Engineering Test Technician

R&D – Engineering Test Technician, Technology Center

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world's toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

How will you make an impact?

As an R&D – Engineering Test Technician, Technology Center, you will provide hands-on technical support for engineering performance, verification, reliability, and product evaluation testing of cold storage and laboratory equipment.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with R&D development engineers, reliability engineers, and Technology Center technicians to prepare, instrument, operate, and evaluate prototypes and production-representative products. You will execute Engineering Test Procedures (ETPs), collect and document accurate test data, monitor test performance, and support troubleshooting and failure investigations throughout the New Product Development (NPD) and sustaining engineering processes.

Your work will help engineering teams make informed design decisions, verify product performance, resolve technical issues, and deliver reliable products that meet customer and regulatory expectations

What will you do?

Safety, Laboratory & Equipment Management

• Maintain a safe work environment and demonstrate a high level of safety awareness when working with refrigeration systems, electrical equipment, controlled-environment chambers, and laboratory test systems.
• Follow established laboratory safety procedures, engineering test instructions, and company quality requirements.
• Maintain organized laboratory work areas through 5S, Gemba walks, standard work, and good laboratory practices.
• Ensure test equipment, instrumentation, fixtures, and laboratory resources are maintained in safe and reliable working condition.
• Assist the Lab Supervisor with maintaining laboratory consumables, equipment readiness, and test resources.

Engineering Test Execution & Product Evaluation

• Set up, execute, and monitor engineering performance, verification, reliability, and product evaluation testing as requested by R&D development teams.
• Conduct testing according to approved Engineering Test Procedures (ETPs), engineering instructions, and established test methods.
• Conduct performance testing of refrigeration and cold storage products under controlled temperature and humidity conditions to assess product performance and identify potential design or operational issues.
• Execute reliability evaluations, including extended-duration operation, thermal cycling, component cycling, and other defined engineering test conditions.
• Monitor test progress, identify abnormal operating conditions, and communicate technical concerns to engineering teams.

Instrumentation, Data Acquisition & Test Documentation

• Configure thermocouples, temperature sensors, pressure transducers, electrical measurement devices, and other instrumentation used for engineering evaluations and operate data acquisition and data-logging systems to collect accurate and repeatable test measurements.
• Use digital multimeters, power meters, data loggers, and other laboratory equipment to measure and evaluate product performance.
• Maintain accurate records of test configurations, operating conditions, observations, and results using established laboratory information systems.
• Organize and communicate test data to engineering teams for analysis and evaluation against product requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve test repeatability, data quality, and laboratory testing efficiency.

Product Troubleshooting & Failure Investigation

• Assist engineering teams with troubleshooting failures and abnormal conditions identified during testing and apply working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and refrigeration systems to identify potential causes of performance deviations.
• Support evaluation of refrigeration system operation, including temperature performance, airflow, compressor operation, electrical power, and control-system behavior.
• Perform assigned diagnostic measurements and component-level evaluations to support engineering root-cause investigations.
• Work collaboratively with mechanical, electrical, refrigeration, and reliability engineers to resolve technical issues.

People and Culture

• Engage in a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Travel: infrequent travel may be required.

How will you get here?

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, HVAC/R Technology, Refrigeration Technology, or related technical discipline preferred.
• Relevant technical apprenticeship, vocational training, or equivalent combination of education and practical experience will be considered.

Experience

• 2+ years of hands-on technical experience in engineering testing, refrigeration/HVAC systems, electromechanical equipment, laboratory operations, or related technical environments.
• Experience using engineering test equipment, including digital multimeters, temperature measurement devices, and data acquisition systems.
• Experience preparing, instrumenting, and operating products or equipment for performance testing.
• Experience reading and following engineering drawings, schematics, test procedures, and technical instructions.
• Experience with refrigeration systems, including system operation, performance testing, and troubleshooting, strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting product verification, reliability testing, or engineering evaluations preferred.
• Experience working in an engineering laboratory, product development environment, or manufacturing test facility preferred.
• Experience with controlled-environment testing, including temperature and humidity chambers, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude with a practical understanding of electromechanical systems.
• Working knowledge of refrigeration and HVAC/R system operation and performance principles preferred.
• Ability to accurately execute engineering test procedures and maintain detailed test records.
• Familiarity with engineering instrumentation, including thermocouples, pressure transducers, electrical measurement devices, and data acquisition equipment.
• Ability to operate common laboratory test equipment and troubleshoot basic instrumentation or test setup issues.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, schematics, and technical documentation.
• Basic understanding of refrigeration system components, including compressors, fans, heat exchangers, sensors, and controls.
• Strong observational, analytical, and practical troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to identify abnormal test conditions and communicate technical findings clearly to engineering teams.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent testing activities and changing project priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional partners.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and electronic test documentation systems.
• Ability to work in controlled-environment test areas with elevated temperature and humidity conditions, using appropriate safety precautions.
• Ability to frequently lift up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Commitment to safety, quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement.