Durability Test Engineer

ALTEN Technology USA•East Liberty, OH

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced, high-performing Durability Test Engineer to join our team dedicated to revolutionizing urban mobility. This role focuses specifically on the whole-vehicle and in-service durability testing of our autonomous robotaxi, ensuring its long-term reliability through real-world and proving ground validation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
3+ years of professional experience in whole-vehicle durability testing, road load data acquisition (RLDA), or performance validation within the automotive or heavy equipment industry.
Proven, hands-on experience with on-vehicle instrumentation setup, including strain gauges, accelerometers, displacement transducers, and thermocouple installation.
Experience with setting up and operating multi-channel data acquisition (DAQ) hardware (e.g., Somat, HBM, Dewetron) for vehicle testing.
Working knowledge in data processing and analysis using tools like nCode GlyphWorks, MATLAB, or Python for large-scale time-series data.
Familiarity with common automotive proving ground test procedures and standards (e.g., Belgian Block, potholes, rough road closures)

Nice To Haves

Experience with electric vehicles (EVs) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Vehicle-Level Test Plan Development: Design, document, and manage comprehensive whole-vehicle durability and accelerated mileage accumulation (AMA) test plans across various terrains and environmental conditions.
Proving Ground and Road Testing Execution: Lead and execute vehicle durability tests at external proving grounds, public roads, and specialized test facilities, ensuring adherence to rigorous test cycles and safety protocols.
Data Acquisition (DAQ) Setup and Testing: Plan and execute on-vehicle instrumentation and data acquisition tests to accurately capture loads, strains, and vibrations on critical vehicle structures and systems.
In-Service Failure Analysis: Diagnose and investigate durability-related failures that occur during on-road testing or early field operation, determining the root cause through hands-on inspection and data analysis.
Component Durability Validation: Track and verify the performance and reliability of newly integrated components (suspension, steering, brakes, etc.) during vehicle-level durability testing to ensure their life and correct function.
Reporting and Feedback Loop: Generate clear, detailed reports summarizing test results, vehicle degradation rates, and identified failure modes. Proactively communicate actionable findings and proposed design mitigations to the Vehicle Design and CAE teams.