Mechanical Validation Engineering

Aditi Consulting; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Aditi Consulting in Ann Arbor, MI, seeks a Powertrain Durability Engineer to support light-duty conventional and electrified powertrain calibration, durability testing, and field-issue resolution. You will coordinate vehicle preparation, test execution, technical analysis, and reporting to back engine and transmission performance, emissions, OBD functionality, drivability, and software/hardware validation.

The role collaborates with a cross-functional Powertrain Support team, emissions

Qualifications

• BS degree in mechanical/automotive/electrical engineering or related field.
• Minimum two years in light-duty engine or powertrain development.
• Experience with light-duty ECUs; Bosch preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate vehicle preparation, calibration, and test readiness for powertrain durability testing.
• Monitor test progress, analyze data, and report results to cross-functional teams.
• Support emissions, OBD, drivability, and software/hardware validation activities.
• Escalate risks affecting test quality, safety, or data integrity promptly.
• Prepare technical reports and participate in global status meetings.

Skills

Data acquisition system knowledge

Ability to diagnose a vehicle

2 years of powertrain experience

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical/Automotive/Electrical

Tools

INCA

MATLAB/Simulink

Monaco

Job description

Payrate:

$40.00 - $45.00/hr

Position Summary:

Provide engineering support for light-duty conventional and electrified powertrain calibration, development, durability testing, and field-issue resolution. Coordinate vehicle preparation, test execution, technical analysis, and reporting to support engine and transmission performance, emissions compliance, OBD functionality, drivability, software and hardware validation, and overall vehicle robustness. The role works closely with a large cross-functional Powertrain Support team, emissions laboratories, workshops, test drivers, suppliers, and global engineering partners.

Primary Purpose:

Coordinate and execute powertrain durability testing activities for development vehicles in the United States. The engineer is responsible for generating timely, high-quality test results, maintaining vehicle test readiness, monitoring technical status, identifying and troubleshooting faults, and supporting effective countermeasure validation. The position contributes to the evaluation of conventional and electrified powertrain and drivetrain systems, including calibration, software, hardware, diagnostics, OBD, emissions, and drivability performance

Key Responsibilities:

• Vehicle Preparation and Test Readiness
  • Coordinate preparation of powertrain durability vehicles and confirm that required software, calibration, hardware, instrumentation, and vehicle configurations are installed before testing.
  • Align with calibration, development, workshop, diagnostics, and test-fleet teams regarding vehicle updates, maintenance, repairs, parts, and test prerequisites.
  • Perform or coordinate pre-test performance and functionality checks, including review of diagnostic data, fault memory, readiness, drivability, and vehicle condition.
  • Maintain visibility of vehicle availability, open technical topics, planned updates, and test readiness risks.
• Durability Testing and Mileage Accumulation
  • Coordinate day-to-day execution of mileage accumulation and durability testing in accordance with defined driving profiles, locations, maintenance schedules, and program requirements.
  • Monitor test progress, vehicle usage, driver feedback, downtime, and deviations from the approved test plan.
  • Work with internal teams and external service providers to support efficient test execution, appropriate vehicle handling, and timely completion of assigned activities.
  • Escalate technical or operational risks that may affect test quality, vehicle safety, schedule, or data integrity.
• Emissions, OBD, and Powertrain Testing
  • Coordinate emissions laboratory scheduling, vehicle delivery, test configuration, and receipt of test results.
  • Review emissions and OBD test results for completeness and plausibility, identify irregularities, and coordinate follow-up testing when required.
  • Support investigation and resolution of powertrain, emissions, OBD, drivability, engine, transmission, and electrified powertrain issues identified during durability testing.
  • Collaborate with calibration and component experts to define measurement requirements and confirm test conditions.
• Technical Monitoring, Diagnostics, and Problem Solving
  • Monitor the technical status of assigned vehicles using driver reports, diagnostic tools, measurement data, workshop findings, and test results.
  • Perform first-level technical analysis and support detailed root cause analysis using structured problem-solving methods.
  • Develop, coordinate, and verify countermeasures in cooperation with responsible engineering teams.
  • Coordinate repair activities, parts availability, workshop support, software updates, and effectiveness checks to return vehicles to testing promptly.
  • Document the issue history, analysis, decisions, countermeasures, and validation results in a clear and traceable manner.
• Reporting and Program Coordination
  • Maintain accurate technical and administrative status information in required reports, trackers, and databases.
  • Prepare concise weekly status updates for management and stakeholders, including test progress, open issues, vehicle downtime, decisions, risks, and next steps.
  • Support tracking of relevant key performance indicators such as test progress, vehicle availability, issue closure, downtime, and planned versus actual activity.
  • Participate in internal and global status meetings and communicate effectively with engineering partners across functions and regions.
  • Author clear technical reports and presentations for a broad, global audience.
• Process, Quality, and Supplier Support
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of durability testing, vehicle preparation, issue management, reporting, and cross-functional coordination processes.
  • Support consistent work quality from internal and external partners by clarifying requirements, reviewing deliverables, and identifying process gaps.
  • Contribute to process documentation, corrective actions, lessons learned, audits, and implementation of future test requirements.
  • Promote safe vehicle operation, high-quality data, efficient use of test assets, and compliance with applicable internal procedures.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical, or a related engineering field.
• Minimum two years of experience with light-duty engine or powertrain development, including combustion, emissions control, OBD, drivability, calibration, or durability testing.
• Experience with light-duty engine control units; experience with Bosch control units is strongly preferred.
• Working understanding of light-duty emissions and OBD regulations and their application to vehicle development and testing.
• Proficiency with powertrain development and data-analysis tools such as INCA and MATLAB/Simulink.
• Ability to interpret diagnostic information, measurement data, test results, and vehicle fault reports.
• Ability to conduct structured root cause analysis, develop technical countermeasures, and verify solution effectiveness.
• Strong organization and project-coordination skills, including management of multiple vehicles, priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare concise technical reports for a global audience.
• Ability to work effectively in a large, cross-functional, and intercultural organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with durability fleets, mileage accumulation, proving-ground or public-road testing, and development vehicle operations.
• Knowledge of vehicle architecture, CAN bus systems, ECU communication, powertrain and drivetrain systems, and vehicle diagnostic processes.
• Experience with diagnostic and measurement tools such as Monaco or comparable applications in addition to INCA.
• Experience coordinating emissions laboratory testing, workshops, test drivers, suppliers, or external service providers.
• Familiarity with conventional, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery-electric powertrain systems.
• Experience with technical status reporting, KPI tracking, risk identification, and process improvement.

Top 3 must-have hard skills:

• Data acquisition system knowledge
• Ability to diagnose a vehicle
• 2 years of experience working on powertrain topics

Pay Transparency:

The typical base pay for this role across the U.S. is $40.00 - $45.00/hr. Non-exempt positions are eligible for overtime at a rate of 1.5 times the base hourly rate for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a work week, or as required by state or local law. Final offer amounts, within the base pay set forth above, are determined by factors including your relevant skills, education and experience. Full-time employees are eligible to select from different benefits packages. Packages may include medical, dental, and vision benefits, health savings accounts with qualified medical plan enrollment, 10 paid days off, 3 days paid bereavement leave, 401(k) plan participation with employer match, life and disability insurance, commuter benefits, dependent care flexible spending account, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, accommodations and reimbursement for work travel, and discretionary performance or recognition bonus. Sick leave and mobile phone reimbursement provided based on state or local law.