Mechanical Test Engineer at Stress Engineering Services, Inc. in Mason, OH

Job description

• Do you learn best by taking things apart—or pushing them until they fail? Are you the engineer who can’t help but ask why something works… and how it could work better? If so, you’ll feel right at home at Stress Engineering Services, Inc. (SES).
• Founded in 1972, SES is a premier provider of engineered solutions and professional consulting services across an extraordinary range of engineering disciplines. Our clients span medical, consumer, pharmaceutical, energy, and manufacturing industries throughout the U.S. and internationally—so the problems we solve (and the tests we run) are always changing. We’re known for deep technical expertise and proven performance in instrumentation and testing, failure analysis, reliability and predictive engineering, materials science, solid mechanics and structural design, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, floating systems, and forensics. Our reputation speaks for itself: over 80% of our work comes from repeat clients and referrals.
• Successful Test Engineers at Stress are adaptable problem solvers who thrive in both independent and collaborative environments. You’re hands-on, mechanically curious, and comfortable working with electro-mechanical systems, instrumentation, and multiple sensor types. You can safely navigate a heavy industrial lab setting, juggle competing priorities, and keep projects moving forward—even when tests don’t go as planned.
• Strong communication skills are essential. You’ll routinely interact with teammates and clients, translating technical details into clear verbal explanations and well-written test methods and reports. Experience in regulated industries (medical device, pharmaceutical, aerospace, etc.) is a plus. Depending on your experience, you may also take the lead on managing projects, interfacing directly with clients, and guiding the work of other engineers and technicians.

Responsibilities

• As a Test Engineer at SES, you’ll turn complex questions into meaningful data. This role blends mechanical engineering fundamentals with hands-on testing and system operation in a dynamic, industrial laboratory environment. You’ll plan and execute custom tests, design fixtures and methods, instrument hardware, collect high-quality data, and transform results into clear, actionable insights.
• Projects span medical devices, consumer products, primary and tertiary packaging, mechanical and electrical systems, industrial processes, and engineering materials. The common thread: understanding how a system is supposed to perform—and proving whether it actually does.
• Developing custom and specialized test plans, fixtures, and test methods
• Executing tests safely and efficiently while monitoring live data
• Collecting, analyzing, and documenting high-quality test data
• Interpreting results and producing clear, concise technical reports

Requirements

• BS in Mechanical Engineering with 3–5 years of experience in testing or manufacturing/industrial equipment operations
• Experience with mechanical testing methods and instrumentation
• Hands-on aptitude and comfort working with physical systems
• Experience with data acquisition and test control systems
• Ability to conceptualize and develop test methods, fixtures, and equipment with attention to accuracy and repeatability
• Strong technical writing and communication skills in english
• Highly motivated, self-starter with strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Familiarity with statistical techniques for reliability, capability analysis, regression, ANOVA, and sample size justification (plus)
• Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks or similar)
• Professional Engineer license or willingness to obtain one
• This position may involve access to export-controlled information subject to U.S. Government regulations. To be eligible, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or otherwise able to obtain any required authorization from the U.S. Department of State.
• MS in Engineering or more than 5 years of relevant experience
• Knowledge of material properties and failure mechanisms for metals and polymers under mechanical, thermal, and environmental loading
• Experience developing test plans and reports suitable for verification and regulatory submissions
• Experience validating test methods for repeatability and reproducibility
• Familiarity with hazard and risk assessment tools such as FMEA or fault tree analysis
• Experience with U.S. and EU medical device regulations
• Experience or familiarity with finite element analysis

Skills

Required

• Mechanical engineering fundamentals
• Hands-on testing and system operation
• Test method and fixture development
• Technical writing and communication
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• CAD software (SolidWorks or similar)

Preferred

• U.S. and EU medical device regulations
• Finite element analysis

Benefits

• High autonomy, high-impact technical work
• Direct influence on real-world safety and performance
• Collaboration with world-recognized subject matter experts
• Supportive, entrepreneurial, employee-owned culture
• At SES, curiosity is encouraged and technical depth is valued. You’ll work alongside some of the brightest engineers in the industry on challenges that truly matter—including technologies that improve and save lives.
• Competitive compensation aligned with experience and market benchmarks
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• A collaborative, inclusive, and technically challenging environment
• At Stress Engineering Services, being a Test Engineer means more than running tests. It means creating knowledge, pushing boundaries, and turning complex ideas into reality. You’ll have the autonomy to own your work, the support to grow your skills, and the satisfaction of seeing your efforts make a real impact. If you thrive in dynamic environments, love hands-on problem solving, and want a career where learning never stops, Stress offers a place where you can do your best work—every day.