Electrical Engineer Co-op: Reliability & Test

S&C Electric; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

S&C Electric Company, a 100% employee-owned company, invites applications for an Electrical Engineer Co-op in Chicago. The role supports the New Product Validation and Reliability team, with hands-on reliability testing, data collection, and reporting under mentoring engineers on-site at our Chicago facility.

The co-op focuses on Design for Reliability, test planning, fixture design, and embedded test automation.

Qualifications

• Pursuing an ABET-accredited degree in Electrical/Computer/Mechatronics engineering and returning to school after the co-op.
• Interest in reliability engineering, product validation, test engineering, embedded systems, power electronics, or automation.
• Coursework or experience with circuit analysis, electronics, microcontrollers, programming, sensors, or data acquisition is preferred.
• Familiarity with programming languages or tools such as C, C++, Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Arduino, or similar platforms is helpful.
• Ability to read schematics, perform basic electrical measurements, troubleshoot test setups, and work with laboratory equipment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; documentation of test results clearly and accurately.
• Curiosity, attention to detail, willingness to learn, and safe hands-on engineering work.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and execution of Design for Reliability plans for new product development programs.
• Support reliability test planning by estimating sample sizes, test durations, acceleration factors, test conditions, and required resources.
• Participate in reliability activities such as environmental stressor assessment and accelerated life testing.
• Design, build, modify, and document test fixtures used to operate and monitor products during reliability testing.
• Develop embedded or microcontroller-based test automation to sequence tests, control fixtures, collect measurements, and improve repeatability.
• Support circuit board layout, prototype wiring, sensor integration, signal conditioning, and test interface development.
• Set up and operate test equipment such as thermal chambers, humidity chambers, vibration shakers, power supplies, data acquisition systems, oscilloscopes, multimeters, and automated test systems.
• Collect, organize, and analyze test data to identify trends, anomalies, failure modes, and potential design weaknesses.
• Document test procedures, test setups, observations, and conclusions in clear engineering reports.
• Work closely with reliability engineers, design engineers, test architects, laboratory personnel, and cross-functional project teams.
• Follow laboratory safety practices, test procedures, calibration requirements, and documentation expectations when working around electrical and mechanical test equipment.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

Circuit analysis

Data acquisition

Test automation

Education

In-progress degree in Electrical/Computer/Mechatronics Engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Arduino

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

Job description

S&C Electric Company, a 100% employee-owned company, invites applications for an Electrical Engineer Co-op in Chicago. The role supports the New Product Validation and Reliability team, with hands-on reliability testing, data collection, and reporting under mentoring engineers on-site at our Chicago facility.

The co-op focuses on Design for Reliability, test planning, fixture design, and embedded test automation.