Test Rider – Personal Watercraft

Overview

This position is responsible for working on and testing of new, prototype, experimental, modified, and production personal watercraft (PWC) and vehicles to evaluate factors such as durability, performance, systems operation, and design by performing the following duties.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Starts and warms engine, listens to engine sounds at various speeds, and monitors instruments to detect malfunctions and/or abnormalities.
• Conducts a break-in ride of the vehicle to test controls and check the overall safety of the vehicle.
• Operates vehicle controls to perform normal and abnormal riding maneuvers, to test and evaluate stability, control characteristics, durability, and safety of the design.
• Observes recording, measuring, and operating instruments and equipment during riding to evaluate performance.
• Provides a point value based on a numerical scale to determine if each aspect of the vehicle is acceptable for production, and/or for comparison to competitive vehicles.
• Prepares riding evaluation reports.
• Coordinates activities of endurance testing riders to ensure testing progresses on schedule.
• Prepares riding evaluation reports for AKM management.
• Installs and sets up engine data acquisition sensors and equipment for evaluation and endurance purposes.
• Maintains a working knowledge of this company’s and competitive units technological and mechanical advances.
• Drives testing transport vehicles to test locations.
• Assists with 4-wheel product development when time allows.
• Performs shop related duties such as cleaning and organizing equipment, tools, and supplies.
• Maintains a clean, orderly, and safe working environment in all working areas.
• Coordinates with machinist and fabricator to build prototype test parts.
• Maintains a working knowledge of the market and competitive products with emphasis on quality, durability and performance issues.
• Maintains a working knowledge of government and industry standards related to the development of new product.
• Promotes development in cooperation with Japanese engineers.

Education and Experience:

A high school diploma and 3-4 years PWC riding experience and experience working on PWCs.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Exhibits excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates the ability to successfully prioritize and organize multiple, competing tasks.
• Extremely detail and deadline oriented.
• Brings energy and enthusiasm to group or team efforts.
• Demonstrates a positive attitude; self-motivated and able to work as part of a team.
• Experience with recreational vehicles including SxS, motorcycles and personal watercraft is preferred.
• 4 stroke engine experience is preferred.
• Solid knowledge and experience working with Microsoft’s Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.