Powertrain Engineer Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Purpose
Test Engineer - Autonomous Driving Platform Integration & Validation
We are hiring Test Engineers across Junior and Senior levels to support the validation of autonomous driving systems, which includes motion control, vehicle dynamics, and full autonomous stack integration. The level of responsibility will scale with experience, from test execution support to leading end-to-end validation strategies.
In this role, test engineers will test and validate ADAS and self-driving systems, including perception, planning, control, and actuation, ensuring proper functionality of the end-to-end autonomy stack across both simulation and vehicle environments. The role involves designing and executing test cases for motion control systems, while evaluating vehicle dynamics performance and responsiveness.
Test Engineers will validate and analyze actuation systems including propulsion (powertrain/drive torque), braking, and steering, ensuring coordinated and safe vehicle behavior, and assess the interaction between control algorithms and real vehicle response, including performance under safety-critical and corner-case scenarios.
Additionally, the role includes performing system-level integration testing across sensors, ECUs, and actuators, validating sensor fusion outputs and downstream control decisions. Engineers will debug issues across software, hardware, and vehicle integration layers while ensuring traceability between requirements through end-end validation. Test Engineers will also conduct scenario-based validation for autonomous systems and correlate results between simulation environments and vehicle-level testing to ensure consistency, accuracy, and real-world performance alignment.
Essential Functions
• Learn customer test objectives, ensure test objectives are well defined, and communicate objectives to test teams
• Design test plans and verification strategies based on system requirements and customers' needs
• Identify missing or untestable requirements, gaps in design and incomplete implementation
• Analyze data and interpret results
• Debug and resolve test-related failures and contribute to the root cause analysis of system-related failures
• Manage project priorities, define tasks, and coordinate activities, deliverables, schedules
• Develop novel approaches to evaluate the system
• Develop and improve processes that increase operational efficiency of test execution
• Communicate results and test status and provide concise test reports
• Provide technical guidance to the test team
• Apply policies, procedures, standards, code of conduct throughout including taking responsibility for the safety of self and others during testing
• Communicate test plans, proposals, non-conformances, and project status to internal and external customers
*TRC Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and is willing to make a change or adjustment to a job or work environment that allows a qualified individual with a disability to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of a particular job.
**Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Other Duties and Responsibilities (Non-Essential Functions)
• Manage project budgets
• Make independent and competent technical decisions
• Present proposals and report test results before customer representatives
• Attend professional society and technical committee meetings
• Write technical reports
• Accomplish technical projects with little supervision
• Manage and monitor the progress and budget of multiple projects
• Write final reports with little to no supervision
• Support TRC Inc.'s Quality and EH&S (Environmental, Health, and Safety) efforts
• Improve the quality and coverage of the verification of a system
• Build new processes that improve organization, traceability and clarity
• Develop new tools that improve the repeatability, efficiency or completeness of testing (e.g. building automation scripts to reduce schedule time and human resources in particular for recurring tests)
• Create new test frameworks and capabilities, including simulation based, hardware in the loop, or other methods
• Understanding CAN, Flexray Networks or Communication Protocols
• Identify missing or untestable requirements, gaps in design and incomplete implementation
• Build dashboards and other visualizations within existing toolsets to make it easier for all stakeholders to interpret test results.
• Support development and execution of training for test team
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in engineering is required
• 2+ years technical testing and system validation experience or other equivalent technical experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience with data acquisition systems and instrumentation
• Demonstrated experience managing vehicle test programs preferred
• Demonstrated experience with system engineering principles such as defining requirements and formal verification and validation methods
• Test scripting understanding/execution for in-vehicle test automation (including C/C++, Python, Matlab/Simulink)
• In-depth knowledge of vehicle systems and subsystems
• Strong problem-solving capabilities, good attention to detail, organization skills and ability to think systemically
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to communicate technical information concisely and effectively
• n-depth knowledge of computers including work processing and data analysis software
• Proficient in technical report writing
• Advanced project management skills preferred
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work independently in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Flexibility with work hours during busy test periods. Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed - including AM and PM shifts.
• Travel to off-site customers and testing sites (< 20%) is required
• Ability to complete and pass all internal, position specific job and safety trainings required
• Valid state DMV issued or valid foreign country issued driver's license
Working conditions
• Standard office, climate-controlled environment
• Some travel is required
• May be exposed to temperatures below 0 degree and above 95 degrees
• May be exposed to inclement weather
• May be exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as gas, oil, and paint
Physical requirements
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for an extended period of time
• Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment
• Ability to communicate with customers and co-workers
• Capable of positioning one's self into bending, stretching, climbing, or awkward positions
Disclaimer
It is the policy of TRC Inc. to provide equal opportunity in all areas of employment practices, without regard to race, color, caste, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran or military status, medical leave or other types of protected leave (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other characteristic protected by state or federal anti-discrimination law covering employment.