Talent Space is looking for a Test/Validation Engineer for their Automotive client located in Ann Arbor, MI. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a vibrant city known for its rich history and dynamic culture. The role offers a chance to be at the forefront of automotive powertrain development, ensuring cutting-edge technology and innovation.
Position Summary
Provide engineering support for light-duty conventional and electrified powertrain calibration, development, durability testing, and field-issue resolution. Coordinate vehicle preparation, test execution, technical analysis, and reporting to support engine and transmission performance, emissions compliance, OBD functionality, drivability, software and hardware validation, and overall vehicle robustness. The role works closely with a large cross-functional Powertrain Support team, emissions laboratories, workshops, test drivers, suppliers, and global engineering partners.
Primary Purpose
Coordinate and execute powertrain durability testing activities for development vehicles in the United States. The engineer is responsible for generating timely, high-quality test results, maintaining vehicle test readiness, monitoring technical status, identifying and troubleshooting faults, and supporting effective countermeasure validation. The position contributes to the evaluation of conventional and electrified powertrain and drivetrain systems, including calibration, software, hardware, diagnostics, OBD, emissions, and drivability performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Vehicle Preparation and Test Readiness
- Coordinate preparation of powertrain durability vehicles and confirm that required software, calibration, hardware, instrumentation, and vehicle configurations are installed before testing.
- Align with calibration, development, workshop, diagnostics, and test-fleet teams regarding vehicle updates, maintenance, repairs, parts, and test prerequisites.
- Perform or coordinate pre-test performance and functionality checks, including review of diagnostic data, fault memory, readiness, drivability, and vehicle condition.
- Maintain visibility of vehicle availability, open technical topics, planned updates, and test readiness risks.
- Durability Testing and Mileage Accumulation
- Coordinate day-to-day execution of mileage accumulation and durability testing in accordance with defined driving profiles, locations, maintenance schedules, and program requirements.
- Monitor test progress, vehicle usage, driver feedback, downtime, and deviations from the approved test plan.
- Work with internal teams and external service providers to support efficient test execution, appropriate vehicle handling, and timely completion of assigned activities.
- Escalate technical or operational risks that may affect test quality, vehicle safety, schedule, or data integrity.
- Emissions, OBD, and Powertrain Testing
- Coordinate emissions laboratory scheduling, vehicle delivery, test configuration, and receipt of test results.
- Review emissions and OBD test results for completeness and plausibility, identify irregularities, and coordinate follow-up testing when required.
- Support investigation and resolution of powertrain, emissions, OBD, drivability, engine, transmission, and electrified powertrain issues identified during durability testing.
- Collaborate with calibration and component experts to define measurement requirements and confirm test conditions.
- Technical Monitoring, Diagnostics, and Problem Solving
- Monitor the technical status of assigned vehicles using driver reports, diagnostic tools, measurement data, workshop findings, and test results.
- Perform first-level technical analysis and support detailed root cause analysis using structured problem-solving methods.
- Develop, coordinate, and verify countermeasures in cooperation with responsible engineering teams.
- Coordinate repair activities, parts availability, workshop support, software updates, and effectiveness checks to return vehicles to testing promptly.
- Document the issue history, analysis, decisions, countermeasures, and validation results in a clear and traceable manner.
- Reporting and Program Coordination
- Maintain accurate technical and administrative status information in required reports, trackers, and databases.
- Prepare concise weekly status updates for management and stakeholders, including test progress, open issues, vehicle downtime, decisions, risks, and next steps.
- Support tracking of relevant key performance indicators such as test progress, vehicle availability, issue closure, downtime, and planned versus actual activity.
- Participate in internal and global status meetings and communicate effectively with engineering partners across functions and regions.
- Author clear technical reports and presentations for a broad, global audience.
- Process, Quality, and Supplier Support
- Contribute to continuous improvement of durability testing, vehicle preparation, issue management, reporting, and cross-functional coordination processes.
- Support consistent work quality from internal and external partners by clarifying requirements, reviewing deliverables, and identifying process gaps.
- Contribute to process documentation, corrective actions, lessons learned, audits, and implementation of future test requirements.
- Promote safe vehicle operation, high-quality data, efficient use of test assets, and compliance with applicable internal procedures.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical, or a related engineering field.
- Minimum two years of experience with light-duty engine or powertrain development, including combustion, emissions control, OBD, drivability, calibration, or durability testing.
- Experience with light-duty engine control units; experience with Bosch control units is strongly preferred.
- Working understanding of light-duty emissions and OBD regulations and their application to vehicle development and testing.
- Proficiency with powertrain development and data-analysis tools such as INCA and MATLAB/Simulink.
- Ability to interpret diagnostic information, measurement data, test results, and vehicle fault reports.
- Ability to conduct structured root cause analysis, develop technical countermeasures, and verify solution effectiveness.
- Strong organization and project-coordination skills, including management of multiple vehicles, priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare concise technical reports for a global audience.
- Ability to work effectively in a large, cross-functional, and intercultural organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with durability fleets, mileage accumulation, proving-ground or public-road testing, and development vehicle operations.
- Knowledge of vehicle architecture, CAN bus systems, ECU communication, powertrain and drivetrain systems, and vehicle diagnostic processes.
- Experience with diagnostic and measurement tools such as Monaco or comparable applications in addition to INCA.
- Experience coordinating emissions laboratory testing, workshops, test drivers, suppliers, or external service providers.
- Familiarity with conventional, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery-electric powertrain systems.
- Experience with technical status reporting, KPI tracking, risk identification, and process improvement.
Special Requirements
- Valid U.S. driver's license.
- Ability and willingness to drive development vehicles on public roads, test trips, and proving grounds in accordance with company requirements.
- Approximately 10–25% travel within the United States.
- Frequent use of speech, vision, hearing, and hands for computer use, measurements, presentations, and vehicle operation; frequent sitting, standing, and reaching.
Core Competencies
- Technical analysis and structured problem solving
- Powertrain, emissions, OBD, and drivability knowledge
- Vehicle test planning and execution
- Cross-functional coordination and stakeholder communication
- Technical documentation and status reporting
- Quality focus, ownership, and attention to detail
- Adaptability in a fast-moving development environment