Automotive Brake Dynamometer Supervisor

Job Details: Level: Experienced, Job Location: Michigan

• Sterling Heights, MI, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $48000.00 - $93000.00Salary, Job Shift: Day, Job Category: Automotive, Position Summary The Automotive Brake Dynamometer Supervisor leads daily operations of brake dynamometer testing activities, ensuring safe, accurate, and timely execution of performance, durability, NVH, regulatory, and validation testing. This role supervises test personnel, coordinates laboratory resources, maintains equipment readiness, and works closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and customers to deliver reliable test results.

Key Responsibilities

Supervise brake dynamometer technicians, test engineers, and laboratory personnel. Plan, schedule, and prioritize dynamometer testing according to project requirements and development timelines. Review test requests, procedures, specifications, and acceptance criteria before testing begins. Ensure brake dynamometers, instrumentation, fixtures, environmental systems, and data-acquisition equipment are operational and properly calibrated.

Oversee testing of disc and drum brake systems, friction materials, rotors, drums, calipers, and related components. Support testing such as: Friction and effectiveness testing Noise, vibration, and harshness testing Wear and durability testing Fade and recovery testing Environmental and temperature-related testing Corrosion and contamination testing Regulatory and customer-specific validation Verify test setups, instrumentation, data quality, and adherence to approved procedures.

Investigate test deviations, equipment failures, abnormal results, and safety incidents. Analyze test data and prepare technical reports, summaries, and presentations. Coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, calibration, and laboratory improvements. Maintain accurate records of test schedules, equipment status, results, nonconformances, and corrective actions.

Ensure compliance with company policies, laboratory procedures, quality systems, and applicable automotive standards. Train, coach, and evaluate laboratory employees. Promote a strong safety culture, including proper handling of high-temperature components, rotating equipment, hydraulic systems, noise exposure, and brake dust.

Collaborate with design, materials, product development, manufacturing, quality, and program-management teams. Support customer visits, technical reviews, audits, and troubleshooting activities. Identify opportunities to improve test capacity, repeatability, cost, turnaround time, and data integrity. Vehicle monitoring test support Leading audit and document preparation for IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 Qualifications: Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Ten or more years of experience in automotive brake testing, dynamometer testing, validation, or a related laboratory environment.
• Two or more years of supervisory or team-lead experience.
• Knowledge of automotive braking systems, friction materials, and brake-performance characteristics.
• Experience with brake dynamometers, test cells, data-acquisition systems, and instrumentation.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, test specifications, technical standards, and customer requirements.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering data-analysis tools.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional overtime, weekends, or off-shift coverage when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with inertial, NVH, inertia-dyno, or environmental brake dynamometers.
• Familiarity with SAE, FMVSS, ECE, ISO, and customer-specific brake-test requirements.
• Familiarity with EMB caliper testing
• Experience with Link Rev. Data Plus, LabVIEW, MATLAB, , or similar test and data-analysis software.
• Knowledge of measurement system analysis, gauge repeatability and reproducibility, statistical process control, and analysis.
• Experience with laboratory management systems or quality standards such as ISO/IEC 17025.
• Background in test automation, controls engineering, or data-acquisition programming.
• Lean Six Sigma or continuous-improvement experience. Technical Skills
• Brake dynamometer operation and troubleshooting
• Brake system and friction-material knowledge
• Test procedure development and execution
• Instrumentation and sensor selection
• Thermocouples, pressure transducers, accelerometers, load cells, and torque measurement
• Data acquisition and signal validation
• Test-cell safety and equipment controls
• Root-cause analysis and corrective action
• Technical reporting and data interpretation
• Preventive maintenance and calibration coordination
• Ability to understand and support Link Technicians for repairs Performance Measures Success in this role may be evaluated by:
• On-time completion of test programs
• Test-data accuracy, repeatability, and completeness
• Equipment availability and laboratory utilization
• Reduction in test interruptions and retesting
• Safety performance and audit results
• Compliance with procedures and quality requirements
• Team productivity, training completion, and employee development
• Responsiveness to engineering and customer needs Working Conditions
• Work is performed in an automotive test laboratory or engineering environment.
• Regular exposure to high temperatures, rotating machinery, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, elevated noise, vibration, brake dust, and industrial chemicals may occur.
• Required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
• May occasionally lift test components or equipment weighing up to approximately 50 pounds, depending on facility requirements.
• May require extended periods standing, walking, monitoring test equipment, or working near test cells.