Test Engineer II

Specialized Bicycle Components; Morgan Hill (CA); On-site; USD 93,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and Vision plans

401(k) Company Matching

Life, AD&D and Disability Insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Career development support

Job summary

Specialized Bicycle Components in Morgan Hill, California is seeking a hands-on Validation Engineer to drive risk assessment, test development, and failure investigations for new products and production readiness.

You will collaborate with Field Quality, Design, and Product teams to validate validation criteria, design robust tests, and maintain lab equipment, while traveling to coordinate with teams in Europe and Asia. Strong data analysis and CAD/GD&T skills are required.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of experience in test development or data acquisition and analysis; equivalent within FEA, Quality Engineering, or Mechanical Design Engineering may be considered.
• Balance established test methods with new approaches when emerging product risks require innovation.
• Experience investigating complex failure modes and translating field observations into repeatable laboratory validation methods.
• Strong technical judgment to assess risk, interpret results, and recommend validation criteria and next steps.
• Familiar with data acquisition and analysis using strain gauges, load cells, potentiometers, and accelerometers.
• Familiar with PLC logic and PID feedback loops.
• Experience managing competing priorities among Design, Quality, and project timelines.
• Proficient with fixture design and rapid prototyping, including CAD, GD&T, and basic milling/lathe machining.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to four times per year to collaborate with teams in Europe and Asia.

Responsibilities

• Identify and mitigate risk for new products by developing validation plans and adapting existing test methods, or creating new approaches when needed.
• Evaluate product readiness for production by analyzing test results, assessing rider and business risk, and recommending additional testing or validation activities when required.
• Work closely with Field Quality and Design teams to reduce warranty claims and increase rider satisfaction.
• Partner with Design Engineering, Quality, and Product teams to identify validation requirements, communicate technical findings, and recommend risk mitigation actions.
• Conduct structured failure investigations by analyzing field issues, identifying contributing factors, and developing lab-based test approaches to reproduce failures.
• Lead the replication of complex field failures using test methods and investigative approaches of your own design, while collaborating with peers to validate findings and conclusions.
• Analyze testing and failure data to identify probable root causes, determine whether changing failure modes require revised validation criteria, and recommend appropriate test strategies.
• Reach across product categories and teams to provide broader technical context, helping teams learn from validation challenges, failure modes, and quality issues encountered elsewhere in the organization.
• Collaborate with Field Quality to correlate laboratory results with warranty and field performance data.
• Recommend alternative testing methodologies to Design teams by leveraging Specialized's full library of validation methods and institutional knowledge.
• Aid in developing new test machines and own and maintain existing test equipment.
• Modify and adapt existing test methodologies to address new product configurations, evolving design risks, and validation requirements.
• Create new test methods for unique product risks, delivering quantifiable data that supports engineering and product decisions.

Skills

Test development

Data acquisition

FEA experience

Quality engineering

Mechanical design

Risk assessment

Validation methods

Technical judgment

Travel readiness

Tools

CAD

GD&T

Milling

Lathe

Job description

• Identify and mitigate areas of risk for new products by developing validation plans, adapting existing test methods, or creating new approaches when needed.
• Evaluate product readiness for production by analyzing test results, assessing rider and business risk, and recommending additional testing or validation activities when required.
• Work closely with Field Quality and Design teams to reduce warranty claims and increase rider satisfaction.
• Partner with Design Engineering, Quality, and Product teams to identify validation requirements, communicate technical findings, and recommend risk mitigation actions.
• Conduct structured failure investigations by analyzing field issues, identifying contributing factors, and developing lab-based test approaches to reproduce failures.
• Lead the replication of complex field failures using test methods and investigative approaches of your own design, while collaborating with peers to validate findings and conclusions.
• Analyze testing and failure data to identify probable root causes, determine whether changing failure modes require revised validation criteria, and recommend appropriate test strategies.
• Reach across product categories and teams to provide broader technical context, helping teams learn from validation challenges, failure modes, and quality issues encountered elsewhere in the organization.
• Collaborate with Field Quality to correlate laboratory results with warranty and field performance data.
• Recommend alternative testing methodologies to Design teams by leveraging Specialized's full library of validation methods and institutional knowledge.
• Own and maintain existing test equipment.
• Modify and adapt existing test methodologies to address new product configurations, evolving design risks, and validation requirements.
• Create new test methods for unique product risks, delivering quantifiable data that supports engineering and product decisions.

How You'll Make a Difference

• Identify and mitigate areas of risk for new products by developing validation plans, adapting existing test methods, or creating new approaches when needed.
• Evaluate product readiness for production by analyzing test results, assessing rider and business risk, and recommending additional testing or validation activities when required.
• Work closely with Field Quality and Design teams to reduce warranty claims and increase rider satisfaction.
• Partner with Design Engineering, Quality, and Product teams to identify validation requirements, communicate technical findings, and recommend risk mitigation actions.
• Conduct structured failure investigations by analyzing field issues, identifying contributing factors, and developing lab-based test approaches to reproduce failures.
• Lead the replication of complex field failures using test methods and investigative approaches of your own design, while collaborating with peers to validate findings and conclusions.
• Analyze testing and failure data to identify probable root causes, determine whether changing failure modes require revised validation criteria, and recommend appropriate test strategies.
• Reach across product categories and teams to provide broader technical context, helping teams learn from validation challenges, failure modes, and quality issues encountered elsewhere in the organization.
• Collaborate with Field Quality to correlate laboratory results with warranty and field performance data.
• Recommend alternative testing methodologies to Design teams by leveraging Specialized's full library of validation methods and institutional knowledge.
• Aid in developing new test machines.
• Own and maintain existing test equipment.
• Modify and adapt existing test methodologies to address new product configurations, evolving design risks, and validation requirements.
• Create new test methods for unique product risks, delivering quantifiable data that supports engineering and product decisions.

What You Need To Win

• 2-4 years of experience in test development or data acquisition and analysis. Equivalent experience in FEA, Quality Engineering, or Mechanical Design Engineering may be considered with appropriate technical skills. This is not a "behind the desk" job.
• Demonstrated ability to balance the use of established test methods with the development of new approaches when emerging product risks require innovative solutions.
• Experience investigating complex failure modes and translating field observations into repeatable laboratory validation methods.
• Strong technical judgment with the ability to assess risk, interpret test results, and recommend appropriate validation criteria and next steps.
• Familiar with data acquisition and analysis concepts using strain gauges, load cells, potentiometers, and accelerometers.
• Familiar with feedback control systems such as PLC logic and PID feedback loops.
• Experience managing competing priorities among Design, Quality, and project timeline requirements.
• Proficient with fixture design and rapid prototyping, including CAD, GD&T, and basic manual machining tools such as mills and lathes.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to four times per year and maintain a flexible schedule to collaborate effectively with teams in Europe and Asia.

Pay

Below is a summary of compensation elements for this role at the company if based in the following locations:

California Base Pay Range: $93,000 - 128,000

At Specialized, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package and will depend on your work experience, skills, certification, and location.

LOCATION

• Morgan Hill, CA (4 days in office)

Benefits

As a full-time, regular teammate, you are eligible for the following benefits, beginning the first of the month following your start date.

Benefits Include

• Competitive pay with annual performance-based reviews for continued growth and recognition
• Comprehensive healthcare plan options, including PPO, EPO, HDHP, and HMO (acupuncture and physical therapy included)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer HSA contributions when enrolled in the High-Deductible Healthcare Plan (HDHP)
• Dental and Vision plans
• 401(k) Company Matching up to $5,000 annually with immediate 100% vesting and administrative fees paid for by the company
• Company-paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program that provides access to individualized mental well-being care
• Generous Vacation, Sick, Paid Holidays, and Volunteer Time Off
• 14 weeks of 100% paid leave for birthing parents and 8 weeks of 100% paid leave for non-birthing parents, plus a Specialized bike for your new baby
• Up to $9,000 annually in Career Development & Degree Assistance
• Up to $250 annually in Fitness & Wellness ReimbursementIndustry Pro-Deal Discounts and Perks

For additional information on benefits and perks, please visit:https://benefits.specialized.com.

We want to increase representation of all races, genders, and body types in the cycling industry and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where all people thrive.

We encourage everyone – especially those from marginalized groups – to apply to our job postings and help us earn the position as the rider’s brand of choice.

We are always looking for creative, innovative, and passionate people who are eager to contribute to our mission of pedaling the planet forward.