Full-Time

Mechanical Test Engineer

Environmental

Vanguard EMS

Vanguard EMS

51-200 employees

Critical-sector electronics manufacturing and testing

No salary listed

No H1B Sponsorship

Beaverton, OR, USA

In Person

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Category
QA & Testing (1)
Required Skills
Python
ERP
GD&T
ISO 9001
C#
C/C++
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
  • Customer service orientation with strong written and oral communication skills.
  • U.S. citizenship.
  • Existing Secret-level clearance or the ability and willingness to obtain one.
  • At least 2 years of experience in an environmental test setting.
  • Hands-on experience with thermal chambers, electrodynamic shakers, and TVAC.
  • Experience with facility layout and improvement projects.
  • Experience developing and qualifying new test processes.
  • Expertise designing vibration plates, thermal fixtures, and electrical test fixturing.
  • Proficiency in part constraints, dimensioning, tolerancing, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
  • Experience selecting and qualifying new capital equipment.
  • Practical knowledge of equipment and process qualification using IQ, OQ, PQ, or similar methods.
  • Experience executing design of experiments, Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility, and other statistical analysis tools.
  • Proficiency with Python, C++, C#, and LabVIEW, or an equivalent language, for test automation, process automation, and data analysis.
  • Experience with SMC-S-016, DO-160, and/or MIL-STD-810.
  • Experience working in an ISO 9001, AS9100, or ISO 13485 certified quality management system.
  • Proficiency with business systems such as MES, PLM, ERP, and MRB.
Responsibilities
  • Evaluate, select, and qualify environmental test equipment that meets customer requirements.
  • Design test fixtures, plates, and harnessing for environmental test applications.
  • Lead validation and verification of new test equipment and tooling.
  • Define optimal preventative maintenance for all equipment and establish new procedures.
  • Establish facility requirements for a new environmental test area and collaborate with the Facilities team to implement upgrades.
  • Troubleshoot equipment issues with internal and external support to minimize production downtime.
  • Automate processes and data collection for efficiency, process monitoring, and analysis.
  • Collect and analyze qualification and production test data and drive resulting actions.
  • Disposition nonconforming products and lead root cause and corrective actions.
  • Use Design of Experiments to establish new processes and improve existing processes.
  • Engage with customers on technical discussions and support technical inquiries and requests.
  • Drive design for test using data from process development, new product introduction builds, and the internal knowledge base.
  • Ensure customer and regulatory requirements are met throughout Vanguard processes.
  • Establish safety equipment, processes, and controls for the test area that meet applicable regulations.
  • Create, coordinate, review, and approve internal product documentation.
  • Support production technicians and operators in resolving issues.
  • Support development of a new production environmental test area and implementation of equipment that expands environmental test capabilities.

Vanguard EMS delivers electronics manufacturing services for products that must never fail. It provides high-sensitivity manufacturing and test capabilities to customers in Medical, Aerospace, Defense and Infrastructure, supported by strict processes and formal certifications. The core work involves assembling and testing electronics with a focus on quality, traceability, and compliance, guided by established procedures and continuous optimization to adapt quickly to changing needs. The company distinguishes itself by being in the top 10% of EMS providers for capabilities, emphasizing process discipline, rigorous quality control, and seamless program alignment so programs move quickly from planning to production. Its goal is to ensure reliable performance of critical electronics by delivering consistent, traceable manufacturing that reduces risk and accelerates time to market for mission-critical applications.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Beaverton, Oregon

Founded

1988

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Company website on July 28, 2026 says Vanguard EMS is the Northwest's largest locally owned electronics manufacturer.
  • Ongoing hiring pages in 2025-2026 show continued demand for assembly and SMT operators.
  • The 2025 Beaverton facility move into Hocken Avenue signaled reinvestment in capacity and capability.

What critics are saying

  • Customer concentration in medical and defense exposes Vanguard EMS to program losses quickly.
  • Beaverton location and 77,000-square-foot footprint create operating dependence on one site.
  • A failed quality event would damage FDA manufacturer-of-record status and trigger immediate contract exits.

What makes Vanguard EMS unique

  • Vanguard EMS runs SMARTer Manufacturing, a proprietary traceability system on its entire production floor.
  • It serves medical, aerospace, defense, and infrastructure customers from one Beaverton facility.
  • ISO 9001:2015 certification extends through March 2, 2028, supporting regulated manufacturing credibility.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Profit Sharing