Engineers In Hour Jobs in Santa Ana, CA (NOW HIRING)

The Associate Test Engineer supports hands-on electrical and hardware testing activities in an electronics lab environment. This role connects devices to test fixtures, performs verification and validation testing on printed circuit boards and hardware, and documents test results to help the team identify and resolve issues. You will work closely with electrical, firmware, software, and mechanical engineers, taking ownership of lab-related tasks and contributing to product development and continuous improvement. This position is ideal for someone who is proactive, eager to learn, and excited to grow quickly in a fast-moving, small-company setting with strong growth ambitions.

• Connect devices and hardware assemblies to test fixtures and ensure proper setup before testing.
• Conduct hands-on verification and validation tests (not simulations) using tools such as encoders, decoders, signal generators, monitors, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and other electronic test equipment.
• Analyze and test printed circuit boards and hardware, including reading and interpreting electrical schematics to understand circuit behavior.
• Check DC power and other electrical parameters, identify anomalies, and perform root-cause analysis of issues.
• Troubleshoot electrical, electronic, and hardware problems, working systematically to isolate faults and propose solutions.
• Document test procedures, observations, and results clearly and accurately, and generate formal test reports for internal use and review.
• Collaborate with electrical engineers, firmware engineers, software engineers, test engineers, and mechanical engineers to communicate findings and drive resolution of issues.
• Support automation of test activities where applicable, including configuring test tools and equipment for repeatable and efficient testing.
• Maintain, organize, and clean the electrical engineering lab, ensuring equipment is properly stored, labeled, and in good working condition.
• Assist with electronics lab management tasks, including setup and maintenance of test stations, fixtures, and instrumentation.
• Participate in verification and validation (V&V) testing activities to ensure products meet design requirements and performance specifications.
• Work proactively on any assigned tasks, demonstrating flexibility to take on various lab and test-related responsibilities as needed.
• Interface with network-related test setups when required, such as fiber and Ethernet connections, to support system-level testing.
• Support continuous improvement of test processes, lab practices, and documentation to enhance efficiency and reliability.

• Experience analyzing and testing printed circuit boards (PCBs) and boards, including a basic understanding of hardware and the ability to read electrical schematics.
• Hands-on experience with electrical testing and electrical troubleshooting in a lab or test environment.
• Familiarity with test engineering practices and the use of common test equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, and other electronic measurement tools.
• Ability to troubleshoot electrical, electronic, and hardware issues systematically and document findings clearly.
• Comfort working with DC power measurements and basic electrical analysis.
• Strong passion for learning and working with electronics and test systems.
• Energetic, proactive attitude with a willingness to take on a variety of tasks and responsibilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional engineering teams and communicate test results effectively.
• Organizational skills to maintain a clean, safe, and well-structured electronics lab environment.

• Experience programming in Python to support basic automation and configuration of test tools.
• Experience conducting network testing, including interfacing with technologies such as fiber and Ethernet.
• Soldering experience for rework and modification of PCBs and hardware assemblies.
• Experience using digital analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and related advanced test equipment.
• Background in automation testing for electronics or hardware systems.
• Experience with verification and validation (V&V) testing, including verification testing, validation testing, and automated test setups.
• Familiarity with electronics lab management and best practices for handling test equipment and hardware.
• Interest in growing into a key lab-focused role and taking ownership of lab operations and test infrastructure.

This is an on-site role with flexible work arrangements. The team expects you to be available during core hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and you can choose your start and end times outside of those hours as long as you work 8 hours per day. On some days, such as when you have appointments, you may work from home, and some engineers in the department often work from home on Fridays, depending on project needs. You will work in a collaborative engineering environment that includes 3–5 electrical engineers, 3–5 firmware and software engineers, 3 test engineers, and 2 mechanical engineers on-site, along with an OEM team of about 15 people based in Taiwan. The lab is equipped with a variety of electronic test instruments, including oscilloscopes, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, digital analyzers, encoders, decoders, monitors, and other specialized tools used for hardware and PCB testing. The company operates with a small, fast-growing, and entrepreneurial culture, combining a startup-like energy with the stability of a more established organization. Team members often have the opportunity to wear multiple hats, take ownership of projects, and work directly on a wide range of products. The company emphasizes growth, with recent expansion into additional manufacturing space and a focus on bringing more product manufacturing in-house, which provides increased exposure to product development and testing. The work schedule follows core hours, and there is a culture of recognition and celebration of achievements, including company events and gatherings when major goals are met.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Torrance, CA.

The pay range for this position is $43.00 - $68.00/hr.

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.

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 Torrance,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 9, 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 withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment 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 thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall 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 applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.