Wind Tunnel Test Technician - Day Shift

Actalent; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

HSA

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Actalent in Dearborn, MI is seeking an Engineering Technician for our Wind Tunnel Laboratory to support vehicle testing with advanced instrumentation and sensors.

This contract onsite role focuses on preparing vehicles, collecting data, maintaining test systems, and ensuring safety and compliance. You will work closely with engineers to drive efficient, reliable wind tunnel campaigns.

Qualifications

• Experience installing sensors and instrumentation for test setups.
• Ability to operate and calibrate wind tunnel test systems.
• Strong attention to safety procedures and data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Prepare vehicles for wind tunnel testing by installing sensors and instrumentation.
• Collaborate with engineers to run aerodynamic and powertrain tests and collect data.
• Restore vehicles to original configuration after testing.
• Support maintenance and calibration of test systems and facility equipment.
• Ensure compliance with procedures and standards.
• Interface with internal customers to understand test objectives and data needs.
• Assist with test automation and efficiency improvements.
• Lead diagnostics for test system issues.
• Stay current on test standards and develop methods.
• Develop safe plans of action for all activities.
• Work with EH&S representatives to ensure compliance.

Skills

Instrumentation setup

Data collection

Test calibration

Safety compliance

Lab teamwork

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Job description

Engineering Technician – Wind Tunnel Laboratory

Job Description

The Engineering Technician will work onsite in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel complex, preparing vehicles with specialized instrumentation, supporting aerodynamic, powertrain cooling, and fuel efficiency testing, and ensuring the facility and test systems are ready and operating reliably.

Responsibilities

• Prepare vehicles for wind tunnel testing by installing sensors and other instrumentation prior to test execution.

• Collaborate with engineers to run aerodynamic, powertrain cooling, and fuel efficiency tests on vehicles and ensure accurate data collection.

• Remove vehicles and all associated instrumentation after testing has been completed, restoring vehicles to their original configuration as required.

• Support maintenance and calibration activities for test systems, instrumentation, and facility equipment to ensure wind tunnel readiness for product development testing.

• Serve as a technical resource for the facility’s quality system, helping maintain compliance with established procedures and standards.

• Interface with internal customers to understand test objectives, develop appropriate test strategies, and collect and analyze data to meet customer needs.

• Support efficiency improvement initiatives, including test automation and lights-out testing strategies, to increase throughput and reduce manual effort.

• Lead diagnostics and troubleshooting for test system issues, test instrumentation problems, and facility infrastructure concerns.

• Stay current on relevant test standards and contribute to the development and refinement of test methods as needed.

• Develop and enforce safe plans of action for all test and facility activities, promoting a strong safety culture.

• Work with Environmental, Health, & Safety representatives to ensure compliance with all applicable guidelines and procedures.

• Operate and support laboratory equipment such as dynos, load boxes, shunts, pressure transducers, thermocouples, and flow measurement devices.

• Perform instrumentation setup, calibration, and verification to ensure accurate and reliable test data.

• Handle prototype components and test setups with care and precision in a lab environment.

• Document test setups, procedures, and results clearly and accurately using computer-based tools.

Work Environment

The environment is safety-focused, and collaborative, with close interaction between technicians, engineers, and Environmental, Health, & Safety representatives. Work is performed in a lab and test facility setting, where appropriate lab attire and adherence to safety protocols are expected

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of DEARBORN, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $25.00 - $30.00/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 DEARBORN,MI.

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 subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.