Manufacturing & Production Test Engineer

Advantest•Lake Forest, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Advantest Test Solutions, Inc. (ATS) is hiring an entry-level Manufacturing & Production Test Engineer for its Lake Forest, California facility. This hybrid role combines Manufacturing Engineering responsibilities with production test-program coding and support within the Production/Test and Manufacturing Engineering team. Despite the role being described as hybrid, the posting requires on-site attendance at the Lake Forest facility. The engineer develops, updates, debugs, validates, and maintains production test programs within approved requirements and change-control processes. The position also supports manufacturing processes, equipment, automation, fixtures, tooling, and documentation. It provides local ownership of routine coding and maintenance, first-line troubleshooting, priority-list follow-through, and test release readiness, while Engineering remains involved in design-level changes and complex root-cause issues. Structured training and mentorship from existing test-program owners will support a phased transfer of appropriate responsibilities. The role supports current products, new product introductions, and production ramps.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline; candidates completing a relevant degree may also be considered for a structured development pathway.
Foundational programming, debugging, or scripting capability applicable to production test-program development, test automation, data analysis, or manufacturing equipment; examples include Python, C/C++, C#, LabVIEW, or equivalent languages and tools.
Ability to troubleshoot electrical, software, test, and manufacturing-process issues using structured problem-solving methods and technical documentation.
Ability to analyze production and test data, document results clearly, and communicate technical issues with Engineering, Quality, Production, and other stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, follow a structured training and mentorship plan, and adapt in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment.
Must be available to work onsite in the Lake Forest, California facility.

Nice To Haves

Internship, co-op, academic project, or early-career experience in manufacturing, electronics, automation, software, or production test.
Exposure to automated test equipment, electronic assemblies, test fixtures, instrumentation, or system-level test environments.
Experience installing and configuring drivers, instrument and peripheral interfaces, and development or programming tools such as Vivado, Atmel Studio, or Uniflash.
Familiarity with version control, software change documentation, and validation practices.
Experience with SQL, Power BI, MES, or production data dashboards.
Knowledge of PFMEA, root-cause analysis, corrective action, Lean manufacturing, process control, or equipment qualification.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day engineering support for assigned manufacturing processes and production test programs.
Track and address development, update, troubleshooting, and pending items on the production test-program priority list; document status, escalate blockers, and follow through to closure and production readiness.
Develop, code, debug, update, and maintain production test programs as hardware, firmware, test limits, and production requirements change.
Work within approved specifications and change-control processes in coordination with Test Engineering, Design Engineering, Quality, and Production.
Own validation and release readiness for assigned test-program updates, including version control, configuration records, documented validation results, and coordination of required approvals before production deployment.
Handle routine test-program coding and maintenance locally, reducing repeated Engineering handoffs and wait time.
Provide first-line troubleshooting when test programs fail or produce unexpected results; analyze program behavior, station configuration, and production and test data to identify potential software, test, or hardware issues, resolving routine issues and escalating complex issues as appropriate.
Help set up and support new test stations, including connecting and configuring peripherals and test equipment, installing and configuring drivers and software, verifying computer-to-equipment communication, and troubleshooting interface issues.
Tailor existing test programs for specific testing requirements and set up external testing software such as Vivado, Atmel Studio, and Uniflash.
Assist during first-article testing and validation of new test-program versions.
Develop and maintain work instructions, troubleshooting guides, training materials, dashboards, and process documentation for production personnel.
Support manufacturing equipment, automation, fixtures, and tooling through evaluation, implementation, qualification, operator training, and sustaining activities.
Support new product introductions and production ramps across Manufacturing Engineering and Production Test Engineering.
Coordinate test-program and test-station updates for board, system, hardware, and firmware revisions; review test readiness, process requirements, tooling, documentation, training, and issue closure.
Participate in a structured development and training plan with mentorship from existing test-program owners.
Progressively assume coding, debugging, maintenance, validation, and release-readiness responsibilities as training milestones are completed; transfer test and process knowledge to technicians and operators and establish backup coverage for critical production activities.
Support PFMEA, root-cause analysis, corrective action, process control, and continuous-improvement activities.
Carry out other Production Test and Manufacturing Engineering duties as assigned.