Electrical Engineering Technician

Aquent (United States); Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Online training

Retirement plan match

Job summary

Aquent Talent partners with a leader in autonomous mobility hardware and software, seeking a hands-on Lab Technician to build and maintain the physical infrastructure for HIL test benches and sensor emulation rigs in Foster City, CA.

You will design precision wiring harnesses, rack and wire compute nodes, manage day-to-day lab operations, track inventory, and assist engineers to diagnose and resolve hardware faults while maintaining safety and build documentation.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on lab, bench technician, or data center hardware experience; electronics/electromechanical background.
• Wiring harness design capability with ability to create/interprete wiring diagrams and pinout tables; proficient in connectors and backshell/strain relief.
• Experience racking and cabling servers and network equipment; ability to work from rack elevation drawings.
• Strong track record of managing or maintaining a lab, test floor, or hardware stockroom; inventory and kitting management.
• Proficiency with hand tools and bench equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies).
• Knowledge of AC/DC electrical safety and ESD handling best practices.
• Ability to lift and move racks up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct precision wiring harnesses for HIL test benches and rack builds; translate schematics into detailed pinout diagrams.
• Rack, stack, and wire test assets including compute nodes, network switches, and power units per layout diagrams.
• Manage day-to-day lab operations, inventory, kitting, stock reordering; track asset tags and serial numbers.
• Maintain organized benches, kitting stations, and calibrate tools; enforce ESD and safety protocols.
• Diagnose and resolve hardware faults; collaborate with test/validation engineers to reproduce CI/test issues.
• Maintain up-to-date build documentation: pinouts, BOMs, wiring diagrams, rack elevations, revision history.

Skills

Wiring harness design

Rack wiring

Lab operations

ESD safety

Hand tools

Inventory management

Education

Associate degree or electronics cert

Tools

Molex connectors

Amphenol connectors

Rosenberger connectors

Multimeters

Oscilloscopes

Crimpers

CAD tools

Job description

Aquent is proud to partner with a pioneering company at the forefront of autonomous technology. This innovative organization is dedicated to developing cutting‑edge autonomy hardware and software, creating the foundational infrastructure that validates and ensures the safety and reliability of next‑generation systems. Join a team that is making a tangible impact on the future of safe, autonomous mobility. Are you ready to dive into a pivotal role, directly shaping the validation of groundbreaking autonomous systems? As a key member of our engineering team, you will be a critical contributor, instrumental in building and maintaining the essential physical infrastructure that underpins advanced sensor emulation and test environments. Your hands‑on expertise, from crafting intricate wiring harnesses to setting up sophisticated hardware‑in‑the‑loop test benches, will ensure the robust performance and reliability of next‑generation automotive systems. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of vital lab operations, drive efficiency, and make a profound impact on the future of autonomous technology.

What You Will Do

Design and construct precision wiring harnesses for hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) test benches and rack builds, translating schematics into detailed pinout diagrams. This includes selecting appropriate connectors, wire gauges, and shielding for optimal signal integrity and durability, as well as cutting, stripping, crimping, terminating, and thoroughly testing each harness for continuity, shorts, and correct pinout.

Execute the racking, stacking, and wiring of critical test assets, installing compute nodes, network switches, and power units according to precise layout diagrams. Efficiently run and organize power and data cables, ensuring meticulous labeling for streamlined tracking and maintenance.

Manage comprehensive day‑to‑day lab operations, including kitting and staging parts for upcoming builds, maintaining accurate inventory of connectors, wire, rack hardware, and consumables, and proactively reordering stock. Responsibilities also include tracking asset tags and serial numbers, ensuring organized benches and kitting stations, calibrating tools, and rigorously enforcing ESD and electrical safety protocols.

Diagnose and resolve hardware faults, troubleshooting issues such as faulty cables, failed power supply units (PSUs), and loose connections. You will collaborate with test and validation engineers to reproduce issues identified in continuous integration (CI) or manual test runs, escalating complex failures with clear and concise findings.

Maintain up‑to‑date build documentation, including pinout tables, Bills of Materials (BOMs), wiring diagrams, rack elevations, and comprehensive build documentation, complete with revision history and known issues.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in a lab, bench technician, or data center hardware role, complemented by an associate’s degree or vocational/technical certification in electronics or electromechanical technology. Equivalent hands‑on experience will be considered in lieu of formal credentials.
• Proven expertise in wiring harness design and construction, including the ability to create and interpret wiring diagrams and pinout tables, select appropriate connectors and wire gauges, and proficiently crimp/terminate automotive‑grade connectors (e.g., Molex, Amphenol, Rosenberger), along with backshell assembly and strain relief.
• Demonstrated experience in racking and cabling servers and network equipment, encompassing structured cabling, effective cable management, and power distribution, with the ability to work independently from rack elevation drawings.
• A strong track record of successfully managing or maintaining a lab, test floor, or hardware stockroom, including kitting builds, managing consumable and parts inventory, and independently organizing shared workspaces.
• Proficiency with a range of hand tools, torque tools, crimpers, and essential bench equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, and power supplies.
• Solid working knowledge of AC/DC electrical safety principles and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) handling best practices.
• Ability to lift and safely move rack equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.

Nice‑to‑Have Qualifications

• Direct experience with automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs), embedded systems, or hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) test benches.
• Proficiency in board‑level Surface Mount Technology (SMT) rework, including components down to 0402 (and occasionally 0201), as well as Ball Grid Array (BGA) rework.
• IPC/WHMA‑A‑620 certification or equivalent training demonstrating expertise in harness workmanship standards.
• Familiarity with harness design/CAD tools, 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks or 3DEXPERIENCE (3DX) CATIA, and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) within 3DX.
• Comfort with the Linux command line for basic host verification (e.g., ping, SSH, checking service status) and foundational scripting skills (e.g., Python/Bash) for executing simple bring‑up or test scripts.

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal‑opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment—one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.