Test & Validation Engineer – Chassis & Powertrain

ALTEN Technology USA; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking an experienced Test & Validation Engineer to support chassis and powertrain testing. You will develop validation plans, configure test setups, and analyze data to ensure durability, reliability, and performance across automotive components and systems.

The role requires hands-on lab work with servo-hydraulic systems, MTS/MOOG equipment, and instrumentation like load cells, LVDTs, and accelerometers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level engineering degree required (Mechanical/Electrical/Automotive).
• 1–3 years in automotive testing, validation, durability, or lab environments.
• Hands-on experience with component or system-level testing.
• Strong understanding of vehicle suspension and chassis systems.
• Working knowledge of powertrain systems (ICE and electric).
• Experience with lab instrumentation: load cells, LVDTs, accelerometers.
• Proven ability to analyze time-history and road-load data.
• Strong troubleshooting, analysis, and communication skills.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute validation tests for components, subsystems, vehicles, and powertrains per DVP&R requirements.
• Create test plans, procedures, profiles, and schedules for tests.
• Configure and operate lab equipment including load cells, LVDTs, accelerometers; collect data.
• Support fatigue, durability, vibration, and road-load testing at multiple levels.
• Setup tests with servo-hydraulic systems and real-time/block-cycle testing.
• Troubleshoot and support MTS/MOOG systems and closed-loop control applications.
• Analyze data and correlate test results with CAE and vehicle data.
• Prepare reports, document findings, and communicate recommendations to teams.
• Lead lab personnel during test execution and ensure schedule adherence.

Skills

Test & Validation

Chassis & Powertrain

Automotive Testing

Durability Testing

Vibration Testing

Servo-Hydraulics

Instrumentation

Load Cells

LVDTs

Accelerometers

LabVIEW

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical, Electrical, or Automotive Engineering

Tools

MTS

MOOG

Servo-Hydraulics

LabVIEW

nCode

MARS

Somat

RPC

AutoCAD

Job description

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company that provides solutions for engineering, technology, and product development projects. For decades, we’ve been helping our clients develop products that are changing the world, whether that’s by shaping the future of space exploration, saving lives with medical devices that set a new standard of care, or creating the fully autonomous electric taxi of tomorrow. Our team of more than 600 people works across industries including aerospace, medical devices and life sciences, unmanned systems and robotics, automotive OEM and tier 1 suppliers, commercial vehicle, electric vehicles, rail, and more. Our offices across the US have different industry focuses and engage with our clients in different ways, ranging from working on-site at client facilities to performing product development at our delivery centers.

ALTEN Group, our parent company, has been a leader in engineering and information technology for more than 30 years. ALTEN Group operates in 30 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East and employs more than 36,000 people, 88% of whom are engineers. The company covers the whole development cycle and offers a choice of service levels, from technology consulting to complete project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you join a group of people passionate about collaborating to solve some of the world’s most technical engineering challenges. Our success is tied to taking care of our employees by building relationships and providing opportunities for mentorship and career growth. We offer comprehensive benefits for all full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) plan with employer matching; paid time off (PTO); paid parental leave; and mentorship to help you take your career to the next level. You don’t have to take our word for it that we are a great place to work—we were named on the 2023 Top Workplaces list thanks to feedback from our proud employees.

We are seeking an experienced Test & Validation Engineer – Chassis & Powertrain to support the development, execution, and analysis of automotive component, system-level, and powertrain testing. This role will be responsible for ensuring components and vehicle systems meet durability, reliability, performance, and validation requirements.

The engineer will work closely with Test Engineering, Release Engineering, CAE, Design, and Manufacturing teams to develop test plans, configure test setups, execute validation activities, analyze test data, and resolve test-related issues.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with automotive testing, suspension/chassis systems, laboratory instrumentation, durability testing, and servo-hydraulic test systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute component, subsystem, vehicle, and powertrain validation tests in accordance with DVP&R requirements.
• Develop test plans, test procedures, test profiles, and test schedules/block cycles.
• Set up and operate laboratory test equipment and instrumentation, including load cells, LVDTs, strain gauges, accelerometers, and data acquisition systems.
• Support fatigue, durability, vibration, and road-load testing at both component and system levels.
• Develop and execute tests using servo-hydraulic systems, including real-time and block-cycle testing.
• Configure, troubleshoot, and support MTS/MOOG test systems and closed-loop control applications.
• Analyze physical and virtual road-load/time-history data and correlate test results with CAE and vehicle data.
• Develop test profiles including block cycles, fatigue profiles, vibration/PSD profiles, and other system-level test inputs.
• Design and support fabrication of test fixtures for component, subsystem, powertrain, fatigue, and vibration testing.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings and apply GD&T and precision measurement techniques when developing test setups and fixtures.
• Perform instrumentation setup, calibration, verification, and troubleshooting.
• Monitor active test programs and ensure testing is completed according to schedule, specifications, and quality requirements.
• Lead and coordinate laboratory personnel and support teams during test execution.
• Investigate test failures and perform root cause analysis to identify and resolve test or product issues.
• Support replication of field failures through laboratory testing and develop appropriate test methods to reproduce failure conditions.
• Prepare test reports, analyze results, document findings, and communicate recommendations to engineering teams.
• Collaborate with CAE and Release Engineering teams to improve test methods and achieve effective test/CAE correlation.
• Support continuous improvement of laboratory processes, test methods, instrumentation, and validation procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 1–3 years of experience in automotive testing, validation, durability, or engineering laboratory environments.
• Hands-on experience with automotive component or system-level testing.
• Strong understanding of vehicle suspension and chassis systems.
• Working knowledge of automotive powertrain systems, including ICE and electric drive systems.
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation such as:
• Load cells
• LVDTs
• Accelerometers
• Experience analyzing time-history and road-load data from physical or virtual vehicle testing.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and root-cause problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering and laboratory teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with MTS or MOOG servo-hydraulic test systems.
• Experience with servo-hydraulic closed-loop and real-time testing.
• Experience with servo-loop tuning and test-sequence development.
• Experience developing fatigue, durability, vibration, block-cycle, and PSD test profiles.
• Experience with metallic and rubber fatigue testing.
• Experience designing or developing test fixtures for component and system-level testing.
• Experience with LabVIEW, Teamcenter, AutoCAD, or similar engineering tools.
• Experience with nCode, MARS, Somat, RPC, or similar test-data analysis systems.
• Knowledge of test-data processing, damage calculations, and CAE/test correlation.
• Knowledge of GD&T, engineering drawings, and precision measurement equipment.
• Experience coordinating or supervising laboratory technicians or hourly test personnel.
• Experience with field-failure investigation and laboratory failure replication.
• Experience with vibration testing and correlation methodologies.

Key Skills

Automotive Validation | DVP&R | Suspension & Chassis Testing | Durability Testing | Fatigue Testing | Vibration Testing | Road-Load Data | Time-History Analysis | MTS | MOOG | Servo-Hydraulics | Instrumentation | Load Cells | LVDTs | Strain Gauges | LabVIEW | nCode | MARS | Somat | RPC | Test Fixture Design | Root Cause Analysis | CAE/Test Correlation

ALTEN Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Policy is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.