Test & Validation Data Engineer

About the role

Join a dynamic team working on the development and validation of automotive steering systems for major OEMs. As a Test & Validation Data Engineer, you will be the technical bridge between product engineers and laboratory technicians, ensuring the seamless coordination of validation activities in a fast‑paced automotive development environment.

Responsibilities

• Review customer specifications and validation requirements.
• Translate requirements into laboratory test requests.
• Coordinate testing activities with engineers and lab technicians.
• Review, organize, and analyze validation test data.
• Create graphs, summaries, and engineering reports.
• Identify trends, performance changes, and failure modes.
• Support automotive Design Validation (DV) and Product Validation (PV) activities.
• Communicate findings and recommendations to cross‑functional teams.
• Support steering system, steering column, durability, corrosion, and validation testing programs.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with automotive testing, validation, product engineering, or laboratory environments.
• Ability to read and understand engineering test specifications.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Experience creating reports, graphs, and technical summaries from test data.
• Ability to communicate effectively with engineers, technicians, and cross‑functional teams.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Automotive DV/PV or DVP&R activities.
• Background in validation, test, product, reliability, or development engineering.
• Experience with steering, chassis, suspension, braking, or related automotive systems.
• Experience analyzing large mechanical test data sets.
• Exposure to durability, environmental, corrosion, or destructive testing.
• Experience in an automotive OEM, Tier 1, or Tier 2 supplier environment.
• Familiarity with engineering reporting and root cause investigations.

Work Environment

This position offers hybrid flexibility with three days onsite and two days remote. You will work with major automotive OEMs, supporting next‑generation steering programs. The role provides a unique opportunity to influence product decisions without being tied to hands‑on testing all day, offering exposure to customers, validation teams, product engineers, and leadership.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $34.00 – $39.00 per hour. Individual compensation will depend on qualifications, skills, experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent factors.

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions
• Life Insurance (voluntary life & AD&D for 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 & Location

This is a contract position based out of Ann Arbor, MI, with a hybrid work arrangement (three days onsite, two days remote).

Application Deadline

Anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

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 and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.