed to making selection decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.