Electrical Engineering Technician

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

Paid sick leave

401(k) with match

Online training

Job summary

Aquent Talent in Foster City, CA is seeking a hands-on Lab Technician to support autonomous hardware test benches and HIL environments. You will help build precision wiring harnesses, rack equipment, and ensure signal integrity while following safety protocols.

The role emphasizes lab operations, kitting, parts inventory, and documenting builds with accurate BOMs and pinouts, supporting CI and manual tests.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in a lab, bench technician, or data center hardware role with relevant electronics training.
• Experience wiring harnesses, creating pinouts, selecting connectors and backshells.
• Ability to rack and cabling servers and network equipment with safe practices.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct wiring harnesses for HIL test benches and rack builds.
• Rack, stack, and wire compute nodes, switches, and power units per diagrams.
• Maintain lab operations: inventory, kitting, parts stock, and asset tagging.
• Diagnose hardware faults and collaborate with engineers on CI/manual tests.
• Maintain build docs: BOMs, wiring diagrams, pinouts, and revision history.

Skills

Wiring harness design

Lab hardware experience

Rack/cabling servers

Inventory management

ESD safety

Hand tools & measurement

Education

Associate degree or technical certificate in electronics

Tools

Multimeters

Oscilloscopes

Power supplies

Job description

Join a pioneering company at the forefront of autonomous technology, where innovation drives the future of transportation. This 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.

Step into a pivotal role where your expertise will directly shape the validation of groundbreaking autonomous systems! As a key contributor to the engineering team, you will be instrumental in building and maintaining the critical physical infrastructure that underpins our sensor emulation and test environments. Your hands‑on work, from crafting intricate wiring harnesses to setting up advanced hardware‑in‑the‑loop test benches, will ensure the robust performance and reliability of our automotive systems. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of vital lab operations, drive efficiency, and make a tangible impact on the future of autonomous technology.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct precision wiring harnesses for hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) test benches and rack builds, translating schematics into detailed pinout diagrams, selecting appropriate connectors, wire gauges, and shielding for optimal signal integrity and durability. This includes 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. 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.

Bonus 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.

• subsidized health, vision, and dental plans
• paid sick leave
• retirement plans with a match
• 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.