Test Engineer – Team Leader

This role is responsible for ensuring the reliability, performance, and continuous improvement of testing capabilities while supporting engineering and product validation activities. In addition, the position provides first-line leadership and supervision to the laboratory team, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of testing operations in alignment with business and engineering objectives.

Functions.

• Directly supervise lab technicians by assigning daily work, providing coaching and performance feedback, developing training plans, and building a stable, high-trust team environment consistent with Continental's leadership philosophy.
• Represent the testing lab in cross-functional discussions with Production, MPE, Maintenance, Quality, and Plant leadership; coordinate and optimize daily lab operations—quality, cost, utilization, and equipment availability.
• KPI tracking and reporting (turnaround/lead time, cost, quality, throughput) and support resource planning for staffing, shift coverage, and equipment/capacity needs; escalate deviations and capital requests to the Management Team..
• Own implementation of occupational safety guidelines at the site—including machine guarding, hydraulic/pneumatic system safety, and Chemical Hygiene Plan compliance—and lead risk assessments for lab instrumentation.
• Serve as the primary technical owner of MTS servo-hydraulic and electromechanical test systems, biaxial testing with Digital Image Correlation (DIC), and DMA techniques; personally execute complex testing investigations, design test matrices, and provide technical training to lab technicians.
• Read and interpret mechanical test data (stress–strain curves, fatigue life, DMA results, biaxial strain fields) and communicate findings to internal stakeholders; maintain advanced understanding of fracture mechanics, viscoelastic behavior, and fatigue concepts.
• Assure proper function of all mechanical test stations through routine calibration, preventive maintenance coordination with MTS service resources, and application of SPC methodology to support Quality activities.

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in a mechanical testing or materials characterization laboratory.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading, mentoring, or directly supervising technical or lab personnel; demonstrated ability to coach and develop others.
• Hands-on experience operating mechanical testing systems (MTS servo-hydraulic or electromechanical, DIC, and DMA equipment); familiarity with MTS FlexTest controllers and TestSuite software preferred.
• Experience with fixture design and setup for tensile, compression, fatigue, peel, and/or DMA testing.

At Continental we are committed to building an inclusive and discrimination-free ecosystem in Mexico, these principles are rooted in our corporate philosophy and culture. Therefore, it is totally forbidden to request a pregnancy or HIV test as part of our selection processes.

#LI-SFGO