Test/Qualification Engineer

Actalent; Whippany (NJ); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in Whippany, NJ is seeking a Test/Qualification Engineer to lead qualification and validation for aerospace products and systems. You will develop qualification plans, run tests, analyze results, and ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry standards while supporting manufacturability and reliability.

This onsite role requires hands-on testing, coordination with internal facilities and external labs, and strong collaboration with design, manufacturing, and quality teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, Manufacturing) or related field
• 10+ years in qualification/validation/test engineering or related
• Proven experience developing and executing qualification test plans
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for test data interpretation
• Experience with technical documentation and reports (qualification reports)
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet schedules
• Strong communication skills for presenting findings to cross-functional teams
• Hands-on experience with qualification testing and test engineering activities
• Experience with external test labs and vendor management
• Experience in project engineering/management
• Proficiency with test equipment for environmental, functional, reliability, and performance testing
• Collaborate effectively with design, manufacturing, systems, quality, and project engineering teams

Responsibilities

• Develop qualification plans, protocols, procedures, and test reports for products, systems, and processes
• Define qualification requirements based on customer specs, regulatory guidelines, and industry standards
• Support and lead qualification programs from planning through completion
• Coordinate testing with internal facilities and external labs
• Ensure qualification activities meet schedule and program constraints
• Develop test methods and acceptance criteria for environmental, functional, reliability, performance testing
• Execute or oversee tests and ensure accurate data collection
• Support qualification efforts including shock, vibration, thermal cycling, and environmental testing
• Analyze results for compliance and identify deviations or nonconformances
• Identify failures and risks, communicate findings to stakeholders
• Conduct root-cause investigations and lead corrective actions
• Generate qualification reports and compliance documentation
• Present findings to engineering, quality, and management
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, systems, quality, and project engineers
• Provide qualification input and risk assessments for design reviews
• Recommend improvements for performance, reliability, manufacturability
• Participate in failure review boards and risk assessments
• Maintain compliance with standards and keep records up to date
• Support audits, customer reviews, and regulatory inspections
• Monitor design/process changes that affect qualification states
• Manage multiple qualification and test projects simultaneously

Skills

Test engineering

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Vendor management

Environmental testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Test equipment

Environmental chambers

DAQ systems

Job description

Job Title: Test/Qualification Engineer

Job Description

The Test/Qualification Engineer leads qualification and validation activities for complex aerospace products, systems, and processes. This role develops and executes comprehensive qualification plans and test programs, analyzes results to ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry standards, and provides cross-functional support to enhance product performance, reliability, and manufacturability. The position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge electromechanical actuators and control electronics for commercial and military applications within a dynamic, growth-oriented aerospace business unit.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed qualification plans, protocols, procedures, and test reports for products, systems, and processes.

• Define qualification requirements based on customer specifications, regulatory guidelines, and applicable industry standards.

• Support and lead product, system, and process qualification programs from planning through completion.

• Coordinate qualification testing activities with internal test facilities and external laboratories to ensure timely execution.

• Ensure all qualification activities are completed on schedule and within defined program requirements and constraints.

• Develop test methods, procedures, and acceptance criteria for environmental, functional, reliability, performance, and stress testing.

• Execute or oversee environmental, functional, reliability, performance, and stress tests, ensuring accurate and reliable data collection.

• Support qualification efforts including shock and vibration testing, thermal cycling, environmental testing, reliability testing, functional verification, and design validation testing.

• Analyze qualification test results to determine compliance with requirements and identify any deviations or nonconformances.

• Identify failures, trends, and risks based on test outcomes and performance data, and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders.

• Conduct root cause investigations and lead or support corrective action activities to resolve qualification-related issues.

• Generate clear and comprehensive qualification reports and compliance documentation for internal and external use.

• Present technical findings, test results, and recommendations to engineering, quality, and management teams in a concise and effective manner.

• Collaborate closely with design, manufacturing, systems, quality, and project engineers to ensure integrated qualification strategies.

• Support engineering design reviews and program milestones by providing qualification input and risk assessments.

• Provide recommendations to improve product performance, reliability, and manufacturability based on test insights and engineering analysis.

• Participate in failure review boards and risk assessment activities to drive continuous improvement and mitigate future issues.

• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable standards, specifications, and qualification requirements throughout the product lifecycle.

• Maintain accurate qualification records, test data, and technical documentation in accordance with company and regulatory requirements.

• Support audits, customer reviews, and regulatory inspections by providing qualification evidence and documentation.

• Monitor changes to designs, processes, and configurations that could impact qualified states and ensure appropriate requalification or documentation updates.

• Manage multiple qualification and test projects simultaneously, balancing priorities and meeting program deadlines.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

• 10+ years of experience in qualification, validation, test engineering, reliability engineering, or product development.

• Proven experience developing and executing qualification test plans for complex products or systems.

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills applied to test data interpretation, failure analysis, and risk assessment.

• Experience with technical documentation and report writing, including qualification reports and compliance documentation.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet schedule and program requirements.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills for presenting technical findings to cross‑functional teams.

• Hands‑on experience with qualification testing and test engineering activities.

• Experience with vendor management related to external test laboratories and qualification services.

• Experience in project engineering or project management within an engineering or test environment.

• Proficiency in working with test equipment and tools used for environmental, functional, reliability, and performance testing.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with design, manufacturing, systems, quality, and project engineering teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace applications, particularly electromechanical actuators and control electronics for commercial and military platforms.

• Experience supporting design validation testing and functional verification of electronic control systems.

• Ability to provide recommendations to improve product performance, reliability, and manufacturability based on qualification results.

• Experience participating in failure review boards and conducting structured root cause investigations.

• Familiarity with industry standards and regulatory requirements relevant to aerospace qualification and validation.

• Strong organizational skills for maintaining qualification records, technical documentation, and configuration control.

• Comfort working within integrated manufacturing environments and active business unit teams focused on growth and innovation.

• Interest in growing technical skills and career within a dynamic aerospace engineering and manufacturing setting.

Work Environment

This role is fully onsite and requires presence at the facility every workday due to the essential hands‑on nature of the qualification and test activities. The standard schedule is an 8-hour workday, 5 days per week. The work takes place in a dynamic aerospace environment that designs and manufactures electromechanical actuators and control electronics for commercial and military applications. The facility is a fully integrated manufacturing operation where engineering, production, and test teams collaborate closely to support active aerospace business unit programs. The culture emphasizes taking responsibility for business success, acting quickly to implement new ideas and projects, and driving company growth through innovation and continuous improvement. The dress code is casual, providing a comfortable setting for both office‑based engineering work and interaction with test and manufacturing areas.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Whippany, NJ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $90.00/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 Whippany,NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 28, 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.