Testing Program Engineer

Your Impact
The Testing Program Engineer is responsible for the oversight & coordination of Lowe's 3rd Party Quality Assurance Testing programs. These programs reduce product related regulatory/safety risks and ensure the products sold by Lowe's will meet or exceed customer performance expectations. Oversight of these programs will include providing technical program direction, including daily review of test failures. Educating vendors on program requirements and processes will also be a daily task. This role will also provide input into the content and maintenance of Lowes acceptance protocols and will be responsible for reviewing vendor product claims substantiation. Training stakeholders on program requirements/processes and onboarding new vendors will be a frequent need. A key component of this position will be interaction with Merchandising & Global Merchandising at all levels of Management, as well as daily interaction with 3rd Party Test Labs, Vendors and Factories to provide direction and avoid unnecessary delay of product shipments. To accomplish this, the Testing Program Engineer must have knowledge of engineering/testing principles, state and federal regulations and familiarity with consumer products.
What you will do

• Oversee the 3rd party lab conducted Testing Programs as assigned by Management. This may include oversight of Testing Programs for Lowe’s Allied Businesses. The annual Testing Programs consist of approximately 20,000 test reports and a $5 million budget (indirect Vendor Paid).

• Review test failures and provide vendor direction on a daily basis. This will involve daily interaction with Merchandising, International Merchandising, 3rd Party Test Labs, Vendors, and Factories to provide direction and avoid unnecessary delay of product shipments.

• Provide input to the content and maintenance of Lowes product testing protocols (~1200 currently) and provide technical program direction. Test Protocol content is complex and changes frequently as laws and regulations change. Basic knowledge of applicable State/Federal Regulatory laws and Industry Standards is critical to this function and include: US, Canada and Mexico.

• Develop test methods and protocols that accurately simulate customer use for a wide variety of products.

• Review claim substantiation test results provided by Vendors and leverage industry/testing experience to provide a recommendation to Legal whether the substantiation should be accepted.

• Collaborate with other QA Engineering staff to lead and assist in identifying key opportunities for product quality improvements. Drive corrective and preventive actions to insure customer satisfaction.

• Prepare and present written technical and verbal reports to management, as well as to external agencies as required; and shall act as principal liaison between quality management and/or vendors, contractors, consultants on projects.

• Perform other related duties and responsibilities independently or with minimal supervision as required. Oversees and coordinates Lowe’s Quality Assurance Testing Programs as assigned by Management. These programs will usually be conducted by 3rd party test labs and will include both import & domestically sourced items in Lowe's Private Brands as well as national brands. This may include oversight of Testing Programs for Lowe’s Allied Businesses. The annual Testing Programs consist of approximately 30,000 test reports and a $10-million budget (indirect Vendor paid).

• Review test failures and provide vendor direction. This will involve daily interaction with Merchandising, International Merchandising, 3rd Party Test Labs, Vendors, and Factories to provide direction and avoid unnecessary delay of product shipments.

• Train Vendors and internal stakeholders on program requirements & processes. Educating and onboarding new vendors will be a daily task.

• Provide input to the content and maintenance of Lowes product testing protocols (~1400 currently) and provide technical program direction. Test Protocol content is complex and changes frequently as laws and regulations change. Basic knowledge of applicable State/Federal Regulatory laws and Industry Standards is critical to this function and include: US and Canada.

• Develop test methods and protocols that accurately simulate customer use for a wide variety of products.

• Review product claim substantiation (test results) provided by Vendors and leverage industry/testing experience to provide a recommendation to Legal whether the substantiation should be accepted.

• Collaborate with other QA Engineering staff to lead and assist in identifying key opportunities for product quality improvements. Drive corrective and preventive actions to ensure customer satisfaction.

• Prepare written technical and verbal reports to management and external agencies, as required, and acts as liaison between quality management and/or vendors, contractors, consultants on projects

• Maintains extensive knowledge of engineering/testing principles, state and federal regulations, and familiarity with consumer products

• Perform other related duties and responsibilities independently or with minimal supervision as required.

• Individual Contributor

Required Qualifications:

• 4 Years relevant work experience, without Bachelor's Degree

• 1 Year Experience in consumer product testing in a laboratory, manufacturing or retail environment.

• Demonstrated experience working cross functionally.

• Technical report writing skills as well as the ability to communicate effectively with non technical persons.

• Ability to negotiate effectively with other departments, vendors, factories, and 3rd party test labs.

• Highly organized.

• Proficient with computers: Word, Excel, Database Software

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering, Technical Sciences.

• Familiarity with Regulations and Industry Standards for consumer products sold in the US, Canada and Mexico.

• Understanding of the NRTL (UL, CSA, ETL, etc.) product safety listing evaluation and testing process.

• Demonstrated experience leading and/or facilitating projects and programs.

• Effective oral presentations.

About Lowe’s

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 17 million customer transactions a week in the U.S. With total fiscal year 2022 sales of over $97 billion, approximately $92 billion of sales were generated in the U.S., where Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Lowe’s is an equal opportunity employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law.

Starting rate of pay may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, position offered, location, education, training, and/or experience. For information regarding our benefit programs and eligibility, please visit https://talent.lowes.com/us/en/benefits.