Vehicle Safety Test Engineer

Harvey Nash; Newark (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvey Nash is seeking a Vehicle Safety Test Engineer to lead crash testing activities and coordinate cross‑functional teams on vehicle safety programs.

You will set passive safety targets, analyze test data, and ensure standards such as FMVSS, ECE and NCAP are met across development projects.

This role requires 5+ years in vehicle safety testing, a mechanical engineering degree, and up to 30% domestic and 5% international travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above in mechanical engineering or similar field.
• 5+ years of related experience in vehicle safety testing.
• Experience and an understanding of vehicle testing standards (FMVSS, ECE, NCAP, IIHS, etc.).
• Knowledge of vehicle Safety performance targets.
• Good communication and presentation skills.
• Comfortable with initiating and taking ownership of projects.
• Up to 30% domestic and 5% international travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for successful achievement of Vehicle Safety attribute, including Passive Safety relevant legislation and consumer requirements.
• Planning, budget and resource allocation for this program to meet Vehicle Safety test plan.
• Point of contact for program leadership and meetings program testing.
• Report and present to senior stakeholders, such as program management and chief engineer, when called upon in attribute meetings or program meetings.
• Lead structural, exterior, interiors and restraints conceptual design to achieve passive safety targets.
• Perform proof-of-concept tests where required to prove new features and designs.
• Coordinate Vehicle Safety CAE activities related to testing.
• Author and maintain passive safety test timing plan, and report through program DVP.
• Conduct vehicle safety testing as required by vehicle program (including full vehicle crash testing, sub-system and components).
• Attend crash tests at supplier facilities for development and official testing.

Skills

High voltage

Crash testing

Rebuilding cars

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Engineering PC

Job description

- Purpose of the Team: This team focuses on all vehicle safety and crash testing and meet all safety and consumer requirements for Client vehicles.

Compelling Story & Candidate Value Proposition

- This job is varied and no day looks the same. As a Vehicle Safety Test Engineer you will have opportunities to support test engineers and will be operating test equipment and setting up safety tests for Client Vehicles. It is an opportunity to work cross functionally and have ownership of ones work.

Candidate Requirements

• - Years of Experience Required: 5 overall years of experience in the field.
• - Degrees or certifications required: Apprenticeship for technician
• - Disqualifiers: Candidate is not based or willing to relocate to Newark, CA.
• - Best vs. Average: Meets all qualifications
• - Performance Indicators: Performance will be assessed based on meeting deadlines and quality of work.

Top 3 Hard Skills Required + Years of Experience

• 1. Minimum 5 years experience with high voltage.
• 2. Minimum 5 years experience with crash testing and safety for vehicle
• 3. Minimum 5 years experience with rebuilding cars

Hard Skills Assessments

• - Expected Dates that Hard Skills Assessments will be scheduled: ASAP
• - Hard Skills Assessment Process: The assessment process will include two rounds.
• - Required Candidate Preparation: N/A
• - Required Candidate Preparation: N/A
• - Equipment or Software Required: Engineering PC

Leading the future in luxury electric and mobility

At Client, we set out to introduce the most captivating, luxury electric vehicles that elevate the human experience and transcend the perceived limitations of space, performance, and intelligence. Vehicles that are intuitive, liberating, and designed for the future of mobility.

We plan to lead in this new era of luxury electric by returning to the fundamentals of great design – where every decision we make is in service of the individual and environment. Because when you are no longer bound by convention, you are free to define your own experience.

Come work alongside some of the most accomplished minds in the industry. Beyond providing competitive salaries, we’re providing a community for innovators who want to make an immediate and significant impact. If you are driven to create a better, more sustainable future, then this is the right place for you.

The team is responsible for executing, analyzing and reporting on crash and sled tests within required program timelines, primarily focusing on vehicle development, regulatory certification, and consumer crash testing. We seek a Vehicle Safety Test Engineer to work with the Safety Crash Performance team and Technicians to prepare component level, crash vehicles and vehicle bucks for testing.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for successful achievement of Vehicle Safety attribute, including Passive Safety relevant legislation and consumer requirements.
• Planning, budget and resource allocation for this program to meet Vehicle Safety test plan.
• Point of contact for program leadership and meetings program testing.
• Report and present to senior stakeholders, such as program management and chief engineer, when called upon in attribute meetings or program meetings.
• Set the passive safety targets for program with the assistance and approval of the Vehicle Safety Test Manager and Vehicle Safety Performance team.
• Lead structural, exterior, interiors and restraints conceptual design to achieve passive safety targets.
• Perform proof-of-concept tests where required to prove new features and designs.
• Assist in coordinating the Vehicle Safety CAE activities related to testing.
• Author and maintain passive safety test timing plan, and report through program DVP.
• Conduct vehicle safety testing as required by vehicle program (including full vehicle crash testing, sub-system and components).
• Manage preparation and execution of vehicle tests.
• Attend crash tests at supplier facilities for development and official testing.
• Ensure all vehicles and other test material used is representative of design intent, fit for purpose and agreed with organizational stakeholders.
• Organize Vehicle Safety technician support to ensure that all vehicle re-builds, parts and teardowns are done to high standards.
• Work with external test partners to ensure all testing conforms to company procedures, industry best practice and global regulations.
• Perform post-analysis of Safety test data for adherence to target and advise on any departure from expected performance.
• Lead cross-functional engineering teams, the CAE team to establish root cause and solutions to engineering issues.
• Complete engineering report for program tests.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or above in mechanical engineering or similar field.
• 5+ years of related experience
• Experience and an understanding of vehicle testing standards (FMVSS, ECE, NCAP, IIHS, etc.).
• Knowledge of vehicle Safety performance targets.
• Good communication and presentation skills
• Comfortable with initiating and taking ownership of projects.
• Track record of establishing strong processes and work procedures.
• Positive attitude, proactive mentality, responsive and strong work ethic is 100% required.
• Up to 30% domestic and 5% international travel may be required

Preferred:

• Deep understanding of Safety Crash Regulations and Consumer test requirements
• Understanding of HV components
• Familiar with homologation certifications for different markets
• Experience testing high speed and/or quasi static set ups