Job Title: Hardware Test Engineer Job DescriptionThe Hardware Test Engineer will join the Validation engineering team and support product verification, validation, and compliance testing for electrical and mechanical medical device components and systems. You will contribute across the full product development lifecycle, from early prototypes to final system design, by planning, developing, executing, and validating test methods and creating associated documentation. In this role, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Project Management, Quality, and Manufacturing, while developing test procedures and executing manual tests in a regulated environment.Responsibilities
- Develop and execute verification test methods, protocols, and reports to verify requirements at both component and system levels.
- Drive quality into product development by performing analysis and testing, and by providing timely, data-driven feedback of test results to cross-functional teams.
- Reverse engineer designs, review requirements, and fully understand design features to perform test impact assessments and create comprehensive test strategies and plans.
- Design detailed test cases that define methodology, test setups, materials, equipment, procedures, and acceptance criteria based on requirements and applicable standards.
- Perform functional testing of mechanical assemblies, electrical circuits, and complete electromechanical systems.
- Serve as a key contributor in cross-functional team meetings and design reviews by presenting test strategies, results, and recommendations.
- Review and analyze product requirements and compliance standards as part of test development to ensure adequate coverage and traceability.
- Support the hardware team throughout product development, including concept feasibility, pre-compliance activities, and design changes, by developing tests and collecting and providing test data.
- Design hardware and software tools, fixtures, and test setups needed to execute test methods and to support data collection and analysis.
- Review, understand, and characterize electrical and mechanical designs to develop robust test methods that ensure full requirements coverage.
- Lead small teams through test projects for electromechanical components and systems, coordinating test planning, execution, and reporting.
- Read and interpret medical compliance standards and requirements, evaluate associated risks, and develop test procedures that ensure compliance.
- Plan and lead test execution activities, including being onsite at third-party medical device safety test laboratories as needed.
- Develop and maintain test plans, procedures, and associated documentation in alignment with regulatory and quality system requirements.
- Use test results to identify issues, support root cause analysis, and recommend design or process improvements.
Essential Skills
- At least 4 years of experience working with electromechanical systems.
- At least 4 years of experience performing functional testing of hardware systems.
- At least 2 years of experience working in a regulated environment such as medical, automotive, or defense.
- Experience developing test procedures directly from requirements.
- Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Minimum of 3 years of test engineering experience with a bachelors degree, or at least 2 years of test engineering experience with a masters degree.
- Hands-on experience with system- and component-level verification and validation testing, including creation and execution of test plans, procedures, and reports.
- Proficiency using electrical and mechanical lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters (DMM), power supplies, force and pressure gauges, calipers, thermometers, flow meters, and scales.
- Strong test engineering skills, including test planning, test procedure development, and execution of hardware tests.
- Ability to perform functional testing of mechanical assemblies, electrical circuits, and integrated systems.
- Experience working in an electronics or systems test lab environment.
- Ability to interpret and apply compliance standards and requirements in test development.
- Strong analytical skills for reviewing requirements, assessing test coverage, and evaluating test results.
- Effective communication skills for collaborating with R&D, Project Management, Quality, and Manufacturing teams.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with validation activities and design verification for complex electromechanical or medical device systems.
- Familiarity with Python for developing test tools, scripts, or data analysis utilities.
- Experience designing hardware and software tools and fixtures to support test execution and data collection.
- medical device, automotive, or defense industries with exposure to regulatory and compliance testing.
- Experience leading small teams through test projects, including planning, coordination, and reporting.
- Ability to reverse engineer designs and perform detailed test impact assessments when requirements or designs change.
- Comfort presenting test strategies, results, and recommendations in cross-functional design reviews.
- Strong documentation skills for creating clear, traceable, and compliant test plans, procedures, and reports.
Work EnvironmentThis position is based on-site in an office and laboratory setting. You will work hands-on with large pieces of capital equipment, operating the systems as an end user would to verify performance, particularly after software updates are implemented. The role involves regular use of electrical and mechanical lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, force and pressure gauges, calipers, thermometers, flow meters, and scales. You will work closely with engineering and cross-functional teams in a collaborative environment that emphasizes quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. The project is structured as a multi-year engagement with the potential to extend, offering the opportunity to see products evolve from prototype through final system verification in a professional lab environment Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Plymouth, MN. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $45.00 - $48.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Plymouth, MN. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 23, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Plymouth,MN.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
