Vehicle Integration Test Engineer

Vehicle Integration Test Engineer 

Parallel Systems is building autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles to modernize freight transportation. We are looking for a hands-on Vehicle Integration Test Engineer to own vehicle validation at our contract manufacturer and in the field, ensuring every system meets performance, safety, and regulatory requirements before release. 

This role sits at the intersection of systems engineering, hardware validation, and factory operations. You will work closely with internal Responsible Engineers and our Contract Manufacturer to define how vehicles are tested, execute validation campaigns, and maintain rigorous traceability from top-level requirements through subsystem and vehicle verification. 

This position requires up to 50% travel to our contract manufacturer and customer sites. 

Responsibilities:

• Own vehicle-level and subsystem validation activities, including factory vehicle checkouts, subsystem acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, and manufacturing support 
• Plan and execute system integration and validation campaigns across mechanical, electrical, controls, and embedded software systems 
• Work with Responsible Engineers to decompose top-level system requirements into actionable test requirements and verification plans 
• Manage and maintain requirements traceability from system requirements through validation evidence using a structured requirements database 
• Develop end-of-line factory test processes, tooling requirements, and documentation in partnership with Contract Manufacturer engineers 
• Design, build, and maintain test stands and related validation infrastructure 
• Define and document test procedures, test reports, and compliance artifacts with a high level of rigor and attention to detail 
• Ensure hardware systems, including firmware and software interfaces, are tested correctly prior to vehicle release from the Contract Manufacturer 
• Translate engineering and integration efforts into clear regulatory and safety documentation aligned with governing standards 
• Collect, organize, and review vendor and manufacturing quality documentation 
• Provide feedback across the design lifecycle to improve testability, reliability, and system robustness 

What Success Looks Like:

• After 30 Days: You have developed a strong understanding of the vehicle architecture, subsystem interfaces, and system requirements. You have reviewed existing validation processes and identified key gaps in tooling, traceability, and documentation rigor. 
• After 60 Days: You are actively partnering with the Contract Manufacturer to refine test tooling and factory workflows. You have executed subsystem validation activities and understand the hardware, firmware, and software interactions across the vehicle. 
• After 90 Days: You have led or co-led a vehicle end-of-line validation campaign at the factory. You have produced detailed test plans and reports with clear traceability from system requirements to validation evidence, and you have implemented measurable improvements in how vehicles are verified prior to release. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Controls, Aerospace, Computer Science, or related field 
• 5+ years of experience working on complex hardware systems 
• Direct experience testing electromechanical systems that integrate hardware, firmware, and software interfaces 
• Strong foundation in electromechanical fundamentals and system integration 
• Experience with system and subsystem validation such as acceptance testing, environmental validation, integration testing, and deployment testing 
• Experience working in a hardware lab, fabrication, maintenance, or factory environment 
• Demonstrated ability to create structured, audit-ready documentation for safety and compliance purposes 
• Willingness to travel up to 50% 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with production end-of-line testing in a factory setting 
• Experience with classical systems engineering practices including requirements management, functional architecture, and DFMEA 
• Experience managing or administering a requirements database and maintaining verification traceability 
• Experience integrating hardware and software systems in a regulated or safety-critical environment 
• Track record of implementing process improvements across engineering or manufacturing systems 
• Experience with Python or similar programming languages 
• Familiarity with CAD tools such as SolidWorks