Pay Rate: up to $79.50/hr on w2 (No C2C or 3rd parties)
Location: Onsite in Foster City, CA
Helping our client find a Materials & Mechanical Test Engineer to support materials characterization, failure analysis, and component-level testing within the Materials & Failure Analysis Lab.
In this role, you’ll be highly hands-on and lab-focused, applying strong technical judgment, attention to detail, and adaptability to support a wide range of testing needs. You’ll work closely with engineering teams to execute both standardized and custom mechanical tests, helping generate high-quality data that supports product development and failure investigations.
The ideal candidate is equally comfortable operating Instron testing systems, designing custom fixtures, and executing standardized ASTM and ISO test methods. This person is also capable of thinking critically when testing requirements extend beyond standard methodologies.
As a Materials & Mechanical Test Engineer, you'll:
- Operate Instron Universal Testing Machines (UTMs) to perform tensile, compression, shear, bend, peel, fatigue, and custom mechanical tests.
- Set up and execute ASTM and ISO standard tests, including tensile, lap shear, peel, fracture, compression, and bend testing.
- Develop and execute custom or non-standard test setups when existing standards do not fully address the testing objective.
- Select appropriate load cells, grips, extensometers, and fixturing to ensure accurate execution, data integrity, and repeatability.
- Design custom mechanical test fixtures using CATIA (3D CAD) and produce clear, manufacturable designs for in-house or vendor fabrication.
- Prepare test specimens using basic lab tools for cutting, polishing, torquing, and fabrication.
- Use optical microscopes to document fracture surfaces and tested components, capturing images to support failure analysis.
- Record test conditions, observations, and deviations with high attention to detail, supporting accurate correlation between fracture features and test results.
- Analyze test data and generate clear, concise reports that communicate findings and recommendations to engineering teams.
- Develop and maintain documentation including standard operating procedures (SOPs), test methods, and technical reports to ensure consistent and repeatable testing practices.
- Maintain lab organization, safety, and equipment readiness while supporting engineers across materials, design, manufacturing, and quality teams.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering/Materials Engineering or equivalent
- 3-5 years of experience in mechanical testing, laboratory, or Vehicle Development role
- Hands-on experience operating Instron or equivalent UTM systems.
- Working knowledge of ASTM and ISO mechanical test standards.
- Proficiency in CAD (CATIA) for 3D modeling of mechanical fixtures.
- Experience setting up custom or non-standard mechanical tests.
- Experience using optical microscopes and cameras for fracture or component inspection.
- Strong attention to detail and disciplined lab documentation habits.
- Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced engineering environment.
Bonus Qualifications:
- Experience with polymers, composites, metals, or adhesive bonds.
- Familiarity with DIC extensometry, strain measurement, or fatigue testing.
- Prior experience in automotive, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing labs.
