Test Engineer

Actalent; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 44,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick)

Onsite lab facilities

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Test Engineer – Electric Drive Powertrain Lab in Peoria, IL, to plan, execute, and analyze performance and endurance tests on motors, generators, and power electronics within a dedicated powertrain lab environment.

You will collaborate with Design, Simulation, and Controls teams, develop test plans, analyze data, and deliver technical reports to support new product introductions and field investigations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• At least 1 year of engineering experience, including internship or academic project work.
• Hands-on mechanical or electrical testing experience in a lab or test environment.
• Experience with test and validation projects, including planning, execution, and documentation.
• Data acquisition experience using common DAQ systems to capture and analyze test data.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed test plans in collaboration with Design, Simulation, and Controls teams for electric drive components.
• Define test conditions, instrumentation, data requirements, and acceptance criteria for motors, generators, and power electronics.
• Coordinate modification and instrumentation of motors, generators, and DUTs.
• Execute performance and endurance testing in a powertrain lab environment, ensuring all test conditions are met.
• Set up, operate, and monitor test equipment and data acquisition systems to collect high-quality data.
• Analyze test data, identify trends and issues, and summarize results to provide technical recommendations.
• Prepare and deliver technical reports, presentations, and documentation for cross-functional engineering teams.
• Troubleshoot test issues, diagnose root causes, and implement effective resolutions.
• Support new product introduction activities by validating new designs and components against requirements.
• Contribute to continuous product improvement initiatives and support investigations of field returns.
• Lead or assist with weekly project update meetings, communicating status, risks, and next steps.
• Manage a workload of one to two active projects while contributing to three to four projects per year.
• Collaborate closely with senior engineers and other stakeholders to align test activities with the product development lifecycle.
• Maintain a safe, organized lab and shop environment while handling mechanical and electrical test setups.

Skills

Lab testing

Data acquisition

Motors & powertrain

CAN tools

Team collaboration

Technical reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

DAQ systems

CAN tools

Power electronics knowledge

Job description

Job Title: Test Engineer – Electric Drive Powertrain LabJob Description

This role focuses on testing and validating electric drive components within a powertrain laboratory environment. You will plan, execute, and analyze performance and endurance tests on motors, generators, and power electronics, working closely with Design, Simulation, and Controls teams. The position supports new product introductions, continuous product improvement initiatives, and field return investigations, typically managing one to two projects at a time while contributing to three to four projects per year.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed test plans in collaboration with Design, Simulation, and Controls teams for electric drive components.

• Define test conditions, instrumentation, data requirements, and acceptance criteria for motors, generators, and power electronics.

• Coordinate the modification and instrumentation of motors, generators, and power electronics devices under test (DUTs).

• Execute performance and endurance testing in a powertrain lab environment, ensuring all test conditions are met.

• Set up, operate, and monitor test equipment and data acquisition systems to collect high-quality, reliable data.

• Analyze test data, identify trends and issues, and summarize results to provide clear technical recommendations.

• Prepare and deliver technical reports, presentations, and documentation for cross-functional engineering teams.

• Troubleshoot test issues, diagnose root causes, and work cross-functionally to implement effective resolutions.

• Support new product introduction activities by validating new designs and components against requirements.

• Contribute to continuous product improvement initiatives and support investigations of field returns.

• Lead or assist with weekly project update meetings, communicating status, risks, and next steps.

• Manage a typical workload of one to two active projects while helping the team complete approximately three to four projects per year.

• Collaborate closely with senior engineers and other stakeholders to align test activities with the product development lifecycle.

• Maintain a safe, organized lab and shop environment while handling mechanical and electrical test setups.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering.

• At least 1 year of experience in a relevant engineering role; internship and academic project experience may count toward this requirement.

• Hands‑on mechanical or electrical testing experience in a lab or test environment.

• Experience with test and validation projects, including planning, execution, and documentation.

• Data acquisition experience using common DAQ systems to capture and analyze test data.

• Experience working with motors, generators, power electronics, or other powertrain components.

• Familiarity with CAN tools and protocols such as CANape, CANalyzer, and J1939.

• Understanding of the product development lifecycle, including design, validation, and implementation phases.

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to coordinate meetings and collaborate across teams.

• Demonstrated mechanical or electrical aptitude with the ability to work safely around test equipment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Openness to candidates who are recent graduates with approximately 1 year of combined internship and project experience.

• Exposure to mechanical systems such as pumps and hydraulics.

• Background or interest in powertrain or engine-related systems.

• Experience or hobbies related to engines, automotive systems, or similar technical projects.

• Familiarity with mechanical design concepts and test engineering methodologies.

• Experience creating and executing structured test plans using standard test equipment.

Work Environment

The role is based at a technical center within a dedicated powertrain and electric drive laboratory. The work environment typically consists of approximately 30% desk-based activities, such as data analysis, report writing, and meetings, and about 70% lab or shop-based activities, including test setup, instrumentation, and hands‑on work with motors, generators, and power electronics. You will work with data acquisition systems, CAN tools, and a variety of mechanical and electrical test equipment in a collaborative setting alongside senior engineers and cross‑functional teams.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Peoria, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $32.00 - $34.00/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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Peoria,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 24, 2026.

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.