Product Test Engineer

Position Summary

The Product Test Engineer plans, coordinates, executes, and reports product development and validation testing for automotive components and subsystems. The position leads assigned test programs from initial review and quotation through test planning, setup, execution, data analysis, reporting, and closeout. The engineer works directly with customers, product engineers, laboratory technicians, and support groups to translate requirements into safe, technically sound, and repeatable testing.

This role requires broad test engineering capability, strong mechanical and electrical aptitude, disciplined project management, and sound engineering judgment. Experience with refrigeration systems, HVAC, compressors, heat pumps, refrigerant circuits, or automotive thermal management systems is strongly preferred, while candidates with substantial experience in other product testing disciplines will also be considered.

Key Responsibilities:

Test Planning, Customer Support, and Project Ownership

• Review and analyze customer test requests, specifications, drawings, standards, and validation requirements to determine laboratory capability, resource needs, risks, and technical approach.
• Confer with customers and product engineers to establish a common interpretation of requirements, clear test objectives, acceptance criteria, deliverables, and timing.
• Define test facilities, methods, procedures, instrumentation, equipment, fixtures, staffing, data requirements, and schedules.
• Prepare test quotations, estimates, and supporting scope documentation; process purchase-order information when required.
• Manage multiple test programs, communicate status and concerns, control scope changes, and maintain complete project records in applicable laboratory information systems.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for assigned programs and provide timely, professional support to internal and external customers.

Test Development and Execution

• Develop test plans, work instructions, setup documentation, instrumentation plans, and operating limits for standard and non-standard testing.
• Prepare layout drawings and fixture concepts; coordinate or direct fabrication of fixtures, special instrumentation, and equipment modifications.
• Configure, program, and verify data acquisition, controls, instrumentation, and test equipment as needed.
• Issue or revise work instructions and provide technical direction to technicians and other personnel assigned to test programs.
• Conduct or monitor tests when needed and work with technicians to resolve issues, protect test fidelity, and prevent invalid or unsafe results.
• Document approved test-scope changes, including sample quantities, set points, test conditions, sequence changes, and deviations from the original request.

Data Analysis, Reporting, and Problem Solving

• Review and analyze test data for completeness, accuracy, trends, anomalies, performance, durability, and compliance with customer requirements.
• Prepare and issue clear, concise, and technically accurate test reports, data packages, presentations, and other customer deliverables.
• Investigate equipment, instrumentation, software, and test-process issues using structured root cause and corrective action methods.
• Document equipment and test issues, corrective actions, and improvement opportunities in applicable tracking systems.
• Support failure analysis and communicate findings and recommendations to customers, engineering teams, and laboratory management.

Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure testing complies with corporate safety requirements; assess hazards, establish controls, and stop work when conditions may endanger personnel, equipment, or test integrity.
• Ensure accredited work is performed in accordance with the laboratory quality system and applicable ISO/IEC 17025 and IATF 16949 requirements.
• Verify that equipment, instrumentation, calibration status, measurement methods, and critical consumables meet applicable requirements before testing.
• Maintain records required to demonstrate compliance and exercise authority to halt nonconforming testing or withhold results when necessary.
• Support audits, proficiency testing, corrective actions, and ongoing development of the laboratory quality system.
• Recommend and implement new methods, automation, hardware, software, and capital improvements that enhance safety, capability, efficiency, reliability, or data quality.
• Develop specifications and business justification for new equipment and participate in commissioning and capability validation.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Aerospace, Automotive, Mechatronics, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Relevant experience in product testing, validation, laboratory engineering, product development, or test-system engineering. Candidates must demonstrate ownership of technical test work, not solely production inspection or routine equipment operation.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with working knowledge of electrical systems, instrumentation, controls, and measurement fundamentals.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, specifications, standards, and test procedures and convert them into executable test plans.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex test setups and equipment using structured problem-solving methods.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with limited supervision while maintaining safety, quality, schedule, and customer communication.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of detailed and concise technical reports.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and related business software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with refrigeration, automotive HVAC, compressors, heat pumps, refrigerant circuits, heat exchangers, coolant systems, or vehicle thermal management testing.
• Experience with automotive component or subsystem development, validation, durability, performance, environmental, vibration, or pressure testing.
• Experience with refrigerant and fluid-system instrumentation, including temperature, pressure, flow, electrical power, speed, and mass measurement.
• Experience with data acquisition and automated controls using LabVIEW, PLCs, Python, MATLAB, C/C++, Visual Basic, or similar tools.
• Proficiency with one or more CAD systems and experience designing or specifying test fixtures.
• Knowledge of calibration, measurement uncertainty, ISO/IEC 17025, IATF 16949, or comparable laboratory quality systems.
• Experience with root cause analysis, corrective action, measurement system analysis, or failure investigation.