Test & Development Engineer

Powermatic; La Vergne, Northern (TN, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonuses

Medical, dental, vision

Career development

Team events

Telehealth Day 1

Job summary

JPW Industries in La Vergne, TN seeks a Test & Development Engineer to own the NPD test lab, set priorities, develop a technician, and build fixtures while hands-on with hardware and wiring. Lead tests in durability, vibration, and performance with cross-functional teams.

You will drive test procedures to UL/CSA/ANSI standards, mentor staff, and contribute to design decisions through data-driven insights. On-site role with travel up to 15% across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 7+ years in product test and development engineering, ideally in machinery or power tools.
• End-to-End test programs: designing fixtures, executing tests, delivering data and reports.
• Lab leadership: managing test operations and supervising technicians.

Responsibilities

• Own lab setup, maintenance, calibration, safety, and procurement of test materials.
• Lead NPD test lab priorities, test plans, and data management.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate the test technician.
• Design, build, and validate test fixtures and run durability tests.
• Analyze data, perform root cause investigations, and inform design decisions.
• Present results and recommendations to engineers and project leaders.

Skills

Lab leadership

CAD SolidWorks

Electrical troubleshooting

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Professional La Vergne, TN, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 1368

Location: La Vergne, TN (on-site)

At JPW Industries, we don't just build products, we build careers.

Run the lab where JPW's next generation of machines proves it is ready.

Durability rigs. Load and vibration tests. Thermal and acoustic runs. Competitor teardowns. As our Test & Development Engineer, you will lead the NPD test lab in La Vergne, TN, set its priorities, develop the technician who works alongside you, and still roll up your sleeves to build fixtures, wire up prototypes, and chase down root causes. If you want ownership of a lab and a direct hand in what ships, this is your seat.

With industry-shaping brands like Jet, Powermatic, Wilton, Edwards, Baileigh, and Axiom, JPW is redefining excellence in woodworking and metalworking machinery for professionals worldwide. Our product range is growing, and more of it is electromechanical every year. That means the test lab is central to every new product decision we make, and the engineer who leads it shapes the quality, safety, and performance of machines that professionals rely on every day.

What You Will Own

You will be the go-to owner of product testing for New Product Development, partnering with design engineers and project leaders to turn concepts into validated, market-ready machines.

• The NPD test lab: its setup, equipment, calibration, safety, organization, and the test request queue across every program.

• Test strategy for new products: ground-up procedures with clear pass/fail criteria, built on standards like UL, CSA, and ANSI.

• The development of your test technician, from daily direction to coaching and performance feedback.

• Competitive benchmarking that tells our engineers exactly how we stack up and where we can win.

Your First Year: What Success Looks Like

• The lab runs on a clear, visible priority queue, and NPD project leaders know when their tests will start and finish.

• Test procedures, data, and reports live in organized, current repositories that any engineer can find and trust.

• Fixtures you designed and built are validating new products, and your root cause findings have driven real design changes.

• Your test technician is working more independently, and you have completed at least one full competitive benchmark that informed a product decision.

How You'll Spend Your Time

Lead and Develop

• Own lab setup, maintenance, calibration, safety, and procurement of test materials to keep projects on schedule.

• Set lab priorities, manage the test request queue, and keep test plans, data, and reports organized.

• Supervise, coach, and review the work of the test technician, and remove roadblocks to quality, on-time delivery.

Test and Analyze

• Develop test procedures from the ground up, incorporating UL, CSA, ANSI, and other applicable standards.

• Design, build, and validate test fixtures, from CAD and design review through fabrication.

• Run hands-on durability, load, vibration, thermal, acoustic, and performance testing, then analyze the data and lead root cause investigations.

• Build and troubleshoot circuits, wiring harnesses, and PCBs, and test motors, drives, and controls using oscilloscopes, multimeters, and accelerometers.

• Use AI tools to build test cases, analyze data, and spot failure patterns.

Partner and Influence

• Scope requests with design engineers and project leaders, negotiate priorities, and flag risks early.

• Lead competitive benchmarking teardowns and support concept, prototype, and CAD development.

• Present results and recommendations that shape design decisions.

What You Will Bring: Expertise. Knowledge. Drive.

• Education:Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.

• Experience:7+ years in product test and development engineering, ideally in machinery or power tools.

• End-to-End Test Programs:A proven track record of designing and integrating fixtures, executing test programs, and delivering data analysis and reports from start to finish.

• Lab Leadership:Experience managing test operations and prioritizing test campaigns across multiple projects, plus experience supervising technicians.

• Mechanical Fundamentals:Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals and sound design intuition.

• Electrical Integration:Hands-on experience integrating and troubleshooting electrical systems on electromechanical products.

• CAD:Strong, demonstrable CAD skills (SolidWorks preferred), including 3D models, 2D drawings, and tolerancing.

• Communication:Clear technical writing and the confidence to present results and recommendations to engineers and project leaders.

• Work Location and Travel:This is an on-site role at our La Vergne, TN test lab, with up to 15% travel.

How You Will Show Up: Our "We Are One" Values

At JPW, how you work matters as much as what you deliver. Here is what our values look like in this role:

• Accountability (We Keep Score & Play to Win):You own the lab's schedule and results, and you hold yourself and your team to clear quality, safety, and timeline commitments.

• Problem Solving & Innovation (We Believe in Innovation):You dig past symptoms to true root causes, and you bring new methods, fixtures, and AI tools into the lab to test smarter.

• Communication & Integrity (We Act with Integrity):You report data as it is, flag risks early, and keep stakeholders informed even when the news is not what they hoped.

• Decision Making (We Think Customer First):You set test priorities and pass/fail criteria with the professional end user in mind, because they rely on these machines every day.

• Agility & Resilience (We Keep Score & Play to Win):You balance competing NPD programs, shifting priorities, and tight timelines without losing rigor.

• Collaboration & Inclusion (We Win as a Team):You partner closely with design engineers and project leaders, and you develop your technician to grow alongside you.

Why JPW Industries? Lead. Innovate. Deliver.

At JPW Industries, we invest in our people. When you join our team, you will enjoy:

• Competitive Pay + Annual Bonuses

• Comprehensive Benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, telehealth from Day 1)

• Career Development & Learning Opportunities

• Team Member Appreciation Events

• A Culture That Values Integrity, Teamwork & Innovation

At JPW Industries, we don't just build products, we build careers!

JPW Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.