Materials Engineering Mechanical Test Engineer

Manpower, Inc.; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 103,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and Prescription Plans

Vision Plan

Health Savings Account

Health Flexible Spending Account

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Array

Job summary

ManpowerGroup is seeking a Materials Engineering Mechanical Test Engineer in Foster City, CA. The role involves hands-on testing of materials within a vehicle development environment, using Instron UTMs and CATIA to design fixtures and fixtures for tests.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of mechanical testing experience, knowledge of ASTM/ISO standards, and strong lab documentation habits to ensure data integrity and repeatability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering/Materials Engineering.
• 3-5 years of experience in mechanical testing or vehicle development roles.
• Hands-on experience operating Instron or equivalent UTM systems.
• Working knowledge of ASTM and ISO mechanical test standards.
• Proficiency in CATIA for 3D modeling of fixtures.

Responsibilities

• Operate Instron Universal Testing Machines to run tensile, compression, shear, bend, peel, fatigue and custom tests.
• Set up and execute ASTM and ISO standard tests with consistent, repeatable results.
• Design and build non-standard or custom test setups when needed.
• Select and configure load cells, grips, extensometers, and fixturing for accuracy and repeatability.
• Use CATIA to design test fixtures and support manufacturable designs for fabrication.

Skills

Mechanical testing

Laboratory work

ASTM/ISO standards

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical or Materials Engineering

Tools

Instron UTM systems

CATIA

Job description

Materials Engineering Mechanical Test Engineer

• Reference Number: 414762
• Published Date: 10/14/2026
• Job Type: Temporary
• Industry: Architecture and Engineering
• Hours: Full Time

Our client, a leader in autonomous mobility, is seeking a Materials Engineering Mechanical Test Engineer to join their team. As a Materials Engineering Mechanical Test Engineer, you will be part of the Vehicle Development department supporting Vehicle Integration, Testing & Validation. The ideal candidate will have strong technical judgment, disciplined lab documentation habits, and the ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced engineering environment, which will align successfully in the organization.

Job Title: Materials Engineering Mechanical Test Engineer

Location: Foster City, CA

Pay Range: $70-$75/hour + Benefits

What's the Job?

• Operate Instron Universal Testing Machines (UTMs) to run tensile, compression, shear, bend, peel, fatigue, and custom mechanical tests.
• Set up and execute ASTM and ISO standard tests (including tensile, lap shear, peel, fracture, and compression, bend) with consistent, repeatable results.
• Design and build non-standard or custom test setups when existing standards do not fully fit the test objective.
• Select and configure load cells, grips, extensometers, and fixturing to ensure accurate execution, data integrity, and repeatability.
• Use CATIA (3D CAD) to design custom mechanical test fixtures and support clear, manufacturable designs for in-house or vendor fabrication.

What's Needed?

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering/Materials Engineering or equivalent.
• 3-5 years of experience in mechanical testing, laboratory work, or a Vehicle Development role.
• Hands-on experience operating Instron or equivalent UTM systems.
• Working knowledge of ASTM and ISO mechanical test standards.
• Proficiency in CATIA for 3D modeling of mechanical fixtures, plus experience setting up custom or non-standard mechanical tests.

What's in it for me?

• Work in a hands-on, lab-focused environment supporting materials characterization, failure analysis, and component-level testing.
• Build real-world testing capability by running both standardized ASTM/ISO methods and custom test configurations.
• Contribute to engineering decisions by documenting test conditions, deviations, and observations with high attention to detail.
• Strengthen technical impact by analyzing test data and producing clear, concise reports for engineering teams.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, test methods, and technical documentation to improve accuracy and repeatability across testing activities.

Upon completion of waiting period consultants are eligible for:

• Medical and Prescription Drug Plans
• Vision Plan
• Health Savings Account
• Health Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Business Travel Insurance
• Weekly Pay

About ManpowerGroup, Parent Company of: Manpower, Experis, Talent Solutions, and Jefferson Wells.

ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, Talent Solutions, and Jefferson Wells – creates substantial value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity - as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality and Disability and in 2023 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 14th year - all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.