Hardware Test Engineer

Job Title: Hardware Test Engineer – Verification & Validation

Job Description

This role is a hands-on hardware test engineering position focused on electrical and mechanical medical device components and systems. You will plan, develop, execute, and validate test methods from prototype components through final system design, ensuring products meet functional requirements and compliance standards in a regulated environment. The position offers the opportunity to design and run test procedures, work closely with cross-functional teams, and contribute directly to the quality and safety of complex electromechanical medical systems over a multi-year project.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute verification test methods, protocols, and reports to confirm requirements at both component and system levels.

• Drive product quality by analyzing test results and providing timely, data-driven feedback 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, setups, materials, equipment, procedures, and acceptance criteria based on requirements and applicable standards.

• Perform functional testing of mechanical assemblies, electrical circuits, and integrated systems in a lab environment.

• Serve as a key contributor in cross-functional team meetings and design reviews, representing verification and validation perspectives.

• Review and analyze product requirements and compliance standards as part of test development activities.

• Support hardware product development, concept feasibility, pre-compliance, and change activities by developing tests, collecting data, and delivering clear test reports.

• Design hardware and software tools, fixtures, and test setups used to execute test methods and analyze resulting data.

• Review, understand, and characterize electrical and mechanical designs to develop robust test methods that ensure complete requirements coverage.

• Lead small teams through test projects for electromechanical components and systems, coordinating test execution and documentation.

• Read and interpret medical compliance standards and requirements, evaluate associated risks, and develop test procedures that ensure full compliance.

• Plan and lead test execution activities, including onsite work at third-party medical device safety test laboratories when required.

• Run manual tests on large capital equipment and system-level hardware following software updates and design changes.

• Maintain accurate, organized test documentation, including test plans, procedures, records, and reports, in line with regulated environment expectations.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience working with electromechanical systems.

• At least 4+ years of experience performing functional testing of hardware systems.

• Minimum of 2+ years of experience working in a regulated environment such as medical, automotive, or defense.

• Experience developing test procedures directly from product requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with at least 3+ years of test engineering experience, or a Master’s degree in engineering with at least 2+ years of test engineering experience.

• Hands-on experience with system-level and component-level verification and validation testing, including creation 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 in test engineering for hardware, including test plan and test procedure development.

• Ability to perform functional testing and validation of complex electromechanical medical device components and systems.

• Experience working in an electronics or systems test lab environment.

• Ability to read, understand, and apply compliance standards, particularly in medical device or similarly regulated industries.

• Capability to lead small test project teams and coordinate verification activities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with design verification and validation for medical devices or other regulated electromechanical systems.

• Familiarity with Python or similar scripting languages for test automation, data collection, or analysis.

• Experience designing hardware and software tools, fixtures, and custom test setups to support verification activities.

• Strong analytical skills for reviewing requirements, assessing test impacts, and defining test strategies.

• Ability to reverse engineer designs to understand key features, interfaces, and potential failure modes.

• Comfort working with large capital equipment and complex system-level hardware.

• Effective communication skills for collaborating with R&D, project management, quality, and manufacturing teams.

• Experience participating in and contributing to cross-functional design reviews.

• Detail-oriented approach to documentation, ensuring test methods, results, and reports are complete, accurate, and traceable.

• Interest in long-term project work, with the ability to support multi-year verification and validation efforts.

Work Environment

The role is based in an office and laboratory environment focused on testing large capital medical equipment as an end user would. You will work in a dedicated lab setting, operating complex electromechanical systems and running manual tests on hardware following software updates and design changes. The position involves regular use of electrical and mechanical test equipment, including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, force and pressure gauges, calipers, thermometers, flow meters, and scales. You will collaborate closely with engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams in a professional environment that emphasizes safety, compliance, and meticulous documentation. The work is hands-on, with significant time spent at test benches and equipment stations, and may occasionally require onsite presence at third-party medical device safety test laboratories.

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Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Plymouth, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The 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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Plymouth,MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 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 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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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.