Operations Manufacturing Test Lead

Who this role is best for

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Skills & requirements

About the role

JOIN THE TEAM BRINGING ADVANCED AUTONOMY TO THE BUILT WORLD

At Bedrock, we’re moving AI out of the lab and into the real world. Our team is composed of industry veterans who helped launch Waymo, scaled Segment to a $3.2B acquisition, and grew Uber Freight to $5B in revenue. Today, we’re deploying autonomous systems on heavy construction machinery across the country, accelerating project schedules of billion-dollar infrastructure projects and improving safety on job sites. Backed by $350M in funding, we’re working quickly to close the gap between America's surging demand for housing, data centers, manufacturing hubs, and the construction industry's growing labor shortage.

This is where algorithms meet steel-toed boots. You’ll collaborate with construction veterans and world-class engineers to solve physical-world problems that simulations can’t touch. If you're ready to apply cutting-edge technology to solve meaningful problems alongside a talented team—we'd love to have you join us.

Role Overview:

We are looking for a Manufacturing Test Engineer to design, build, and scale robust test systems that ensure product quality from early hardware development through high-volume manufacturing and fleet deployment.

This role sits at the intersection of hardware engineering, manufacturing, and quality—owning test strategy, infrastructure, and execution to catch design, process, workmanship, and component-level issues before products reach the field.

You will develop automated, data-driven test frameworks and diagnostic systems that enable fast bring-up, high coverage, and scalable production operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Test Strategy & Framework Development

• Define end-to-end manufacturing test strategy across EVT, DVT, PVT, and production

• Develop scalable hardware test frameworks covering functional, system-level, and end-of-line testing

• Architect modular test systems that can evolve from prototype builds to high-volume manufacturing

• Establish test coverage goals to ensure detection of:

• Design defects

• Component quality issues

• Manufacturing process variation

• Workmanship defects

• Test Development & Automation

• Design and implement functional test systems (electrical, mechanical, system-level validation)

• Develop automated test scripts and sequences using Python or similar languages

• Integrate test equipment (DAQs, sensors, vision systems, robotics interfaces, etc.)

• Build diagnostic tools to quickly isolate failures and reduce debug time

• Enable data logging, traceability, and test result analytics

• Work Order & Manufacturing Execution Integration

• Configure and manage work orders and test flows within MES or manufacturing systems

• Define test steps, pass/fail criteria, and routing logic across stations

• Ensure traceability of test results to serial numbers, components, and build configurations

• Partner with manufacturing teams to optimize throughput and minimize test time

• Product & Manufacturing Line Bring-Up

• Lead test bring-up for new products during EVT/DVT/PVT builds

• Support factory ramp by deploying and validating test stations on production lines

• Debug early build issues and rapidly iterate on test coverage and methods

• Train operators and technicians on test processes and troubleshooting

• Diagnostics & Failure Analysis

• Develop structured diagnostic workflows to identify root causes of failures

• Partner with hardware, firmware, and quality teams on root cause analysis (RCA)

• Differentiate between design issues, supplier defects, and manufacturing errors

• Implement containment actions and feed improvements back into test and design

• Reliability & Sustaining Test

• Design and execute ongoing reliability and stress testing (burn-in, environmental, lifecycle)

• Monitor failure trends and adjust test strategies to catch emerging issues

• Ensure alignment between validation testing and production test coverage

• Test Coverage & Continuous Improvement

• Define and track test coverage metrics and escape rates

• Continuously improve test effectiveness to reduce field failures and returns

• Optimize test time, cost, and efficiency without compromising quality

• Drive improvements in first pass yield (FPY) through better detection and diagnostics

• Data, Automation & Scaling

• Build systems for automated data collection, analysis, and reporting

• Leverage scripting and software tools to streamline test development and execution

• Implement scalable solutions that support multi-line, multi-site manufacturing

• Utilize advanced tools (including AI Agents/ML where applicable) for:

• Anomaly detection

• Failure classification

• Predictive insights on test and field data

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing test, hardware validation, or production engineering

• Experience supporting NPI builds (EVT/DVT/PVT) and scaling production ramp

• Strong experience with automated test development and scripting (Python preferred)

• Hands-on experience with test equipment (oscilloscopes, DAQs, power supplies, sensors, etc.)

• Familiarity with MES systems, work order configuration, and manufacturing workflows

• Experience with hardware-software integration and embedded systems testing

• Knowledge of diagnostics, failure analysis, and reliability testing methodologies

• Experience with data analysis tools (Python, SQL, or similar)\

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Robotics, autonomous systems, or complex electromechanical products

• High-volume manufacturing and contract manufacturer environments

• Vision systems, calibration processes, or system-level testing

• HIL/SIL testing frameworks

• Problem-Solving Mindset: Ability to manage and resolve complex challenges with little to no established playbooks, using creative and proven strategic thinking to drive solutions.

• Risk Management: Proven track record of identifying, managing, and mitigating risks in large, complex programs.

• Adaptability: Comfortable with ambiguity and able to thrive in a fast-moving, constantly evolving environment.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:

• High test coverage with minimal field escapes

• Efficient, scalable test systems that support rapid production ramp

• Fast and accurate failure detection and diagnosis

• Improved yield and reduced rework through better test and diagnostics

• Strong alignment between design validation and manufacturing test

OPERATING STYLE:

• Hands-on, detail-oriented, and highly analytical

• Strong problem solver with a bias toward root cause and data-driven decisions

• Comfortable working on the factory floor and in the lab

• Thrives in fast-paced environments with evolving products and processes

If you thrive in dynamic environments, love solving complex challenges, and want to make an impact with cutting-edge technology, we’d love to hear from you!

DAY IN THE LIFE - MANUFACTURING TEST ENGINEER

MORNING: DATA REVIEW & PRODUCTION PULSE CHECK

You start by checking what happened overnight or on the previous shift:

• First Pass Yield (FPY) by station

• Top failure modes and pareto trends

• Test station uptime and bottlenecks

• Any line stops or escalations

If a failure spikes—say a communication test or sensor calibration—you flag it immediately.

Then you join a quick stand-up with manufacturing, quality, and engineering:

• What’s breaking on the line right now?

• Are failures real (product) or false (test issues)?

• What needs immediate containment vs. deeper investigation?

You leave with a clear priority: keep the line running, but don’t let bad units escape.

MID-MORNING: ON-THE-LINE DEBUGGING

You’re on the manufacturing floor (or remote into stations), working side-by-side with technicians.

Typical scenarios:

• A unit is fail

Source: Bedrock Robotics careers (Ashby)