Lead, Instrumentation Tech

Scout Motors • Novi, MI

9h • $150,000 - $181,250 • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Instrumentation Technician is responsible for leading all vehicle level and component level instrumentation activities that support durability, structural, and correlation testing. This role requires advanced expertise in sensor integration, data acquisition systems, strain gaging, transducer calibration, fabrication, and sophisticated troubleshooting. The Lead Technician provides technical direction to the instrumentation team, collaborates closely with engineering groups, and ensures high quality data collection across global proving grounds.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, electrical engineering or a related field
• 12+ years extensive hands-on experience in vehicle or structural instrumentation.
• Strong capability in sensor installation, wiring, strain gaging, and transducer calibration.
• Deep understanding of force, displacement, acceleration, and strain data.
• Demonstrated expertise in troubleshooting complex instrumentation systems.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, and load case requirements.
• Fabrication skills: basic machining, welding, bracket creation, and hardware integration.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Minimum of High School Diploma, GED or equivalent required for all roles at Scout Motors, Inc.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting vehicle durability tests at proving grounds.
• Familiarity with high channel count DAQ systems, telemetry, CAN, and WFT systems.
• Experience in EV platforms, heavy-duty vehicles, or offroad durability environments.
• Prior team lead or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead full vehicle and subsystem instrumentation for durability, structural correlation, and digital twin validation.
• Install, configure, and validate data acquisition systems for durability, structural load measurement, displacement, and acceleration.
• Ensure proper installation, routing, protection, and functionality of sensors including accelerometers, displacement transducers, load cells, pressure sensors, and straingage networks.
• Apply strain gages to bodyinwhite, chassis, suspension, powertrain, and auxiliary structures.
• Perform straingage bonding, soldering, environmental protection, and bridge verification.
• Validate strain channels and compute principal stresses to ensure correlation with simulation and physical tests.
• Perform calibration of transducers including: Load cells Force sensors Displacement transducers (LVDTs, potentiometers, strings) Accelerometers Straingage based sensors
• Interpret and validate calibration curves, sensitivities, offsets, and scaling factors.
• Develop and maintain calibration documentation and ensure traceability.
• Possess deep understanding of force, displacement, and acceleration data to ensure correct test execution and high quality signal integrity.
• Fabricate Wheel Force Transducer (WFT) stator brackets, sensor mounts, and other custom hardware required to support instrumentation.
• Support mechanical disassembly and reassembly of vehicles or components for instrumentation access.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized fabrication and instrumentation environment.
• Support high load durability tests—including 329 durability tests—ensuring all measurement systems remain reliable throughout test cycles.
• Possess advanced troubleshooting abilities across electrical, mechanical, and software based instrumentation systems.
• Diagnose issues such as signal noise, drift, grounding problems, wiring faults, connector failures, calibration errors, and DAQ setup misconfigurations.
• Minimize test downtime through efficient corrective action and root cause analysis.
• Lead, mentor, and train a team of technicians and mechanics on instrumentation best practices.
• Provide guidance in sensor installation, wiring techniques, troubleshooting strategies, and safety protocols.
• Manage task assignments, workflow planning, and quality control within the instrumentation garage.
• Support continuous improvement and documentation of processes, fixtures, calibration procedures, and tooling.

Benefits

• Competitive insurance including: Medical, dental, vision and income protection plans
• 401(k) program with: An employer match and immediate vesting
• Generous Paid Time Off including: 20 days planned PTO, as accrued 40 hours of unplanned PTO and 14 company or floating holidays, annually
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders
• Paid leave for circumstances related to bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave
• This is a full-time, exempt position eligible to receive a base salary and to participate in an annual performance bonus program.
• Final salary offered will be determined based on factors including but not limited to the candidate's skills and experience.
• The annual performance bonus program is preset and not candidate dependent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level