Electronics Lab Technician – Reliability & ATE Validation

Job Description: Electronics Lab Technician (Advanced ADAS & ECU Validation)
Job Title: Electronics Lab Technician – Reliability & ATE Validation
Location: Onsite – Palo Alto, CA (with regional lab coverage in Hayward & San Jose)
Schedule & Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (40 hrs/week)
Clearance/Requirement: Must pass Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) background check
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Electronics Lab Technician to join our hardware reliability and validation team supporting next-generation electrical architecture for Client Technologies.

In this role, you will play a critical technical part in building, testing, troubleshooting, and validating state-of-the-art vehicle systems, including Level 3+ ADAS, telematics, infotainment systems, battery management systems (BMS), and zonal Electronic Control Units (ECUs). You will operate custom Automated Test Equipment (ATE), configure environmental chambers, execute EVT/DVT/PVT test profiles, and conduct root-cause failure analysis in collaboration with design engineering leads.

Key Responsibilities

• Hardware Bring-Up & Test Execution: Operate software user interfaces, automated test environments, and lab instruments to exercise complex electronic hardware during bring-up and validation phases.
• Environmental & Stress Testing: Own mechanical setup, sensor instrumentation, and calibration of thermal chambers, vibration tables, and external chillers. Configure precise thermal ramp profiles and dwell cycles.
• Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Diagnose and isolate hardware, harness, test setup, and Device Under Test (DUT) failures down to the component level using electrical schematics and diagnostic equipment.
• Benchtop Systems Validation: Validate electrical functionality and signal integrity using oscilloscopes, power analyzers, digital multimeters (DMMs), programmable DC power supplies, and logic analyzers.
• Board Modification & Precision Rework: Perform fine-pitch surface-mount (SMD) component rework, micro-soldering/de-soldering, trace cuts, jumper modifications, and custom wire harness fabrication.
• Commissioning & Data Logging: Assist in the build, wiring, and commissioning of first-article test fixtures and ATE racks. Document test results, capture waveforms, redline schematics, and file detailed incident/bug reports for design leads.
• Multi-Lab Support: Travel locally between development labs in Palo Alto, Hayward, and San Jose to manage test setups and support multi-site reliability runs.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education/Experience: Associate degree or technical degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Electronics, or equivalent hands-on industry experience (5+ years preferred).
• Automated & Hardware Testing: 5+ years of hands-on experience working with Automated Test Equipment (ATE), industrial automation, or environmental testing systems.
• Schematic & Component Literacy: Proficient in reading and interpreting complex electrical schematics, digital logic designs, power architecture, and component datasheets.
• Hardware Rework: Proven capability in precision hand-soldering and SMD circuit board rework (IPC-7711/7721 standard techniques preferred).
• Validation Lifecycles: Solid understanding of EVT (Engineering Validation Test), DVT (Design Validation Test), and PVT (Production Validation Test) workflows and failure reporting standards.
• Technical Calculations: Ability to execute basic control and math equations (e.g., calculating thermal ramp rates, soak times, and power draw).
• Lab Software & Tools: Proficient in using Microsoft Office / Google Workspace applications for documentation, data recording, and tracking.
• Physical & Logistics Capabilities: o    Capability to physically move, hoist, and position heavy test fixtures, equipment, and instrumentation. o    Valid Driver’s License and clean driving record (Must pass MVR check) for local site travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with vehicle networking protocols and interface tools (CAN, CAN-FD, LIN, Ethernet, Vector Tools/CANoe).
• Background in automotive OEM, Tier-1 supplier, EV technology, aerospace, or high-reliability hardware validation environments.
• Hands-on experience with environmental testing chambers (Thermotron, CSZ, Unholtz-Dickie) and industrial fluid chillers.

Applied Skills
Automated Test Equipment (ATE)
Electronics Hardware Validation
Thermal & Vibration Chamber Testing
Oscilloscope & Electrical Test Equipment
PCB Soldering & Circuit Board Rework
Electrical Schematic Reading
Test Fixture & Harness Troubleshooting
Environmental Reliability Testing
Root Cause Analysis & Failure Troubleshooting
EVT / DVT / PVT & Tester Validation.