Test Development Engineer

Job Title: Test Development Engineer

Job Description

The Test Development Engineer will design and develop specialized mechanical test fixtures, test stands, and related equipment to support high-reliability mechanical testing. This role combines hands-on mechanical design, manufacturing oversight, integration, and testing of mechanical systems, assemblies, and components. The engineer will collaborate closely with test teams and systems engineers to execute mechanical tests, analyze results, and translate findings into design improvements that meet stringent reliability and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical test fixtures, test stands, specialized testbeds, tooling, and handling equipment for mechanical testing of prototype designs.
• Assist the test team in executing mechanical tests, including setup, operation, data recording, and test monitoring.
• Analyze test data, evaluate prototype performance, and translate test results into design refinements to meet high reliability and high safety requirements.
• Lead or support the engineering design, integration, and commissioning of specialized test setups to reduce technical risk and advance technology readiness levels.
• Provide oversight for manufacturing, integration, and testing activities, ensuring that mechanical test systems and prototypes meet technical specifications and design requirements.
• Develop mechanical and physical concepts and support the development of processes that create or identify mechanical solutions for testing and verification efforts.
• Gather, collect, and document applicable requirements, interfaces, design bases, and design criteria by coordinating with key stakeholders and systems engineers.
• Support the identification and application of relevant industry codes and standards under the direction of project leads and systems engineers.
• Plan and perform engineering analyses to assess mechanical test fixtures and ensure they perform their intended functions and meet design requirements.
• Develop innovative mechanical solutions to refine and deploy concepts, technologies, and designs, including work with prototype products made of stainless steel and graphite.
• Integrate design activities across internal engineering team members, external partners, and suppliers to ensure cohesive and efficient test system development.
• Perform scoping and sizing calculations to downselect design features and ensure compliance with consensus codes, standards, and design criteria.
• Create and maintain CAD-generated engineering models and associated product data throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support the assessment of mechanical test systems and prototypes for manufacturability, assembly, and integration considerations.
• Write and develop design documentation, including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and engineering drawings in accordance with applicable procedures.
• Develop Verification and Validation (V&V) plans for analytical tools and support the qualification of the engineering toolset.
• Perform work in accordance with established quality procedures for design and configuration management to ensure project quality requirements are met.
• Provide independent reviews and acceptance reviews of engineering deliverables, calculations, and test data to ensure technical rigor and compliance.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree in mechanical engineering or a related engineering discipline from an accredited institution.
• At least 5–10 years of experience in similar mechanical engineering roles within high reliability, high quality, or high safety programs.
• Demonstrated mechanical engineering design and development experience supporting high-reliability or safety-critical applications.
• Hands-on experience designing test beds and test fixtures for mechanical testing.
• Experience executing mechanical tests, recording test data, and evaluating test results to inform redesign efforts.
• Proficiency with engineering hand calculations to support sizing, scoping, and verification of mechanical designs.
• Experience with mechanical design of test equipment, test stands, and ground support equipment.
• Proficiency in using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software; experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter is highly relevant, though other CAD/PLM tools are acceptable.
• Hardware ownership experience, including oversight of manufacturing and testing activities.
• At least one year of hands-on experience developing and delivering hardware or manufacturing processes in a production environment.
• Experience with mechanical testing, mechanical troubleshooting, and test development in an engineering environment.
• Ability to perform and document engineering analyses to ensure mechanical test fixtures and systems meet technical specifications and design requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience designing and developing mechanical or fluid systems, assemblies, or components.
• Familiarity with pressure vessels, P&ID (piping and instrumentation diagrams), and related test equipment.
• Experience working with prototype products fabricated from stainless steel and graphite.
• Experience in test engineering and hardware test development for high-reliability applications.
• Experience with mechanical test fixture design, mechanical test stand design, and ground support equipment.
• Ability to integrate design activities across internal teams, external partners, and suppliers.
• Experience developing and maintaining design documentation, including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and drawings.
• Experience developing Verification and Validation (V&V) plans and supporting analytical tool qualification.
• Familiarity with consensus codes and industry standards applicable to mechanical and test system design.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to working within established quality and configuration management procedures.
• Interest in contributing to a growing organization with significant private and public funding and a trajectory toward becoming a public company.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an office-based engineering environment with close collaboration with test facilities and production areas. The engineer will work extensively with CAD and PLM tools, engineering analysis software, and documentation systems, as well as interact with physical hardware during manufacturing, integration, and testing activities. The role involves working with prototype mechanical systems, test stands, and fixtures, including components made from stainless steel and graphite, and supporting test execution alongside a dedicated test team. The organization is in a growth phase, supported by substantial private and public funding and progressing toward a public company structure, offering opportunities to shape processes, tools, and best practices in a high-reliability, high-safety engineering culture.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Rockville, MD.

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $75.00/hr.

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)

This is a fully onsite position in Rockville,MD.

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 28, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.