About the job

The Hardware Test Engineering team ensures that this equipment is reliable. In the Research and Development (R&D) lab, you design test equipment for prototypes of our machinery and develop the protocols used to scale these tests for the entire global team.

As a Senior Mechanical Test Engineer, you will be working closely with design engineers, you give input on designs to improve our hardware until you're sure it meets Google's standards of quality and reliability. With your technical expertise, you will develop test plans for platforms (e.g., validating the interaction of multiple pieces of equipment at the networking, subsystem and rack levels). Using your knowledge of component design characteristics, you conduct testing, diagnose failures, and recommend corrective actions or design changes to hardware or software issues. You will bring mechanical, structural, thermal and mechatronics testing expertise to Google's design and test team. You will provide support to the Google Cloud Platforms (GCP) organization, assisting engineers on product development of prototype systems under development. You will be responsible for test plan development, fixture design, test setup, execution, troubleshooting and failure analysis, corrective actions and design updates, and documentation and debriefing to cross-functional stakeholders. You will also be coordinating day-to-day allocation of resources, ensuring that test equipment is calibrated, and that the lab is a safe environment to work in.

The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what’s possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide.

We're the driving team behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $144,000-$211,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

• Write and execute test plans while partnering with hardware engineering teams and provide detailed test reports and presentations to various stakeholders.

• Provide technical lab support and leadership to implement lab changes and partner with general contractors to ensure that the lab is always in compliance.

• Evaluate mechanical structures and assemblies for actual fitting and perform engineering tests (e.g., vibration, shock, and packaging).

• Design, produce, and assemble mechanical parts and assemblies for products and test fixtures using basic machine shop tools/equipment.

• Set up and conduct tests of complete units and parts and investigate proposals for improving structures/assembly.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Electrical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 4 years of experience working in a Mechanical Engineering technical environment, or 3 years of experience with an advanced degree.

• Experience with hardware evaluation methodologies (e.g., lab measurements, environmental stress testing, performance monitoring, test automation, and data analysis).

• Experience with test scripts and debug failures during test execution with the development team.

• Experience performing strain gauge measurements at both board and chip levels.

• Experience in conducting and leading failure analysis and root cause investigations.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.

• 1 year of experience in technical leadership.

• Experience with shock and vibe testing, including working with an appropriate accelerometer and how to mount it.

• Experience with ASIC and Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) testing and Solid-State Drives (SSD)/Hard Disk Drives (HDD) testing.

• Experience in GD&T, tolerance stackup, and DFx, alongside managing BOMs, document control, work instructions, and JDM/CM partnerships.

• Proficiency in Solid Works/Creo for 3D design and drawings, with experience in hand-calculations and FEA for structural and thermal analysis.