Test Engineer (Aircraft Fluid Mgmt)

Acara Solutions has been providing aerospace firms with our staffing services for over 65 years. We currently have a contract, and possibly a contract-to-direct Test Engineer opening at our national aerospace controls client in Valencia, CA. This is an onsite position. The contractor target pay rate range is from $50 - $75 per hour DOE.

The Test Engineer works in a hands-on environment supporting the design engineering team to provide technical support for environmental qualification testing of new products. You will be responsible for the design of electro-mechanical test setups for new products, and maintenance, repairs, obsolescence planning and continuous improvement on existing test setups with a strategic approach to automation where applicable.

• Quickly develop a thorough understanding of the company's products and all test requirements (primarily: rotary actuators, hydraulic valves, and pressure and temperature switches).
• Translate test requirements & procedures into physical test setups and test plans. Assist test technicians with the construction of test setups.
• Implement environmental tests per RTCA DO-160 and MIL-STD-810 (temperature, humidity, altitude, vibration, shock, hydraulic/pneumatic flow)
• Modify existing test equipment hardware and/or software to accommodate new or changed requirements.
• Monitor ongoing tests and interpret data to identify and troubleshoot any issues that arise.
• Evaluate/select outside test labs to assist with qualification test programs as necessary.
• Work on electrical panels/controllers/circuit boards of high pressure & voltage pneumatic and hydraulic systems (up to 10,000 PSI/280 VAC).
• Work on test equipment that operates at high temperatures (up to 800° F).
• Create equipment drawings and electrical schematics, specify and purchase all components and materials, find reliable vendors to assist, and write software to accomplish the design and development of automated test equipment.

Required Skills / Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or any related field (an Associate's degree may be considered with extensive similar testing experience).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in an aerospace test setting/lab environment that includes:
• The ability to lead cross functional qualification test efforts from initial requirements phase to implementation & completion
• Understand and safely use motors, gearboxes, valves, electrical power, pneumatics and hydraulics and all commonly used related lab tools and components, including oscilloscopes.
• Min 1 year of experience working under an aerospace quality system (e.g. AS9100)

This is an aerospace ITAR facility, U.S. Persons required (Green Card acceptable).

Preferred: 10 years of experience

• Experience with environmental testing per RTCA DO-160 & MIL-STD-810 (temperature, humidity, altitude, vibration, shock, hydraulic/pneumatic flow)
• Design, develop and debug DC to low frequency analog and digital electronic circuits.
• Help to design mechanical systems and mechanisms in SolidWorks and/or Creo.
• Develop and debug test automation software in LabVIEW, TestStand, and Python.
• Work with vendors to clarify all aspects of design for custom parts, including machined parts and PCBs.