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Principal Manufacturing Test Engineer
Career Insights for Manufacturing Test Engineer
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Based on Massachusetts data
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What they do
A Manufacturing Test Engineer supports an efficient manufacturing process by developing and executing procedures to test the efficiency of machinery within a manufacturing environment. Assesses and analyzes production test data, and suggests any corrective actions for identified deficiencies within the equipment. Sets up routine maintenance schedules and suggest new processes or upgrades to enhance overall efficiency
$106,981 / year median in Massachusetts
+9% projected growth
Job Description
Create clarity from ambiguity:
establish test frameworks, standards, and decision criteria that guide the broader engineering team. Define what "ready to test" means at each build stage and own the test readiness process as part of manufacturing readiness. Partner with Engineering, Validation, and Quality leadership to align V&V requirements with production test capability. Translate validation intent into a production test philosophy that balances thoroughness, cycle time, and cost at scale. Architect the test data strategy — define schemas, traceability frameworks, pass/fail logic, and export standards designed for direct dashboard ingestion (Grafana, QuickSight, or similar). Ensure test data enables real-time production visibility, trend analysis, and closed-loop design feedback without post-processing. Drive the design and deployment of manufacturing test systems — electromechanical subassembly test stations, HIL rigs, in-line functional/parametric test, and end-of-line acceptance test — sized for medium-to-high throughput and architected for operator execution at rate. Design operator-friendly test setups that inform high-volume line requirements — intuitive UIs, clear pass/fail indicators, guided error recovery, and work instructions that enable L1 operators to execute complex test sequences reliably. Engineer the test flow to balance throughput with learning. Specify and procure test instrumentation — DAQ hardware, sensors, power supplies, electronic loads, motion controllers, communication interfaces (CAN, EtherCAT, SPI, UART
) — making strategic build-vs-buy decisions on test hardware, fixtures, and platforms. Scale test solutions from single-station, engineering-attended toward multi-station, operator-run, and fully instrumented — designing modular, replicable test cells that can be deployed across lines and sites. Analyze test data to drive quality and design improvements at a systems level — identify trends, correlate failures to root cause, and feed actionable insights back to design, process, and quality engineering. Own the feedback loop between the test floor and the next design iteration. Raise the bar on hiring, develop the team's test engineering capabilities, and mentor engineers. Shape the test engineering culture — technical rigor, data discipline, and operational excellence. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline. 10+ years of manufacturing test engineering experience for electromechanical or robotic products, including experience spanning both NPI/prototype and high-volume production environments. Experience owning manufacturing test strategy for a new product introduction (NPI) from concept through volume production. Hands-on experience developing and deploying in-line and end-of-line functional test systems, including test sequence creation, pass/fail criteria definition, and parametric/SPC data collection. Proficiency in test software/frameworks (e.g., LabVIEW, NI
TestStand, Python-based test automation or custom solutions) and DAQ/instrumentation specification. Demonstrated experience architecting test data pipelines for dashboarding and analytics — structured data formats, schemas, and traceability frameworks designed for consumption, not just storage. Demonstrated ability to create clarity from ambiguity — defining test strategy, frameworks, and decision criteria for cross-functional teams. Ability to influence at a senior level across engineering, validation, quality, and manufacturing leadership. Proven ability to implement test systems end-to-end — fixture build, instrumentation integration, and on-floor debug. Technical support available; hands-on execution is not optional. Preferred Qualifications Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test system design and deployment at production scale Experience standing up test operations for a greenfield or brownfield manufacturing facility Experience in robotics or complex electromechanical manufacturing test Experience with high-throughput test cell design (cycle time optimization, parallel test, multi-station architectures) Familiarity with data visualization tools (Grafana, QuickSight, etc.) and structured data formats (JSON, Parquet, SQL databases) Experience with communication protocols common in robotic/electromechanical systems (CAN, EtherCAT, SPI, UART, Ethernet/IP) Experience scaling test systems from prototype quantities to volume production (100+ units/day) Knowledge of GD&T, measurement system analysis (MSA/Gage R&R), and statistical process control Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner. The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits . USA, MA, N.Reading - 163,400.00 - 221,000.00 USD annually Active Filters Principal Manufacturing Test Eng... North Reading, MA Clear All ApplyBenefits
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 401(k) Plans
- Mental Health
- Health and Wellness Programs