Instrumentation Technician

Job Title:(Contract)

Location: Plymouth

Duration: 1-Year Contract

Pay Rate: $36–$43 per hour

Travel Requirement: Up to 100% travel

Driving Requirement: Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record

Job Summary

The Travel Instrumentation Technician is responsible for installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting vehicle instrumentation during long-term Road Load Data Acquisition (RLDA) programs. This role supports durability testing by ensuring accurate and reliable data collection used to validate vehicle performance and product life across diverse environments and road conditions. The technician will work closely with engineering teams while traveling extensively to support on-road testing operations.

Key Responsibilities

Instrumentation Installation & Maintenance

• Install, wire, and configure sensors including strain gauges, accelerometers, thermocouples, and wheel force transducers (WFTs) according to engineering schematics and test plans.
• Perform calibration and maintenance of instrumentation systems to ensure accurate data capture.

Data Acquisition (DAQ) Systems

• Set up, program, and operate data acquisition systems used for public road load data acquisition.
• Monitor system performance and verify proper operation during testing.

Vehicle Data Integration

• Interface with onboard vehicle systems such as CAN bus and integrate vehicle data with external instrumentation.
• Ensure accurate synchronization and logging of all collected test data.

Field Troubleshooting

• Diagnose and repair instrumentation, wiring, and electrical issues in the field to minimize testing downtime.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective solutions.

Travel & Test Operations

• Travel nationwide with testing teams to support durability testing programs.
• Safely operate and navigate instrumented test vehicles while monitoring and logging test data.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain detailed records of instrumentation installations, wiring diagrams, calibration certificates, and troubleshooting activities.
• Communicate testing progress and instrumentation performance to engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience working with instrumentation and DAQ systems in R&D or testing environments (Automotive, Aerospace, or Heavy Equipment preferred).
• Strong knowledge of electrical principles, including soldering, wiring, and harness fabrication.
• Experience installing and troubleshooting sensors such as strain gauges, accelerometers, and thermocouples.
• Experience weatherproofing and ruggedizing instrumentation for long-term testing conditions.
• Familiarity with commercial data acquisition hardware and software (Mars Labs experience preferred).
• Knowledge of Electric Vehicle (EV) safety protocols and high-voltage systems is a plus.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and root cause analysis skills.
• Ability to work effectively in small mobile testing teams.

Working Conditions

• Up to 100% travel supporting nationwide test programs.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work in field environments.
• Comfortable working inside vehicles for extended periods across various road and terrain conditions.
• Flexibility to work overtime or off-shifts when required to meet testing schedules.