Test Manager

Job Description: Test Manager

Department: Engineering

Job Type: Full-Time, Onsite – Plano, TX

Classification: Salaried

Position Summary

The Test Manager is responsible for overseeing all test laboratory operations and serving as the technical authority for the testing, troubleshooting, validation, and release of electronic products for shipment. This role leads the test team, develops and implements test strategies, ensures product quality and test coverage, improves manufacturing yield and throughput, and maintains compliance with customer requirements, industry standards, and the quality management system.

The Test Manager works closely with Engineering, Quality, Production, Process Engineering, and customers to ensure testing operations meet production schedules, technical requirements, and quality objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Lab Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, schedule, and develop a team of test technicians and test engineers across multiple shifts.
• Establish priorities, performance expectations, training plans, and employee development goals.
• Manage laboratory workload and product due dates to ensure production and customer delivery commitments are met.
• Oversee staffing and headcount planning, including recruitment, onboarding, cross-training, coaching, and performance management.
• Promote a culture of safety, electrostatic discharge (ESD) control, accurate documentation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

2. Test Strategy and Engineering

• Develop test strategies for new products, selecting appropriate in-circuit test (ICT), flying probe, and functional test methods to optimize test coverage, cycle time, and cost.
• Review customer designs for testability (DFT) and recommend improvements to test points, access, and overall test coverage.
• Evaluate and communicate anticipated test coverage and readiness before production launch.
• Oversee the development, debugging, validation, and release of test programs, fixtures, and associated equipment.
• Coordinate with internal engineering resources and external fixture vendors to deliver reliable, effective test solutions.
• Serve as a primary technical contact for customers regarding test requirements, procedures, coverage, yield, and test results.

3. Test Operations, Yield, and Failure Analysis

• Ensure test capacity and resources align with production requirements and customer delivery schedules.
• Identify and resolve testing bottlenecks that may affect production flow or customer shipments.
• Monitor and report key performance indicators, including first-pass yield, retest rates, false failures, throughput, and test coverage.
• Lead data-driven initiatives to improve test efficiency, reliability, and manufacturing quality.
• Direct failure analysis for test failures, returned material authorizations (RMAs), and customer complaints.
• Develop and present root cause findings, corrective actions, and improvement plans to customers and internal leadership.
• Collaborate with Quality, Process Engineering, and Production to use test data to identify and eliminate defects at their source.

4. Compliance, Equipment, and Documentation

• Maintain test equipment and fixtures through preventive maintenance, calibration, and equipment performance monitoring.
• Ensure test equipment records, procedures, work instructions, and test documentation remain accurate and audit-ready.
• Ensure testing activities comply with customer requirements, applicable IPC standards, ESD control requirements, and the organization's quality management system.
• Support and represent the test laboratory during customer audits, quality system audits, and customer source inspections.
• Ensure proper control of test records, nonconforming products, corrective actions, and process improvements.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Seven or more years of electronics testing experience in an electronics manufacturing services (EMS), printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, or electronics manufacturing environment.
• At least three years of experience leading test technicians, test engineers, or similar technical personnel.
• Hands-on experience developing, debugging, and maintaining ICT and flying probe test programs.
• Experience with test platforms such as Keysight i3070, Teradyne TestStation, Takaya, SPEA, or Seica.
• Experience developing functional test solutions using NI LabVIEW, TestStand, Python, C#, or comparable tools.
• Strong board-level troubleshooting and diagnostic skills, including the use of oscilloscopes, digital multimeters (DMMs), power supplies, logic analyzers, schematics, and bills of materials (BOMs).
• Demonstrated success improving first-pass yield, test coverage, throughput, or other manufacturing performance metrics.
• Working knowledge of IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, ANSI/ESD S20.20, and ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Experience with structured root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies, including 8D, 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, Pareto analysis, and statistical process control (SPC).
• Strong communication, problem-solving, organizational, and customer-facing presentation skills.
• Ability to support multiple shifts and respond to urgent production or customer issues outside normal working hours when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting regulated industries, including aerospace and defense, with knowledge of AS9100 requirements.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification at the Green Belt level or higher.
• Experience participating in customer audits, technical reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives within an electronics manufacturing environment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position directly supervises test team members at the assigned facility. Responsibilities include work assignment, scheduling, performance management, employee development, training, staffing, and ensuring adherence to established safety, quality, and operational standards.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Work is performed primarily in a test laboratory within an electronics manufacturing environment.
• May be required to remain in a stationary position for up to 85% of the workday.
• Regularly operates computers, electronic test equipment, tools, and other equipment used to test printed circuit boards.
• Frequently communicates technical information and coordinates activities with test team members and other departments.
• Must be able to lift, carry, or move printed circuit boards, equipment, and related materials weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to work safely in accordance with established laboratory, manufacturing, and ESD control procedures.

Work Schedule and Travel

• Full-time, onsite position.
• Salaried position.
• May require schedule flexibility to support multiple shifts, production priorities, and urgent customer requirements.
• Travel is not expected on a frequent basis; occasional travel may be required.

Training and Compliance Requirements

The employee must complete applicable onboarding, orientation, safety, quality, and job-specific training, including the following:

General Onboarding

• Workers' Compensation Notice
• Health and Safety Handbook
• Employee Handbook or Technology Handbook
• Code of Conduct

Quality Management System Training

• AS9100
• ISO 13485

Standard Operating Procedures and Work Instructions

• SOP 303 – Configuration Management
• SOP 304 – Production and Service Provision
• SOP 402 – Visitor Policy
• SOP 503 – Control of Documented Information
• SOP 505 – Calibration
• SOP 507 – Control of Nonconforming Product
• SOP 508 – Analysis Data
• SOP 510 – Improvement and Preventive Action
• SOP 511 – Risk Management Process
• SOP 512 – ESD Control
• SOP 601 – Design and Development
• WI-305 – DSX Functional Test Procedure
• WI-504 – Inspection and Test

Required Certifications and Training

• ESD Certification
• IPC-A-610 – Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies
• J-STD-001 – Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies
• J-STD-001 Space Addendum

Employees must maintain applicable training and certifications in accordance with organizational policies, customer requirements, and relevant industry standards.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured by the ability to:

• Meet test schedules and support on-time customer deliveries.
• Improve first-pass yield, reduce retest rates and false failures, and increase test throughput.
• Achieve appropriate test coverage and ensure test programs and fixtures are reliable and production-ready.
• Reduce recurring defects through effective failure analysis and corrective action.
• Maintain equipment calibration, documentation accuracy, and audit readiness.
• Develop a capable, well-trained test team and maintain a safe, organized laboratory.
• Provide timely, accurate technical communication and support to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Drive measurable, continuous improvement across test operations and manufacturing quality.