Engineering Technician

Tesla Engineering Test Team Member

The Role

This person will work as a member of Tesla's Engineering Test Team to support component level testing from concept through program release which will include characterization, reliability and durability testing. The primary objective of this role is to setup, maintain and conduct component, system and vehicle level tests in accordance with Tesla procedures. The successful candidate for this position must have experience in fabrication and system level maintenance, troubleshooting and testing.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate & assembly of test fixtures
• Run tests: setup, detailed inspections, maintenance and retrofits
• Root cause and report issues: Document and report issues identified during test or inspections. Collaborate with engineering teams to resolve mechanical & electrical issues discovered. Provide detailed written & verbal test status updates to key stakeholders
• Support engineering teams in instrumentation and data acquisition setup and logging
• General test equipment maintenance
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment
• Be able to support and mentor other technicians to help develop the team

Skills

CAD technician, reliability testing, environmental chamber, prototype testing, python, cad design

Top Skills Details

CAD technician, reliability testing, environmental chamber, prototype testing

Additional Skills & Qualifications

* Need someone who could reliably take on electrical inspections such as hi-pot, pictures, documentation in Jira and swap units in/out chambers repetitively. Draining coolant, removing high voltage electrical connections and reconnecting then adding coolant back in

Below is a ranked view of the skills we're prioritizing, in order of importance:

1. End-to-end lab execution & ownership

o Proven experience building, modifying, and maintaining test setups in an R&D or validation lab

o Comfortable working on multiple test setups in parallel, performing inspections, and keeping work unblocked

2. Cross-functional communication & execution tracking

o Ability to attend Design and Test meetings, report progress clearly, and raise risks early

o Strong discipline around documentation and execution tracking in Jira (tickets, updates, follow-ups)

3. Mechanical design & fabrication judgment

o Drafting concepts and fixtures in CAD for design reviews

o Rapid prototyping (3D printing first, then metal) and working with machine shops to modify or fabricate parts

o Comfortable sourcing mechanical components (80/20, fasteners, fixtures) from McMaster or similar suppliers

4. GD&T and drawing comprehension

o Solid understanding of GD&T and the ability to sanity-check mechanical drawings

o Knows what to measure, how to inspect parts, and when something shouldn't be sent to a third-party fab shop

5. Electrical build & harnessing

o Experience building custom wiring harnesses (CAN connectors, power, signal)

o Comfortable sourcing electrical components from Digi-Key or equivalent suppliers

6. Debug mindset (software + hardware)

o Bonus if they can write or modify Python, but at minimum able to do first-level debugging of scripts and test setups before escalating to an engineer

Experience Level

Entry Level

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Palo Alto, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $35.00/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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Palo Alto, CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 29, 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.