At least 3 years
Job Description
The Product Safety Engineer is responsible for planning, developing, executing, and automating test strategies to verify and validate electronic hardware designs, with a strong focus on product safety and regulatory compliance. This role works closely with hardware design, firmware, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure that PCB assemblies, subsystems, and complete products meet functional, performance, reliability, safety, and regulatory requirements throughout the entire product lifecycle, from prototype through production release, including medical device applications.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute comprehensive test plans for electronic hardware, including PCB assemblies, subsystems, and complete products, with a focus on product safety and compliance.
- Design, build, and maintain hardware test setups, fixtures, and test equipment to support safety, product testing, and hardware testing activities.
- Perform functional, electrical, performance, stress, and environmental testing, and troubleshoot hardware failures at the component, board, and system levels.
- Collaborate with hardware design engineers to review schematics, PCB layouts, and design changes from a testability, safety, and reliability perspective.
- Develop automated test scripts and tools to improve test coverage, repeatability, efficiency, and consistency of safety and hardware tests.
- Document test procedures, test results, failure analysis, and corrective actions in a clear and thorough manner to support traceability and regulatory needs.
- Support design verification (DVT), production validation (PVT), and manufacturing bring-up activities to ensure safe and reliable product introduction.
- Assist with regulatory, safety, and compliance testing, including EMC/EMI, ESD, thermal, and safety standards such as IEC-based requirements for medical devices and other products.
- Provide feedback and recommendations to improve design robustness, manufacturability, testability, and product safety across the hardware lifecycle.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify root causes of failures, implement corrective actions, and continuously improve safety and reliability performance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- Approximately 3+ years of experience testing electronic hardware, with the experience level adjustable based on overall fit and capabilities.
- Experience in safety-focused product testing and hardware testing, including work on PCB assemblies and complete products.
- Experience with product safety and regulatory considerations, preferably including medical device environments and IEC-based standards (such as IEC 60601-1 or similar).
- Strong understanding of analog and digital circuits, power systems, and embedded hardware.
- Proficiency with common lab equipment, including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, signal generators, and digital multimeters (DMMs).
- Ability to read and interpret schematics, PCB layouts, and component datasheets accurately.
- Hands-on experience with hardware debugging and root-cause analysis at component, board, and system levels.
- Strong technical documentation skills, with the ability to create clear test procedures, reports, and failure analysis documentation.
- Effective communication skills to collaborate with design, firmware, manufacturing, and quality teams.
- Experience with test automation using Python, Shell or command-line scripting, or similar tools to streamline and scale hardware and safety testing.
- Familiarity with embedded systems and firmware interaction, including communication protocols such as I²C, SPI, UART, USB, and Ethernet.
- Experience with manufacturing test development and production support, including developing and maintaining test fixtures and procedures for production lines.
- Knowledge of reliability testing, environmental testing, and failure analysis methods, including techniques such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
- Background in medical device product safety and compliance, including working with IEC-based safety standards and documentation.
- Ability to provide design-for-test (DFT) and design-for-reliability (DFR) input during hardware development to improve safety and robustness.
The Product Safety Engineer works in a laboratory and development environment that focuses on electronic hardware and product safety, including medical device applications. The role involves regular hands-on work with PCB assemblies, electronic subsystems, and complete products using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, signal generators, and digital multimeters. The engineer collaborates closely with hardware design, firmware, manufacturing, and quality teams, participating in design reviews, verification and validation activities, and manufacturing bring-up. Work includes supporting design verification (DVT), production validation (PVT), and regulatory and compliance testing such as EMC/EMI, ESD, thermal, and safety evaluations aligned with IEC standards. The environment emphasizes precision, thorough documentation, and cross-functional communication, offering opportunities to influence product safety, reliability, and manufacturability across the full product lifecycle.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Portage, MI.
Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $49.65 - $55.00/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)
This is a fully onsite position in Portage,MI.
Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Jun 17, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
Posting ID: JP-006069119
