Manufacturing Test Engineer

Actalent; Lathrop (CA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) retirement plan

PTO / Time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Manufacturing Test Engineer to own the testing and validation of wire harness builds. You will focus on continuity and high-potential testing, programming harness test equipment for specific configurations, and working with Design Engineers to translate requirements into practical test setups and procedures.

You will perform, interpret, and qualify hipot tests to ensure electrical integrity and safety, calibrate test equipment, and troubleshoot issues across harness, setup,

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with wire harnesses and electrical testing in a manufacturing environment required.
• Strong knowledge of continuity and hipot testing for wire harnesses.
• Ability to program/test harness configurations and interpret results.
• Familiarity with IPC/WHMA-A-620 and high-voltage safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Own testing and validation of wire harness builds with emphasis on continuity and hipot testing.
• Program harness test equipment for specific configurations.
• Translate test requirements from design engineers into practical setups and procedures.
• Perform and interpret continuity and hipot tests to verify electrical integrity and safety.
• Qualify and calibrate test equipment to ensure accurate and repeatable results.
• Troubleshoot failures across harness, test setup, and equipment to identify root causes.
• Collaborate with process engineering, design, and manufacturing for robust testing practices.
• Contribute as a foundational expert in developing a new high-impact manufacturing process.

Skills

Harness testing

Hipot testing

Electrical testing

Test equipment programming

Troubleshooting

IPC/WHMA-620 knowledge

Impedance knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Cirris harness tester

Test equipment

Electrical test instruments

Job description

The Manufacturing Test Engineer plays a key role in a new, high-impact wire harness manufacturing process by owning the testing and validation aspects of harness builds. This role focuses on continuity and high-potential (hipot) testing to ensure that every harness is properly tested, qualified, and ready to be released as a high-quality, safe product. You will work closely with design and process engineering teams, combining hands-on work with test equipment programming and configuration rather than traditional software coding.

Job Title: Manufacturing Test Engineer

Responsibilities

• Own the testing and validation side of the wire harness build process, with a strong focus on continuity and high-potential (hipot) testing.
• Program harness test equipment for specific harness configurations to ensure thorough and accurate coverage of all electrical connections.
• Work closely with Design Engineers to determine appropriate testing requirements and translate them into practical test setups and procedures.
• Perform and interpret continuity and high-potential tests on wire harnesses to verify electrical integrity and safety.
• Understand and apply knowledge of wire interconnects and electrical characteristics such as impedance and insertion loss when defining and evaluating tests.
• Qualify and calibrate test equipment on a regular basis to ensure accurate, repeatable, and reliable measurement results.
• Apply a strong understanding of wire harness manufacturing fundamentals and quality requirements throughout the testing process.
• Troubleshoot test failures and determine whether issues originate from the harness itself, the test setup, the test equipment, or the underlying design requirements.
• Use test engineering, validation, and test development practices to improve test coverage and robustness for harness manufacturing.
• Collaborate across disciplines with process engineering, design, and manufacturing teams to support a cohesive and efficient production environment.
• Contribute as a foundational expert in the development and refinement of a brand-new, high-impact manufacturing process.

Essential Skills

• Strong hands-on experience with wire harnesses and electrical testing in a manufacturing environment.
• Deep understanding of continuity testing and high-potential (hipot) testing for wire harnesses.
• Solid knowledge of wire interconnects and electrical properties of cable construction, including impedance and insertion loss.
• Experience programming and configuring harness test equipment for specific harness configurations.
• Ability to perform, understand, and interpret continuity and high-potential tests to ensure product quality and safety.
• Experience qualifying and calibrating test equipment to maintain accurate and reliable test results.
• Understanding of the fundamentals and quality requirements associated with wire harness manufacturing.
• Ability to troubleshoot test failures and identify root causes across harness design, test setup, and equipment.
• Familiarity with harness continuity testing and high-potential testing as critical quality and safety checks.
• Strong understanding of wire harness standards and applicable electrical and high-voltage safety standards, particularly IPC/WHMA-A-620.
• Comfort working in a role that combines hardware, test equipment, and test programming rather than traditional software development.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Cirris or similar harness testers is highly valuable.
• Background in automotive, aerospace, or similar electrical manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.
• Printed circuit board (PCB) experience can be valuable when gained in automotive or aerospace contexts.
• Experience in semiconductor manufacturing is not the primary target Background for this role.
• Exposure to test equipment, software testing, test engineering, validation, and test development is beneficial.
• Ability to program harness test equipment and configure appropriate tests without relying on specific programming languages such as Python or C++.
• Familiarity with relevant electrical and high-voltage safety standards used in wire harness manufacturing.
• Hands-on, adaptable, and collaborative working style, comfortable operating across multiple disciplines.
• Interest in being a foundational expert in a brand-new, high-impact manufacturing process.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Lathrop, CA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $60.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 31, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Lathrop, CA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.