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Automated Test Equipment Engineer
Posted: 07/24/2026
Job Number: 1299
Pay Rate: 100,000
Job Description
Join a highly technical engineering and manufacturing environment where your work will directly support the reliability, readiness, and long-term sustainment of mission-critical defense electronics.
We are seeking a hands-on Automated Test Equipment Engineer to design, integrate, troubleshoot, and sustain advanced test systems for radar, RF, avionics, and complex electronic assemblies. This position supports the full test-system lifecycle, including new ATE development, depot repair capability, production testing, engineering verification, customer demonstrations, and legacy-system modernization.
This is not a documentation-only or purely theoretical engineering position. The successful candidate will work directly with test hardware, software, instrumentation, interfaces, fixtures, and electronic assemblies. The role requires an engineer who can move comfortably between system-level architecture and detailed troubleshooting while supporting multiple technically complex programs.
Key Responsibilities ATE Design and System Integration
- Develop automated test equipment architectures for radar, RF, avionics, and other defense electronic assemblies.
- Define test-system requirements, interfaces, instrumentation, switching, power, loads, fixtures, and custom electronics.
- Select and integrate commercial off-the-shelf instrumentation and supporting test equipment.
- Develop or support interface test adapters, cable assemblies, test fixtures, and custom hardware solutions.
- Perform test-station assembly, system bring-up, calibration, validation, and acceptance testing.
- Troubleshoot hardware, software, instrumentation, communication, and interface-related issues.
- Verify that test systems meet engineering, production, repair, and customer requirements.
- Develop, modify, or support automated test software using C#, Python, LabVIEW, TestStand, or comparable tools.
- Convert manual test procedures, engineering requirements, and technical data into reliable automated test sequences.
- Develop repeatable methods for stimulus generation, measurement, data acquisition, and results analysis.
- Support communication between test software, instruments, devices under test, and external systems.
- Capture and organize test results, failure data, configuration information, and diagnostic findings.
- Improve test coverage, execution time, repeatability, maintainability, and fault-isolation capability.
- Perform system-level fault isolation across hardware, software, RF interfaces, electronic assemblies, and test equipment.
- Investigate test failures and determine whether issues originate within the unit under test, test station, interface hardware, software, or procedure.
- Support root-cause analysis and corrective-action activities.
- Work directly with technicians, manufacturing personnel, repair teams, quality personnel, and other engineers to resolve technical issues.
- Provide technical guidance during production testing, depot repair, engineering verification, and customer demonstrations.
- Diagnose and resolve issues involving deployed, aging, or legacy ATE systems.
- Develop solutions for obsolete instruments, unsupported software, unavailable components, and changing program requirements.
- Lead or support test-station modernization and obsolescence-mitigation initiatives.
- Update test procedures, technical documentation, software, drawings, and configuration records.
- Maintain configuration control for test hardware, software, interfaces, and procedures.
- Identify and implement product, process, and test-system improvements.
- Support the continued availability and effectiveness of critical depot repair and production test capabilities.
- Coordinate technical activities across multiple active ATE development and sustainment efforts.
- Track engineering risks, dependencies, technical blockers, schedules, and task-level progress.
- Communicate technical status, findings, and recommendations to engineering and program leadership.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to balance performance, cost, schedule, reliability, and maintainability.
- Support bids and proposals by developing technical concepts, labor estimates, assumptions, schedules, and risk assessments.
- Participate in technical reviews, design reviews, test-readiness reviews, and customer meetings.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- At least five years of experience in automated test equipment, radar systems, RF electronics, avionics, electronic test, or a closely related engineering field.
- Hands-on experience developing, integrating, troubleshooting, or sustaining automated test solutions.
- Experience working with RF test instruments, electronic test equipment, hardware-in-the-loop systems, or complex test stations.
- Strong troubleshooting and fault-isolation skills across hardware, software, instrumentation, and system interfaces.
- Ability to interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, interface-control documentation, technical manuals, and engineering requirements.
- Familiarity with radar, RF, signal-processing, or electronic-system verification concepts.
- Ability to translate engineering requirements and manual procedures into repeatable test methods.
- Strong technical documentation and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple technical priorities with minimal supervision.
- Willingness and ability to work on-site in Franklin, North Carolina.
- U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Experience developing automated test software with C#, Python, LabVIEW, TestStand, or similar platforms.
- Experience with RF signal generators, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, oscilloscopes, power meters, digital multimeters, programmable power supplies, and switching systems.
- Experience developing interface test adapters, test fixtures, cable assemblies, or custom test electronics.
- Knowledge of radar signal generation, signal analysis, electronic countermeasure systems, or RF subsystem testing.
- Experience supporting defense or aerospace electronics manufacturing, depot repair, or sustainment programs.
- Experience troubleshooting legacy ATE and replacing obsolete hardware or software.
- Familiarity with configuration management, calibration requirements, engineering change processes, and technical-data control.
- Experience supporting classified, ITAR-controlled, or other export-controlled programs.
- Experience contributing to technical proposals, estimates, statements of work, or program risk assessments.
This position is based in an on-site electronics manufacturing and depot repair facility supporting defense, classified, and export-controlled programs. The role requires regular interaction with engineering laboratories, production areas, repair operations, test stations, and electronic hardware.
Employees must follow all applicable electrostatic-discharge, equipment-safety, information-security, export-control, and facility-security requirements.
Meet Your Recruiter
Chris Wanitshka
CEO
Meet our CEO, Chris Wanitshka. Hard work and dedication have always been driving forces for Chris. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in sociology from Stetson University. Leveraging his ability to create strategic partnerships and with over a decade of experience, Wanitshka revived two staffing companies, delivering multimillion-dollar growth and building a large book of business as a Business Development Executive. In 2020, he launched X-Force, specializing in executive and high-impact candidates for simulation, aviation, gaming, and high-tech companies.
Outside work, he has a very active lifestyle as an avid snowboarder, mountain bike enthusiast, scuba diver, Muay Thai Martial Artist/former competitive kickboxer, and muscle car aficionado.
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Discover your next career opportunity in charming Franklin, North Carolina! Embrace the unparalleled growth prospects and beautiful surroundings this area offers to job seekers. Nestled in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, Franklin boasts a vibrant arts scene with galleries like The Factory and charming boutiques. Enjoy local delicacies like fried apple pies and explore the lush Nantahala National Forest for outdoor adventures. Don't miss catching a show at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. Begin your career journey in Franklin and experience the perfect blend of work-life balance in this idyllic mountain town.