Senior Hardware Manufacturing Test Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Manufacturing Hardware Test Engineer to lead the architecture, development, and deployment of end-of-line (EOL) manufacturing test systems for electronic and electromechanical products. This role owns test strategy from early product development through high-volume production and drives continuous improvement in test coverage, equipment reliability, and manufacturing yield.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, architecture, and development of robust EOL test systems for complex electronic and electromechanical assemblies, ensuring scalability and reliability for high-volume manufacturing.
• Own end-to-end test strategy including test coverage definition, fault isolation, and diagnostic capability to meet quality, cost, and throughput targets.
• Serve as the technical focal point for test equipment suppliers and internal stakeholders, guiding specifications, design reviews, supplier selection, and acceptance testing.
• Drive installation, commissioning, and validation of test stations on the manufacturing floor, including site readiness, prove-out, and production handoff.
• Develop and enforce standardized test methodologies, documentation practices, and calibration strategies across manufacturing programs.
• Lead advanced troubleshooting of complex hardware, software, and system-level test failures, minimizing downtime and improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Analyze large-scale test data to identify systemic issues, reduce false failures, improve yield, and influence product and process design decisions.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, quality, and industry standards, acting as a subject-matter expert during audits and reviews.
• Partner closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure products are manufacturable and testable.
• Mentor and technically guide Associate and mid-level Test Engineers, providing design feedback, best practices, and career development support.
• Support NPI and design-for-test (DFT) initiatives, proactively identifying risks and driving corrective actions before production launch.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing test engineering, hardware validation, or end-of-line test system development.
• Strong understanding in industrial automation, PLCs, and test instrumentation, with hands-on experience using tools such as NI LabVIEW, Python, CANoe, or equivalent.
• Proven ability to design and deploy complex test systems in high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Advanced understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to read, create, and review electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and mechanical drawings.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to independently drive projects, manage competing priorities, and influence technical decisions.

Qualifications

• Experience in automotive, aerospace, or other regulated high-reliability industries.
• Deep knowledge of MES integration, test data management systems, and traceability requirements.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies to test operations.
• Background in equipment validation, GR&R, PFMEA, and control plan development.
• Familiarity with design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-test (DFT) best practices.
• Prior experience leading supplier technical engagements and cross-site manufacturing deployments.

Skills

• Strong technical skills in industrial automation, PLCs, and test instrumentation.
• Hands-on experience with tools such as NI LabVIEW, Python, CANoe, or equivalent.
• Advanced understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and statistical analysis.
• Proven ability to design and deploy complex test systems in high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to independently drive projects, manage competing priorities, and influence technical decisions.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more.
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Established and active employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Pay

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $135,420-226,980.

Schedule

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.