Mechanical Test Engineer-ATS

Requisition ID # 173259 

Job Category: Engineering / Science 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Energy Delivery

Work Type: Onsite

Job Location: San Ramon

Department Overview

Applied Technology Services (ATS) has been providing technology-based, innovative, high-value services to the company for over 40 years. ATS is a multidisciplinary team of over 120 engineers, scientists, and technicians. The ATS vision is to be a forward-thinking, technological leader providing high-value solutions and services needed across the Company. ATS high value services also help proactively avoid future problems by specifying equipment, materials and methods that are best practices in the industry.

Position Summary

A successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to work in a mechanical testing lab with previous experience in planning, conducting, and reporting. The candidate will facilitate lab operations including the development and execution of lab procedures, test methods, and test databases.

The candidate should have experience programming test frames for mechanical tests. The candidate will have experience using scientific methods and work experience to design and execute complex and custom tests to evaluate the performance of components that do not have industry testing standards. This would include the designing and fabricating of custom test fixtures using finite element analysis. A candidate should have knowledge of fabrication tools including hand tools, band saw, drill press, lathe, CNC mill, and acetylene torches. Furthermore, a strong background in machinery repair and troubleshooting of equipment is desired.

A strong knowledge of metallurgy including understanding of variety material failure modes. Materials you will most likely encounter on the job are: Steels (pipes, valves, vessels), Aluminum (wire, fittings, connectors), Copper (wire, valves), and ceramics (insulators).  Previous knowledge and experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, product specifications, and other technical documents.

Strong oral and written communication skills with a customer focus and a can-do attitude are required.

Candidates should be able to communicate with clients and failure analysis engineers to develop test plans with effective test results in a fast-paced environment. This job requires developing and promoting strong client relationships and being sensitive to client issues. The candidate will participate and actively contribute in team environments such as: brainstorming, troubleshooting, and problem-solving efforts.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job.  The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity.  Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.

Bay Area Minimum: $109,000

Bay Area Mid:$142,000
Bay Area Maximum: $175,000

This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs

Job Responsibilities

• Safety: Demonstrate safe working practices at all times. Strong focus on customer, general public and employee safety in all work practices.
• Housekeeping: Responsible for scheduling and performing necessary, maintenance, calibration, and shop orderliness including ensuring adequate inventory of testing supplies is maintained.
• Job Management: Collaborate well with team members and clients to plan, schedule, and conduct multiple laboratory projects simultaneously with demanding project timelines.  Develop and implement procedures, testing qualifications, and test databases
• Performance testing: Independently plan, design, setup, execute, and analyze results for complex testing of components. Support mechanical test technicians by generating test plans that meet customer expectations along with test setup, test execution, and interpreting test results.
• Quality Improvement: Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities to improve processes and expand capabilities within the lab.
• Reporting: Compile detailed test data and put together simple pre/post-test summary reports in the format requested by the clients.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• B.S. degree in materials engineering, mechanical engineering, or physics
• 3 years relevant work experience

Desired:

• Master's degree
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE)
• Experience designing and executing performance aqnd reliability testing.
• Experience performing root cause analysis on component failure
• Experience with simple finite element analysis as part of design and fabrication of fixtures
• Basic understanding of hydraulic systems and electronics.
• Basic understanding of coding principles including control logic for mechanical testing equipment (MTS and Tinius Olson Software)
• Experience with defining scope, creating a plan, and managing test schedules
• Familiarity with test standards such as ANCI, ASTM, ISO, SAE for composite and metallic testig
• Experience reading and interpreting technical documents(engineering drawings and product specifications)
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment, managing multiple tasks to achieve significant goals.
• Consulting experience managing client expectations
• Comfortable with computers: familiar with MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint