Mechatronics Test Engineer

Sparc Technology Services Inc•Boston, MA

3d•$70 - $80•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a hands-on Mechatronics Test Engineer to own technical execution for prototype robotic and physical-AI hardware. This is not a traditional lab technician role. The engineer will design test methods, plans, benches, fixtures, and acceptance criteria; execute characterization, functional, reliability, and environmental testing; troubleshoot failures across electrical and mechanical systems; and deliver clear, trustworthy results to hardware and robotics teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
7+ years of hands-on experience in hardware development, test engineering, verification and validation, reliability, or systems integration.
Strong experience in robotics or complex automation systems; automotive or aerospace experience is also relevant.
Experience developing test methods, test plans, custom fixtures, test benches, and acceptance criteria from scratch.
Hardware reliability testing experience, including HALT, HASS, ALT, or reliability growth testing.
Experience testing actuators, sensors, batteries, power systems, electronics, and robotic manipulation or mechatronic systems.
Deep proficiency with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, signal analyzers, and component- and system-level debugging.
Ability to independently read electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and mechanical drawings.
Strong written documentation skills for test plans, procedures, build logs, and failure-analysis reports.

Nice To Haves

Experience with physical AI, high-DoF robotics, servo drives, or embedded motor control.
Familiarity with FMEA, Weibull analysis, HIL testing, and environmental reliability methods.
Python scripting for test automation, data logging, and results analysis.
CAD experience with SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar tools for fixture design.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and operate test benches for robotic power systems, motion actuation, sensor arrays, electronics, and communication interfaces.
Develop test plans, methods, acceptance criteria, build procedures, and documentation in partnership with hardware engineers.
Create custom fixtures, jigs, and validation setups using mechanical fabrication, electrical wiring, instrumentation, and software scripting.
Support prototype hardware builds integrating actuators, force/torque sensors, IMUs, encoders, vision systems, compute modules, and power distribution.
Perform PCB bring-up and debug; interpret schematics, PCB layouts, and mechanical drawings; triage component-, board-, and system-level issues.
Validate and troubleshoot CAN, EtherCAT, and RS-485 communication, including timing, signal integrity, and protocol issues.
Own root cause and failure analysis across power, compute, communications, actuation, and sensing; reproduce failures and author actionable reports.
Design and execute reliability and environmental programs including HALT, HASS, ALT, reliability growth, thermal cycling, vibration, mechanical stress, and long-duration soak testing.
Maintain calibration and equipment certification records and provide DFM/DFA feedback based on build and test experience.