Electrical Test Automation Engineer
Mercor • Remote
Education
PhD
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$70–$85/hr
Listed
35d ago
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Apply Now → ⚡ Boost your chances - Optimize your resume with Rezi.aiAbout this role
From the Mercor listing
About the Role
Mercor is partnering with a leading technology organization to recruit experienced Electrical Test Automation Engineers for a short-term project. Engineers will apply hands-on industry experience in electrical testing, automation, instrumentation, and hardware validation to solve complex technical problems.
What You'll Do
Design and implement automated test systems, procedures, and test sequences for electrical and electronic hardware.
Integrate test instruments, data acquisition systems, and hardware interfaces to automate measurements and testing.
Develop test scripts, automation frameworks, and data analysis workflows.
Perform functional, performance, validation, regression, and HIL testing where applicable.
Analyze test results, troubleshoot hardware and test setups, and identify root causes of failures.
Review and validate test methodologies, results, and technical approaches against project requirements.
Who Should Apply
Electrical Test, Test Automation, Electrical, or Hardware Test Engineers with hands-on industry experience.
Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Instrumentation, Mechatronics, or a related field.
Experience developing or executing automated electrical test systems and working with laboratory instrumentation.
Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, C/C++, or equivalent.
Experience with test automation, data acquisition, and instrument-control protocols such as SCPI, GPIB, USB, Ethernet, CAN, or RS-232/485.
Ability to interpret electrical schematics, test specifications, and technical documentation.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with ATE, automated test benches, custom test fixtures, NI hardware, LabVIEW/TestStand, PXI/PXIe, or DAQ systems.
Experience with HIL/SIL, automated regression testing, or Python-based test automation.
Experience testing power electronics, batteries, EVs, motors, embedded systems, or other complex electrical hardware.
Experience with high-voltage or safety-critical systems is a plus.
Project Details
Duration: Short-term project
Work Type: Electrical test automation, technical problem-solving, and expert evaluation
We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- PhD's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in STEM
How long hiring takes
Across the AI training platforms we refer candidates to, the median gap between referral and hire is about 30 days. It varies by platform and role, so treat it as a rough guide for this one.
Talent Pool members
Apply through this link and we can put you forward to Mercor when your profile is a strong match. Not every applicant is submitted. If you're not in the pool yet, set up your profile first.
Set up your profile →Interview Prep
Sample questions for a Test Automation Engineer role, written in-house to help you prepare.
How do you decide which test cases are worth automating versus better left as manual tests?
I prioritize automating tests that run frequently and have stable, well defined expected outcomes, since those give the best return on the investment of writing and maintaining the automation. Tests that change frequently or require significant human judgment tend to be more trouble to automate than they're worth.
What's your approach to writing automated tests that don't become flaky or unreliable over time?
I avoid relying on fixed wait times and instead wait for specific conditions to be true before proceeding, since timing based waits are one of the most common sources of flakiness. I also isolate tests from each other so one test's failure or side effect doesn't cascade into unrelated test failures.
How do you evaluate whether a new testing tool or framework is worth adopting over what your team is already using?
I weigh the actual problem the current tool has against the migration cost and learning curve of switching, rather than adopting a new tool just because it's newer or has more features on paper. A tool switch is only worth it if it solves a real, specific limitation the team is running into.
What's your process for debugging a test failure to determine whether it's a real bug or a problem with the test itself?
I reproduce the failure manually against the actual application to see if the behavior the test flagged is genuinely wrong, rather than assuming the test is correct by default. If the application behaves as the test expects when done manually, the issue is usually in the test's setup or assumptions rather than the product.
This listing calls for this tool directly. Prep for the technical screen:
Why this role
At $70–$85/hr, this remote Electrical Test Automation Engineer role pays competitively without asking you to relocate, interview in person, or keep fixed hours in STEM.
Talent pool
We're light on STEM candidates
We've matched 65 people with a STEM background against 726 STEM listings we've tracked, so most go out without one. Set up a profile and we'll consider you for a role like this one.
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Common questions
Does Mercor's application require an on-camera interview?
Yes, every applicant records a video interview with an AI interviewer that asks questions about your resume. Clients review that recording to judge communication skills before matching, so there's no way to apply without going on camera.
Does it cost money to apply to Mercor?
No, applying and joining Mercor is free. Mercor's revenue comes from a fee it charges the client on top of your hourly rate, not from applicants. Treat any request for payment to join as a red flag.
Is academic-niche AI training a continuous job?
Usually not. Work runs in campaigns, like training a model specifically on quantum mechanics, that might last a few weeks. Treat it as a high-paying fellowship or grant rather than a permanent daily job.
Is academic-niche AI training just data labeling?
No, it's closer to academic research. Expect to write or verify complex proofs, solve advanced equations, or check the logic behind a model's step-by-step reasoning. The goal is teaching AI systems to reason deeply within your specific field.
What does STEM work look like for an Electrical Test Automation Engineer?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As an Electrical Test Automation Engineer, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to STEM) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on STEM background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Coding, MATLAB, and Python are named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with these, expect the screening process to test for them directly rather than accepting adjacent experience as a substitute.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $70–$85/hr, an hourly rate. The range reflects experience level and negotiated terms, not a placeholder, so where you land in it depends on your background and the assessment. Pay can change between when we last checked the listing and when you apply, so confirm the current number on the platform's own application page before committing time.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
You'll be taken to Mercor's external site to complete your application there. This listing links through a referral, but the process is identical to applying directly; the link just routes you correctly. Create an account on their site and follow their onboarding steps.
Is a PhD required?
For this specific role, yes, or near-equivalent professional depth. The credential gate is enforced at the assessment stage, not just on paper. That said, active PhD candidates and people with equivalent published research have qualified without a formal degree. The assessment is the real filter.
How soon will I start working after applying to Mercor?
Not immediately. Mercor is a talent marketplace, not a task queue, so applying puts you in a pool of candidates. You start working only once a specific client, like a major AI lab, selects your profile, and that matching process can take weeks.