Principal Manufacturing Test Engineer

Overview

In this Principal Test Engineer role, you will strengthen the manufacturing test capability for electrical/electronic subsystems in a defence environment. You’ll support test strategy, facility readiness, and production testing to ensure targets for time, cost, and quality are met. You’ll collaborate with design and operations teams to implement testability and drive continuous improvement across development to production. This role offers hybrid working and the chance to influence critical missile-system programs in a fast-paced, inclusive team.

Pay / Benefits

• company bonus up to 2,500
• pension up to 14% total contribution
• paid overtime
• flexi leave up to 15 days
• flexible working arrangements
• enhanced parental leave up to 26 weeks + enhancements

Responsibilities

• Provide test engineering support across design to production readiness, ensuring tests meet programme targets.
• Support test facility introduction and maintain configuration control for equipment and facilities.
• Test electrical/electronic sub-assemblies and circuit cards, diagnosing issues to component level.
• Collaborate with Operations, design teams and stakeholders to overcome technical challenges.
• Maintain governance and pursue continuous improvement in Test Engineering.
• Work with Test Experts and design engineers to implement project test strategy and enhance testability.
• Assist in compiling initial process flows for new products with Manufacturing management.
• Create and maintain test documentation for production test equipment.
• Support Process FMEA and implement test mitigations.
• Initialise test fixture designs for new products.
• Estimate testing times for new products.
• Assist design engineers with functional & environmental testing of prototypes.

Key requirements

• Minimum Level 4 in Engineering, Physics or Maths, with modules in Electronic or Electrical Principles
• Several years’ experience in related industry/manufacturing
• Good understanding of electrical/electronic measurement and test principles and diagnostic techniques
• Experience with manual and automated test equipment
• Familiar with ERP/MES systems (e.g., SAP, MES) for recording tests and non-conformances
• Strong planning, prioritisation and communication skills
• Analytical and detail-oriented problem solver

• clear communicator
• team collaboration
• problem solving
• electrical/electronic measurement
• fault diagnosis techniques for electro-mechanical sub-assemblies
• manual and automated test equipment

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