WHAT DOES AN ELECTRICAL TEST ENGINEER DO?
Published: Dec 31, 2024 – The Electrical Test Engineer provides vendors with equipment specifications, verifies new equipment, and oversees installation and debugging processes. This position programs and troubleshoots test equipment for battery-powered tools, ensuring proper machine sequencing and functionality. The engineer also maintains technical documents, manages repairs, and leads preventative maintenance to optimize equipment performance.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Electrical Test Engineer
1. Electrical Test Engineer Overview
- Test Development: Develop, document, execute, and analyze printed circuit assemblies (PCA) level functional tests and report data for sophisticated electro-mechanical systems.
- Data Analysis: Utilize sound engineering methods, data analysis, and documentation processes to perform technical reviews.
- Algorithm Development: Develop test algorithms and automated scripts, data acquisition and measurement systems, and test fixtures.
- Automation Scripting: Develop automated scripts for testing and data acquisition systems.
- Data Acquisition: Develop data acquisition and measurement systems for testing.
- Test Fixture Design: Design and develop test fixtures to support testing requirements.
- Cross-functional collaboration: Work cross-functionally to contribute to hands-on system debugging in areas such as power, thermal, EMC, electrical safety, and functional performance.
- Root Cause Analysis: Work with the design team to identify the test failure root cause, implement, and verify corrective actions and solution efficiency.
- System Debugging: Contribute to system debugging in areas of power, thermal, EMC, electrical safety, and functional performance.
- Vendor Management: Develop and maintain vendor relationships.
- Test Communication: Help drive communication for external test houses used during testing.
2. Senior Electrical Test Engineer Essential Functions
- Test Planning: Develop test plans and procedures based on new or established products to ensure the product meets customer requirements.
- Data Analysis: Support NPD teams through test development, data analysis, and competitor benchmarking.
- Statistical Analysis: Interpret performance data using robust statistical methods to make formal recommendations to product design teams.
- Test Development: Provide guidance, feedback, and recommendations for improving current testing methods and requirements.
- Test Fixture Design: Assist in the development, build, and programming of test fixtures.
- Documentation: Create documentation for test fixtures, theory of operation, and specifications.
- Laboratory Equipment Usage: Use laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, electronic loads, and data acquisition systems.
- Experimentation: Conduct experiments, perform simulations, and draw concise, logical conclusions by analyzing data.
- Project Management: Track projects to ensure adherence to schedule and communicate status updates to other teams and mid-level management.
- Reliability Assessment: Review new product designs and engineering changes concerning product reliability, user requirements, and warranty information.
- Meeting Facilitation: Schedule, develop agendas for, facilitate, and document technical meetings and formal presentations.
3. Electrical Test Engineer Role Purpose
- Component Testing: Be responsible for electronic component testing.
- Test Planning: Develop and document the test plan for functional, pre-compliance, and validation tests.
- Integration Support: Support component and vehicle-level integrations from prototype to production.
- Troubleshooting: Work with the design engineer to troubleshoot issues.
- Test Automation: Develop an automated test platform.
- Supplier Collaboration: Work closely with suppliers and test labs to plan and track the test progress.
- Test Documentation: Document the test results and improvement suggestions.
- Test Program Management: Lead electrical test programs, from test planning, and test execution, to data reporting for power electronic units, batteries, and other electrical products.
- Customer Collaboration: Collaborate with both internal and external customers to define requirements and specifications for testing.
- Design Review: Create and develop test plans, test procedures, and design review presentations to meet testing needs.
4. Electrical Test Engineer General Responsibilities
- Test System Design: Lead the design and implementation of test systems, procedures, and product qualification methodologies.
- Collaboration: Work with software and hardware engineers on the development of test procedures, methods, and criteria, based on product specifications, quality, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.
- Test Methodology Development: Define, create, and maintain test methods for the hardware manufacturing process of PCBAs, sub-assemblies, batteries, and chargers.
- Data Management: Responsible for data collection, data analysis, and data reporting.
- Design Support: Support deployment, validation, and qualification of engineering designs.
- Test Automation: Define, develop, and implement test automation equipment and requirements.
- Production Support: Support production application - perform data quality checks, and investigate production inquiries and issues.
- Quality Assurance: Work closely with the Quality Assurance Team on the development of project deliverables.
- Test Infrastructure Management: Maintain, deploy, and control test system infrastructure.
- Best Practices for Testability: Identify and drive the use of design best practices for testability and maintainability of software and hardware.
- Lab Training: Assist with training all lab personnel through a complete understanding of the test procedures as well as the testing requirements.
- Test Method Deployment: Work with the lab manager on the planning, execution, and deployment of test methods.
- Firmware Testing: Work with software developers on firmware unit testing and firmware integration testing.
5. Electrical Test Engineer Key Accountabilities
- Vendor Management: Provide vendors with new equipment requirements, assist with new equipment verification, and oversee the installation and debugging of the same equipment.
- Test Equipment Programming: Work with process engineers and/or equipment manufacturers to program and/or reprogram purchased test equipment for battery-powered tools.
- Blueprint Reading: Read blueprints, wiring, and schematic diagrams for assembly line test equipment.
- Technical Documentation: Develop and maintain technical documents and repair logs relating to the operation of equipment.
- Parts Procurement: Purchase and/or fabricate basic parts needed to maintain test equipment.
- Equipment Research: Research new equipment types, sources, costs, and delivery to assist in maintaining test equipment.
- PLC Troubleshooting: Using PLC Ladder Logic, troubleshoot and modify machine logic to ensure appropriate machine sequencing.
- Test Equipment Repair: Identify, troubleshoot, and repair lithium battery-powered power tool test equipment.
- Preventative Maintenance: Guide preventative maintenance efforts to keep manufacturing of end-of-assembly line test equipment, basic computer file transfer (programmers), and various tool markings (engravers, dot impact, laser, etc.) in optimal working condition.
- Team Management: Manages three to four associates directly.