Validation Technician Power Electronics - Now Hiring

Job Title: Validation Technician Power Electronics

Job Description

The Validation Technician Power Electronics supports the testing, validation, certification, and continuous improvement of advanced power conversion and industrial control products. In this hands-on role, you execute engineering validation plans, regulatory compliance testing, environmental testing, and reliability testing on medium- and high-power electrical equipment, while building and maintaining the test fixtures used in these programs. You work closely with design engineering teams to evaluate product performance, troubleshoot issues, collect and analyze test data, and document results for certification agencies and product development programs. This position is ideal for a technician who is highly skilled in electrical testing, instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and power electronics, and who is comfortable operating safely around AC and DC systems.

Responsibilities

• Execute engineering validation and qualification test plans on power electronic products, motor drives, control systems, protection devices, and renewable energy products.
• Perform regulatory compliance testing and support product certification efforts in alignment with applicable standards and agency requirements.
• Configure, operate, and troubleshoot test setups for electrical, thermal, environmental, reliability, and safety testing on power conversion and industrial control equipment.
• Prepare, build, and improve test stands, fixtures, instrumentation setups, and automated test procedures, ensuring all fixtures meet safety requirements to prevent electrical shock.
• Analyze test data, interpret results, and prepare detailed technical reports documenting observations, measurements, and conclusions for engineering and certification stakeholders.
• Support root cause investigations and failure analysis activities by helping identify, document, and resolve issues discovered during testing.
• Maintain calibration status, accuracy, and proper operation of laboratory equipment, ensuring all instruments remain within specified tolerances.
• Perform testing and documentation to support compliance with standards such as UL 508A, UL 5-1, UL 1741, UL 1699B, UL 1077, UL 489, UL 1449, UL 4-1, IEC 3, IEC standards, CISPR 11, CISPR 32, and related ISO product and process requirements.
• Conduct environmental and reliability testing, including thermal characterization and temperature rise testing, reliability and life-cycle testing, environmental qualification testing, Ingress Protection (IP) testing, accelerated stress and endurance testing, and vibration and shock testing where applicable.
• Work with purchasing and external vendors to procure materials for test fixture design, redesign, and upgrades, including wiring, terminal blocks, and hardware.
• Coordinate with the in-house panel shop on fixture and panel builds to ensure designs meet technical and safety requirements.
• Participate in design reviews for new test fixture development and material specification, providing practical input on manufacturability, safety, and test effectiveness.
• Support production and service test stands through ongoing maintenance, updates, and improvements to enhance reliability and ease of use.
• Support laboratory compliance with UL Data Acceptance Program (DAP), ISO/IEC laboratory requirements, and ISO 9001:2015 by maintaining documentation, procedures, records, and test reports.
• Participate in laboratory audits and certification assessments, contributing to continuous improvement of lab processes and compliance practices.
• Run testing programs for design engineering R&D work, enabling engineers to focus on design activities by taking ownership of hands-on lab testing.
• Follow established procedures meticulously while working with RF equipment, high-powered supplies, and low-voltage systems, and while fabricating cables and small test fixtures.

Essential Skills

• Associate degree (2-year) in Electrical Engineering Technology, Electronics Technology, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• Minimum 25 years of relevant laboratory, test, validation, or power electronics experience.
• Experience working safely with three-phase AC systems up to 690 Vac and DC bus systems up to 2000 Vdc, with a strong focus on safe operating practices around systems.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting skills, including the ability to diagnose issues in power electronics, control systems, and test setups.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and detailed test procedures.
• Understanding of UL wiring standards and their application in test fixtures and panels.
• Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, high-voltage differential probes, current probes and transducers, and digital multimeters (DMMs).
• Experience with programmable AC/DC power supplies, electronic loads, and regenerative 4-quadrant systems used for power electronics testing.
• Proficiency with power analyzers for measuring efficiency, power quality, and performance of power conversion equipment.
• Experience working with data acquisition systems, thermocouples, RTDs, and automated switching systems for capturing and routing test signals.
• Familiarity with logic analyzers and communication or protocol analyzers for evaluating digital interfaces and control communications.
• Hands-on experience with spectrum analyzers, dynamic signal analyzers, vector network analyzers (VNAs), and arbitrary waveform generators, particularly when working with RF equipment and signal characterization.
• Ability to follow procedures accurately and consistently while performing validation, compliance, and environmental tests.
• Skill in making cables and assembling small test fixtures with attention to detail and adherence to safety and quality standards.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with power electronics, motor drives, renewable energy systems, battery systems, EV powertrain testing, or industrial automation.
• Experience with UL certification programs, UL Data Acceptance Program (DAP), and ISO/IEC laboratory environments.
• Familiarity with EMC/EMI testing and related standards and measurement techniques.
• Familiarity with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar software for fixture design and documentation.
• Experience with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or other tools used to develop and operate automated test systems.
• Experience with vibration and shock testing for reliability and qualification purposes.

Work Environment

This role is based in Franksville, Wisconsin, with a planned primary job location in the Milwaukee area in early 2027. The position operates in an engineering laboratory and test facility focused on power electronics, industrial control products, and advanced R&D activities. You work on first shift, typically from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with a schedule that supports collaboration with design engineers and other technical staff.

This is a Permanent position based out of Milwaukee, WI.

The pay range for this position is $65000.00 - $80000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

full benefits- health, dental, vision, 401k

This is a fully onsite position in Milwaukee,WI.

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 16, 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 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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.