Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Electronic Test Automation

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Hydrogen Group
Palo Alto, CALIFORNIA, United States
  • Production
  • FlexTime
  • FullTime

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Electronic Test Automation Location: Palo Alto, CA (100% Onsite)Duration: 6-month contractPay Range: $64-$70/hrSchedule: Standard business hours (flexible / potential overtime based on business needs) Role OverviewThis role focuses on the design and development of mechanical test systems for vehicle electronics, supporting environments ranging from early R&D through high-volume manufacturing. The engineer will create modular, scalable, and reusable mechanical solutions for electronic test automation, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, technicians, and external vendors. Key Responsibilities

  • Design modular and reusable mechanical fixtures for testing vehicle electronics, starting with manual benchtop setups and evolving to fully automated, high-volume production systems
  • Partner with cross-functional engineering teams to define mechanical test requirements and drive design decisions that improve ECU testability
  • Design custom mechanical interfaces for ECUs, including pogo-pin connections and bed-of-nails probing solutions
  • Develop rack-based test systems that reduce complexity and improve build time and scalability
  • Create clear and thorough documentation, including diagrams, bills of materials (BOMs), and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
  • Develop, release, and maintain drawings, BOMs, and technical specifications
  • Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors during purchasing, station builds, system integration, and final commissioning
  • Provide technical oversight to vendors manufacturing mechanical components and systems
  • Work closely with technicians to communicate requirements and ensure proper implementation

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)

  • 5+ years of experience designing modular mechanical hardware for test automation systems spanning R&D through high-volume manufacturing

  • Advanced proficiency with 3D CAD software, such as:

  • SolidWorks (preferred)

  • Autodesk Inventor

  • AutoCAD

  • Pro/ENGINEER (ProE)

  • Experience with electronics testing, probing, and harnessing technologies, including:

  • Mass interconnect solutions (e.g., VPC)

  • Specialty probes (e.g., Ingun)

  • Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and manufacturer datasheets

  • Experience supporting deployment of automated test equipment (ATE) in manufacturing environments

  • Hands-on experience with hardware integration for automated test systems

  • Background in one or more of the following industries:

  • Automotive

  • Semiconductor

  • Aerospace

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

  • Familiarity with vehicle communication protocols, including:

  • CAN / CAN FD

  • LIN

  • DoIP

  • Automotive Ethernet

  • Experience with automation and test instrumentation, such as:

  • Programmable power supplies

  • Multiplexers

  • Digital multimeters (DMMs)

  • Signal analyzers and generators

  • Multifunction digital and analog devices

…

Hydrogen Group

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