The Senior Test Development Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing complex automated test solutions for functional and structural testing. This role requires a strong technical foundation in both hardware and software integration, providing technical guidance to project teams while ensuring high-quality test coverage and manufacturing stability.
Role Overview
The Senior Test Development Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing complex automated test solutions for functional and structural testing. This role requires a strong technical foundation in both hardware and software integration, providing technical guidance to project teams while ensuring high-quality test coverage and manufacturing stability.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Execution & Mentorship
- Act as a technical lead for specific test development projects, providing guidance and peer reviews for junior engineers.
- Implement and adhere to established best known methods (BKMs) and processes for test development and execution.
- Stay current with industry trends and technologies to recommend improvements for local test platforms and methodologies.
- Contribute to the development of internal technical standards and documentation.
Project & Task Management
- Lead the technical execution of mid-sized projects, ensuring all engineering milestones and timelines are met.
- Assist in the creation of technical proposals, including contributing to Bill of Materials (BOM) selection, labor hour estimates, and schedule planning.
- Translate product design specifications and technical data into detailed test requirements with minimal supervision.
- Coordinate the local deployment of test solutions and support global deployment efforts as needed.
- Interface with vendors to specify and procure components for test systems.
Test Solution Development & Implementation
- Develop comprehensive functional test plans and strategies based on project requirements and coverage targets.
- Design and integrate complete test solutions, including custom hardware interfaces and automated software sequences.
- Develop robust test software using C++, LabVIEW, and TestStand, focusing on modularity, instrument control, and pneumatic automation.
- Design hardware components for functional testers, including power distribution, relay logic, battery simulation, and integration of multi-meters and oscilloscopes.
- Validate and qualify test solutions using statistical methods (e.g., GR&R, Cp/Cpk) to ensure measurement stability.
- Optimize test solutions for the manufacturing floor, focusing on cycle time reduction, yield improvement, and tester uptime.
Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Debug complex hardware and software issues using root cause analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and specialized diagnostic tools.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Digital/Analog design, PCB layout, and Firmware) to ensure design-for-test (DFT) requirements are incorporated early in the product lifecycle.
- Provide feedback to design teams regarding product diagnosability, reparability, and test point accessibility.
- Manage technical documentation, including schematics, software version control, and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
Requirements
- Experience: Minimum of 5–8 years of experience in functional test development or a closely related automated systems environment.
- Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading technical project workstreams or mentoring junior engineering staff.
- Software Proficiency: Strong hands-on experience in software design using C++, LabVIEW, and TestStand. Experience with NI STS (Semiconductor Test System) is a significant advantage.
- Hardware Design: Solid experience in hardware integration, circuit design for testers, and interfacing with industrial instruments.
- Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of measurement science, data acquisition, and test instrumentation.
- Project Skills: Experience managing technical schedules and contributing to project budgeting/resourcing.
- Education: A Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is required.
- Communication: Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.