Lead Test Engineer

Location: Richmond, VA (relocation assistance available within the US).

Responsibilities

• Guide and support electrical test employees in safe and effective testing practices, systematic troubleshooting, and electrical/electronics expertise.
• Oversee planning, specification, development, delivery, validation, and support of automated, semi‑automated, and manual test systems (power sources, loads, instruments, software, network/serial communication).
• Ensure test systems comply with electrical safe‑work practices, hazard identification/remediation, and OSHA requirements to maintain a zero‑incident safety culture.
• Identify potential safety hazards, provide input for remediation, and verify equipment functionality meets specifications.
• Provide guidelines for design, selection, support, service, and troubleshooting of test and electrical equipment, testing procedures, data collection, and best practices to improve quality, safety, and throughput.
• Interpret external industry electrical standards (UL, ETL, IPC, NFPA) and align them with internal safety, test, quality standards, product specifications, and procedures.
• Coordinate preparation, communication, execution, and follow‑up of customer witness test events.
• Conduct root‑cause analysis and corrective‑action planning for test system and process failures.
• Analyze, interpret, and present test/quality/process data to senior leadership.
• Ensure test procedures align with Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) outputs.
• Support testing functions to meet customer expectations and key operational performance indicators (safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory).
• Promote Eaton’s Continuous Improvement Framework (cost out, Kaizen, business process improvement, rapid improvement events, structured problem solving) to create a lean culture.
• Assist Quality and Engineering teams with internal and customer return product failure analysis.
• Support quality management system improvement activities, including Eaton QMS implementation, ISO 9001 internal/external audits, and employee engagement events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five (5) years experience in an electrical design, test, or test‑automation function.
• Experience in technical project and program management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership or mentoring experience in an electrical design, test, or test‑automation role.
• Experience with power systems and/or magnetics.
• Experience designing automated test systems for electrical products.
• Proficiency with test system software such as National Instruments TestStand, Python, SQL Server, and GitHub.
• Knowledge of communication methods/protocols including GPIB, Modbus RTU/TCP, and REST API.
• Experience developing test procedures.

Key to Role Success

• Proven analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to drive results and change through others.
• Excellent oral and written communication, planning, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and assigned technical software.
• Capability to balance competing priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Skill in presenting results and recommendations to senior‑level executives.
• Ability to read technical documents and drawings (electrical drawings, one‑line diagrams, power flow diagrams, mechanical blueprints, etc.).
• Ability to implement and support custom test system software applications.

Pay

Annual salary range: $97,000 – $143,000 (general guideline; actual salary based on skills, experience, qualifications, market, and business considerations).

Benefits

Eaton offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, and programs providing paid and unpaid time away from work. Specific programs and options may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and collective bargaining agreements.