Application Engineer

Actalent; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

HSA

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

PTO/Vacation

Job summary

Actalent in Plymouth, MI seeks an Application Engineer to validate and integrate brake and vehicle dynamics systems. You will calibrate and verify electronic actuation and ESP functions, plan tests, and coordinate activities with OEM customers.

You will serve as a technical bridge between internal engineering teams and clients, supporting software validation and ensuring compliance with development processes. This contract role involves onsite testing and cross-location collaboration.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with data acquisition software used for vehicle and brake system testing.
• Strong understanding of vehicle systems, particularly braking and vehicle dynamics.
• Ability to perform calibration, verification, and validation activities for electronic brake actuation and ESP systems.
• Experience in test planning, test case development, and evaluation of test results for automotive systems.
• Capability to serve as a technical interface between internal engineering teams and OEM customers.
• Proficiency in using software tools relevant to automotive system validation and application engineering.
• Experience with software flashing procedures for automotive electronic control units.

Responsibilities

• Perform calibration, verification, and validation of brake systems, including electronic actuation and ESP functions.
• Execute test planning for vehicle dynamics and braking systems, including developing detailed test cases and evaluating test results.
• Support software validation and release processes across multiple development stages to ensure reliable and compliant system performance.
• Act as a technical interface between internal engineering teams and OEM customers, providing clear communication and technical guidance.
• Analyze customer specifications and requirements, and ensure they align with system capabilities and engineering standards.
• Participate in customer meetings to discuss technical topics, present findings, and provide ongoing technical support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate test vehicles, instrumentation, and equipment required for validation activities to ensure readiness and availability.
• Participate in vehicle testing at various locations, including seasonal test programs, to validate braking and vehicle dynamics performance under different conditions.
• Ensure adherence to established development processes, engineering tools, and quality standards throughout all validation and application engineering activities.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation, reporting, and traceability of engineering activities, test results, and technical decisions.
• Support project tracking by monitoring progress, identifying issues, and contributing to timely issue resolution and cross-functional coordination.

Skills

Data acquisition

Braking systems

Calibration

Test planning

OEM interface

Validation tools

ECU flashing

Tools

Data acquisition software

ECU flashing procedures

Test instrumentation

Job description

Job Title: Application EngineerJob Description

The Application Engineer supports validation and integration of advanced brake and vehicle dynamics systems, acting as a key technical link between internal engineering teams and automotive OEM customers. This role focuses on calibration, verification, and validation of electronic brake actuation and ESP functions, coordination of test activities, and adherence to established development processes and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform calibration, verification, and validation of brake systems, including electronic brake actuation and electronic stability program (ESP) functions.
• Execute test planning for vehicle dynamics and braking systems, including developing detailed test cases and evaluating test results.
• Support software validation and release processes across multiple development stages to ensure reliable and compliant system performance.
• Act as a technical interface between internal engineering teams and OEM customers, providing clear communication and technical guidance.
• Analyze customer specifications and requirements, and ensure they align with system capabilities and engineering standards.
• Participate in customer meetings to discuss technical topics, present findings, and provide ongoing technical support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate test vehicles, instrumentation, and equipment required for validation activities to ensure readiness and availability.
• Participate in vehicle testing at various locations, including seasonal test programs, to validate braking and vehicle dynamics performance under different conditions.
• Ensure adherence to established development processes, engineering tools, and quality standards throughout all validation and application engineering activities.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation, reporting, and traceability of engineering activities, test results, and technical decisions.
• Support project tracking by monitoring progress, identifying issues, and contributing to timely issue resolution and cross-functional coordination.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience with data acquisition software used for vehicle and brake system testing.
• Strong understanding of vehicle systems, particularly braking and vehicle dynamics.
• Ability to perform calibration, verification, and validation activities for electronic brake actuation and ESP systems.
• Experience in test planning, test case development, and evaluation of test results for automotive systems.
• Capability to serve as a technical interface between internal engineering teams and OEM customers.
• Proficiency in using software tools relevant to automotive system validation and application engineering.
• Experience with software flashing procedures for automotive electronic control units.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Familiarity with structured development processes and engineering quality standards.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills, with attention to detail and traceability.
• Ability to coordinate test vehicles, instrumentation, and equipment for validation activities.
• Comfort with participating in customer meetings and providing ongoing technical support.
• Willingness to travel to various test locations, including participation in seasonal test programs.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills for cross-functional project coordination.

Work Environment

This role is based at an automotive engineering and testing facility on East Newburg Road in Flat Rock, MI. The work environment involves a combination of office-based engineering tasks and hands-on activities with test vehicles, instrumentation, and data acquisition equipment. The Application Engineer participates in vehicle testing at local and remote locations, including seasonal test programs, which may require working in varying weather and road conditions. Work is performed using specialized software tools and data acquisition systems, with an emphasis on adherence to established development processes and quality standards. The environment supports close collaboration with cross-functional engineering teams and regular interaction with OEM customer representatives.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Plymouth, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $38.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Plymouth,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 14, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.