Electro-Mechanical Test Engineer — Defense Systems

Actalent; Burnsville (MN); On-site; USD 50,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

HSA (Health Savings Account)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

PTO

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Test Engineer in Burnsville, MN to perform electro‑mechanical testing across product life cycles, from planning through qualification. The role blends hands‑on lab work with rigorous documentation for defense and naval programs.

The ideal candidate has 1–5+ years in test engineering, strong oscilloscope and EMI testing skills, and experience with wiring diagrams and power testing. This is a fully onsite contract position supporting high‑tech testing environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 1–5+ years of experience in test engineering, validation, or related electro‑mechanical testing roles.
• Hands‑on experience with electro‑mechanical testing, including environmental, electrical systems, power, and EMI testing.
• Proficiency in developing and executing test plans and test procedures for hardware systems.
• Experience conducting qualification tests and preparing detailed test reports and documentation.
• Ability to analyze and interpret test results, identify requirement failures, and recommend design changes.
• Proficiency with oscilloscopes and other electrical test equipment used for power and EMI testing.
• Experience with power testing and electro‑mechanical troubleshooting in laboratory environments.
• Familiarity with EMC and EMI testing practices and standards.
• Ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams and hardware documentation.
• Experience testing mechanical structures and electrical components, including connectors and wiring/cabling for power and data transmission (Ethernet, fiber, and power).
• Basic software capabilities in Linux environments to support system startup, configuration, and test execution.
• Basic programming or scripting experience in Python to support testing activities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Word, for documentation, reporting, and test procedure creation.
• Strong technical writing skills for preparing procedures, testing instructions, and detailed test reports.
• Knowledge of military standards and qualifications relevant to defense and aerospace testing.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Ability to perform both hands‑on testing and detailed documentation work with equal proficiency.
• Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to test planning, execution, and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Perform test engineering activities for all product test stages, including requirement definition, test plan development, test procedure creation, test execution, and test report development.
• Conduct full lifecycle product qualification, including planning, procedure development, test conduct, and preparation of final qualification reports.
• Test electro‑mechanical systems and components to verify they meet customer needs, specifications, and requirements.
• Carry out qualification tests methodically in accordance with established test procedures, ensuring accurate and repeatable results.
• Analyze and interpret test data, identify requirement failures, and document issues that may require product design changes.
• Identify and specify the test equipment and instrumentation required to thoroughly test products, including power, environmental, and EMI‑related equipment.
• Plan and formulate effective regression test efforts following product design changes to ensure continued compliance with requirements.
• Estimate the budget, schedule, and scope for proposed qualification test efforts and communicate these estimates to stakeholders.
• Prepare clear and detailed product reports, test documentation, and qualification records, including pass/fail criteria and test parameters.
• Develop and maintain test procedures, testing instructions, and technical documentation using standard office tools.
• Perform electro‑mechanical testing, including environmental, electrical systems, power, and EMI testing, in both in‑house and external lab environments.
• Test mechanical structures and electrical components, including connectors, wiring, and cabling for power and data transmission (such as Ethernet and fiber).
• Use oscilloscopes, test equipment, and other measurement tools to perform and validate tests on hardware and systems.
• Interpret wiring diagrams and hardware documentation to support test setup, troubleshooting, and system verification.
• Open and inspect cabinets and assemblies to investigate issues, perform hands‑on troubleshooting, and verify system configurations.
• Document test results, outcomes, and observations, including detailed technical writing of procedures, test instructions, and pass/fail standards.
• Apply relevant military and industry standards, particularly for defense and aerospace applications, during test planning and execution.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to suggest design improvements based on test findings and qualification results.
• Engage in continuous learning to develop new testing methods, improve test coverage, and stay current with evolving technologies.
• Support communications systems racking and telecom‑related testing activities as needed.

Skills

Test engineering

Electro-mechanical testing

Test plans & procedures

Qualification testing

Oscilloscopes

EMC/EMI testing

Wiring diagrams

Lab testing

Python scripting

Microsoft Office

Documentation

Military standards

Electrical engineering

Bachelor's degree

Hands-on testing

System validation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Actalent is seeking a Test Engineer in Burnsville, MN to perform electro‑mechanical testing across product life cycles, from planning through qualification. The role blends hands‑on lab work with rigorous documentation for defense and naval programs.

The ideal candidate has 1–5+ years in test engineering, strong oscilloscope and EMI testing skills, and experience with wiring diagrams and power testing. This is a fully onsite contract position supporting high‑tech testing environments.