Electrical Test Engineer

Alten USA; Carson (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA in California is seeking a Test Electrical Engineer to design, develop, and validate automated test systems for aerospace hardware and avionics. You will own test procedure development, instrument integration, and validation with cross-functional teams to meet functional, safety, and certification requirements.

The role emphasizes hands-on lab work, LabVIEW/TestStand experience, and building test fixtures, with opportunities to contribute to DO-160, MIL-STD-810/461

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience developing automated test systems using NI TestStand and LabVIEW.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test systems for aerospace hardware.
• Develop and execute test plans for unit-, subsystem-, and system-level testing.
• Build and integrate test fixtures and interface hardware.
• Write and debug LabVIEW modules and TestStand sequences.
• Operate test equipment (oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, DAQ) in automated stations.
• Analyze data, identify failure modes, and support corrective actions.
• Support first article inspection and DO-160, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461 compliance.
• Prepare test reports and documentation for reviews and certification.
• Collaborate with design, quality, and manufacturing engineering.
• Maintain and calibrate test equipment to ensure reliability.

Skills

Electrical engineering fundamentals

Analytical problem solving

Written and verbal communication

Test system troubleshooting

Project collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering/related field

Tools

NI TestStand

LabVIEW

Python/C/C++ for test tools

Job description

We're ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you'll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Position Summary

We are looking for a Test Electrical Engineer to support the design, development, and execution of electrical test systems for aerospace hardware and avionics programs. This role owns test procedure development, automated test system design, and hands-on validation of electrical and electromechanical components and assemblies, working closely with design engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure products meet functional, safety, and certification requirements. The ideal candidate combines strong electrical fundamentals with hands-on experience building and troubleshooting automated test systems using NI TestStand and LabVIEW.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test systems and test procedures for electrical and electromechanical aerospace hardware, using NI TestStand and LabVIEW to build and sequence test executables.
• Develop and execute test plans and procedures to support unit-level, subsystem-level, and system-level qualification, acceptance, and environmental testing (e.g., vibration, thermal, EMI/EMC).
• Design and build custom test fixtures, breakout boxes, and interface hardware to support automated and manual electrical testing.
• Write and debug LabVIEW test modules and TestStand sequences, including instrument drivers, data acquisition routines, and pass/fail limit checking.
• Operate and integrate test equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, DMMs, data acquisition systems, spectrum analyzers, and programmable loads into automated test stations.
• Analyze test data and results to identify failure modes, troubleshoot root cause, and support corrective action and design improvement efforts.
• Support first article inspection, qualification testing, and production acceptance testing in compliance with applicable aerospace standards (e.g., DO-160, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461).
• Prepare test reports, data packages, and technical documentation to support internal reviews, customer requirements, and regulatory/certification submittals.
• Collaborate with design, quality, and manufacturing engineering teams to translate requirements into test coverage and resolve test-related issues throughout the product lifecycle.
• Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot test equipment and automated test stations to ensure ongoing test system reliability and accuracy.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Hands-on experience developing automated test systems using NI TestStand and LabVIEW, including sequence development, instrument driver integration, and test executable deployment.
• Strong foundation in electrical and electronics fundamentals, including circuit analysis, digital and analog signal measurement, and troubleshooting.
• Experience operating standard test and measurement equipment, including oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, and data acquisition hardware.
• Experience developing and executing test procedures for electrical/electromechanical hardware in an aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industry.
• Working knowledge of applicable aerospace test and qualification standards (e.g., DO-160, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, AS9100 quality systems).
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and interconnect drawings.
• Strong analytical and root-cause problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot both test system issues and unit-under-test failures.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing test reports and technical documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with additional NI software tools (e.g., NI VeriStand, DIAdem) or other test automation platforms.
• Familiarity with programming languages such as Python or C/C++ for test tool development and data analysis.
• Experience supporting DO-254 or DO-178 hardware/software qualification programs.
• Experience with environmental and EMI/EMC test chambers and associated test protocols.

Salary Range: $120,000-$140,000/K

The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate's combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.

Compliance Notice:

Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement:

As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.