Fatigue Test Engineer

Fatigue Test Engineer

We are seeking a Fatigue Test Engineer to join our team in Mossville, IL. The ideal candidate will have experience in fatigue testing and mechanical testing of components and materials. They will lead and contribute to projects focused on delivering high-quality data and results to internal clients. The role involves both hands-on and analytical work, requiring collaboration with technicians and other engineers to develop processes, procedures, and test plans.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project Leadership:
  Lead mechanical testing projects for internal clients, including test design, execution, and reporting.
• Consultation:
  Work with clients to define testing needs and deliverables.
• Testing Strategy:
  Analyze how to test components to failure, ensuring alignment with expected or observed failure modes.
• Fixture Design & Instrumentation:
  Design fixtures and plan instrumentation, including strain gauging of critical specimens for data validation.
• Data Analysis:
  Conduct statistical analysis of fatigue test results and summarize findings in technical reports.
• Team
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Assign tasks to technicians, review progress with the work group, and communicate results effectively to clients.
• Process Development:
  Create and refine procedures for material testing, ensuring adherence to high-quality standards.

Typical Work Environment:

• Office/Lab Split:
  Approximately 75% office work and 25% lab work.
• Team Interaction:
  Daily collaboration with engineers, technicians, and managers, both in person and via virtual meetings.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology (Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science preferred).
• Relevant industry experience, including internships or work experience in mechanical or materials testing.

Technical Skills (Required):

• General knowledge of fatigue and fracture mechanics.
• Strong understanding of mechanics of materials, including stress-strain concepts and elastic/plastic deformation.
• Familiarity with testing instrumentation such as strain gauges, load cells, and LVDTs.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis for fatigue and fracture testing.
• Strong technical writing skills for reports and documentation.
• Ability to apply engineering concepts to practical problems, devising testing solutions that deliver actionable results.

Technical Skills (Desired):

• Experience with hydraulic equipment and mechanical test load frames.
• Knowledge of material microstructure and its impact on fatigue performance.
• Familiarity with machining processes for fixture and test piece fabrication.
• Experience with CAD software (e.g., Creo) – less than 10% of the job.
• Knowledge of Caterpillar DATK software and project planning tools like Microsoft Project.

Soft Skills:

• Strong communication and professionalism for interaction with engineers, technicians, and managers.
• Attention to detail in following test protocols and establishing new procedures.
• Self-motivated and able to independently formulate and execute test plans.
• Continuous learning mindset to adapt skills for unique projects.
• Strong focus on safety and the ability to present results effectively in person or virtual meetings.

Disqualifiers/Red Flags:

• No hands-on lab testing or operations experience.