Mechanical Test Engineer

Mechanical Test Engineer

Location: San Jose, CA

Contract: 12 months (Likely extension or direct hire)

Schedule: 9/80 schedule | 25% travel | Some expected overtime (1st shift)

Compensation: $42.22/hour + Paid time off + Optional medical/dental/vision/401(k) benefits

Onboarding Requirements: Background check, drug screening, and proof of U.S. citizenship (Required for work on U.S. Military Bases)

Position Overview

HRU is partnering with our defense client to hire an Entry-Level Mechanical Test Engineer for their Integration and Test organization in San Jose, CA. This is a hands-on engineering role involving field testing and travel. The selected candidate will support product development, integration, and testing to verify requirements on tracked and wheeled military vehicle platforms.

Key Responsibilities

Test Planning & Analysis:

• Analyze test requirements and develop test plans.
• Design and set up test environments, including fixtures, control systems, monitoring tools, and instrumentation.

Test Execution & Troubleshooting:

• Conduct vehicle-level testing (software/hardware verification, vehicle performance, durability, navigation, targeting, weapon system testing).
• Perform component-level testing (vibration, shock, thermal, hydraulic, airflow, electrical, cyclic testing).
• Develop expertise in vibration and shock testing, instrumentation setup, lab and on-vehicle operational testing, data analysis, and reporting.

Testing Locations:

• Vehicle Technology and Integration Lab (VTIL)
• Camp Roberts, CA
• Mechanical Component Lab (MCL)

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent experience in lieu of a degree).
• Strong mechanical aptitude with hands-on abilities and troubleshooting skills.
• Initiative, leadership, and ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel for extended periods (up to one month at a time).

Preferred Skills

• Experience with system or component-level integration and testing, including instrumentation and data acquisition setup and data analysis.
• Familiarity with CAN Bus and MIL-STD-1553 Bus, including monitoring and analysis tools.
• Test fixture design using CREO/Pro Engineer or similar modeling tools.
• Advanced data processing and analysis skills (MATLAB, VBA, etc.).
• Experience with vibration, shock, ESS, and HALT testing, including MIL-STD-810 environmental testing and operating electrodynamic shakers.
• Training in spectral analysis for vibration testing, mechatronics, automotive design, or related test experience.
• Security clearance eligibility (preferred but not required).
• Veterans with relevant training and experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Experience & Education

• Experience Required: None.
• Experience Preferred: Related to required and preferred skills.
• Education Required: Bachelor's degree in engineering (or equivalent experience).
• Education Preferred: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.

EOE (Equal Opportunity Employer)