Senior Test Engineer

Federal Signal Openings•Elgin, IL

5d•$105,000 - $125,000

About The Position

Key Activities/Responsibilities Technical Leadership Serve as the subject matter expert for test strategy, including vibration, sound, fatigue, air flow, and pressure testing. Develop comprehensive test plans, test protocols, and acceptance criteria. Lead root cause analysis and failure investigations. Define and maintain best in class test methodologies, measurement techniques, and equipment capabilities. Test Execution and Oversight Oversee complex test programs to ensure accurate and repeatable results. Design custom fixtures, instrumentation setups, and data acquisition strategies. Ensure test data quality through robust calibration, uncertainty analysis, and statistical validation. Interpret test results and prepare clear, data driven engineering reports with actionable insights. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with various engineering teams to align test strategy with design intent. Provide early-stage technical input to reduce development risks and prevent late-stage failures. Actively participate in design reviews and risk assessments. Continuous Improvement and Innovation Evaluate and implement upgrades to lab equipment, automation tools, and analytical methods. Introduce and champion emerging test technologies. Support safety, compliance, and operational excellence initiatives within the test lab. Mentorship and Leadership Provide technical coaching for engineers, technicians, and interns. Develop and maintain documentation, training programs, and engineering standards. Contribute to long term strategy for test capability and lab infrastructure. Flexibility to perform other duties and assignments as required Education/Experience Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline from an accredited university. Master's degree a plus 10+ years of engineering experience including mechanical testing, product validation, or reliability engineering experience.

Requirements

Demonstrated expertise in vibration, structural analysis, and fatigue testing.
Strong knowledge of sensors and data acquisition (accelerometers, strain gauges, load cells, pressure transducers, LVDTs, microphones, and DAQ systems).
Proficiency in test method development, root cause analysis, statistical techniques, and engineering reporting.
Exceptional communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
Experience in regulated or safety critical industries (automotive, aerospace, medical devices, heavy equipment, or energy).
Background in correlating test results to analytical models.
Experience with LabVIEW for development of automated test control and data acquisition.
Experience in core data analysis techniques that may include: time series analysis, regression analysis, clustering, and predictive analytics.
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline from an accredited university.
10+ years of engineering experience including mechanical testing, product validation, or reliability engineering experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience using AI and machine learning to automate data interpretation a plus.
Master's degree a plus

Responsibilities

Serve as the subject matter expert for test strategy, including vibration, sound, fatigue, air flow, and pressure testing.
Develop comprehensive test plans, test protocols, and acceptance criteria.
Lead root cause analysis and failure investigations.
Define and maintain best in class test methodologies, measurement techniques, and equipment capabilities.
Oversee complex test programs to ensure accurate and repeatable results.
Design custom fixtures, instrumentation setups, and data acquisition strategies.
Ensure test data quality through robust calibration, uncertainty analysis, and statistical validation.
Interpret test results and prepare clear, data driven engineering reports with actionable insights.
Partner with various engineering teams to align test strategy with design intent.
Provide early-stage technical input to reduce development risks and prevent late-stage failures.
Actively participate in design reviews and risk assessments.
Evaluate and implement upgrades to lab equipment, automation tools, and analytical methods.
Introduce and champion emerging test technologies.
Support safety, compliance, and operational excellence initiatives within the test lab.
Provide technical coaching for engineers, technicians, and interns.
Develop and maintain documentation, training programs, and engineering standards.
Contribute to long term strategy for test capability and lab infrastructure.
Flexibility to perform other duties and assignments as required