Role Overview
The Senior Test Development Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing complex automated test solutions for functional and structural testing. This role requires a strong technical foundation in both hardware and software integration, providing technical guidance to project teams while ensuring high-quality test coverage and manufacturing stability.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Execution & Mentorship
- Act as a technical lead for specific test development projects, providing guidance and peer reviews for junior engineers.
- Implement and adhere to established best known methods (BKMs) and processes for test development and execution.
- Stay current with industry trends and technologies to recommend improvements for local test platforms and methodologies.
- Contribute to the development of internal technical standards and documentation.
Project & Task Management
- Lead the technical execution of mid-sized projects, ensuring all engineering milestones and timelines are met.
- Assist in the creation of technical proposals, including contributing to Bill of Materials (BOM) selection, labor hour estimates, and schedule planning.
- Translate product design specifications and technical data into detailed test requirements with minimal supervision.
- Coordinate the local deployment of test solutions and support global deployment efforts as needed.
- Interface with vendors to specify and procure components for test systems.
Test Solution Development & Implementation
- Develop comprehensive functional test plans and strategies based on project requirements and coverage targets.
- Design and integrate complete test solutions, including custom hardware interfaces and automated software sequences.
- Develop robust test software using C++, LabVIEW, and TestStand, focusing on modularity, instrument control, and pneumatic automation.
- Design hardware components for functional testers, including power distribution, relay logic, battery simulation, and integration of multi-meters and oscilloscopes.
- Validate and qualify test solutions using statistical methods (e.g., GR&R, Cp/Cpk) to ensure measurement stability.
- Optimize test solutions for the manufacturing floor, focusing on cycle time reduction, yield improvement, and tester uptime.
Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Debug complex hardware and software issues using root cause analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and specialized diagnostic tools.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Digital/Analog design, PCB layout, and Firmware) to ensure design-for-test (DFT) requirements are incorporated early in the product lifecycle.
- Provide feedback to design teams regarding product diagnosability, reparability, and test point accessibility.
- Manage technical documentation, including schematics, software version control, and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
Requirements
- Experience: Minimum of 5–8 years of experience in functional test development or a closely related automated systems environment.
- Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading technical project workstreams or mentoring junior engineering staff.
- Software Proficiency: Strong hands-on experience in software design using C++, LabVIEW, and TestStand. Experience with NI STS (Semiconductor Test System) is a significant advantage.
- Hardware Design: Solid experience in hardware integration, circuit design for testers, and interfacing with industrial instruments.
- Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of measurement science, data acquisition, and test instrumentation.
- Project Skills: Experience managing technical schedules and contributing to project budgeting/resourcing.
- Education: A Bachelor's Degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is required.
- Communication: Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
