Principal Manufacturing Test Engineer

Manufacturing Test Engineer - Defence Sector

Circa £44,500 (dependent on experience) | Hybrid (4–5 days on-site, based on workload classification)

⚠️ Security Clearance; Please Read Before Applying

• Applicants must be British Citizens only. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or right to work may apply.  

About the Role

We are recruiting on behalf of a leading name in the UK defence sector for a Senior Test Engineer to join their Manufacturing team, supporting test and diagnostics of electrical/electronic sub-systems and circuit cards during the early phases of the product lifecycle.

This is a fantastic opportunity to provide Test Engineering support for concept and early development prototypes, working across the full product lifecycle from initial concept through to Production Readiness Review and release into Operations.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing Test Engineering support during Design/Development phases, from initial concept through to Production Readiness Review and release to Operations
• Supporting Test Facility introduction, ensuring appropriate configuration control of equipment and facilities is in place, including generating test specifications and operator instructions
• Supporting testing of electrical/electronic sub-assemblies and circuit cards, diagnosing production test failures down to component level
• Working closely with Operations, design teams, and other stakeholders to resolve technical challenges
• Maintaining Test Engineering functional governance while pursuing continuous improvement
• Working alongside Test TX's and design engineers to implement project test strategy and influence design for testability
• Supporting the Principal Engineer/MEM in compiling initial process flows (MTIFs) for new products
• Creating and maintaining MTRS documentation for production test equipment
• Supporting Process FMEA activities, ensuring test mitigations are in place
• Initialising test fixture designs for new products
• Assisting in the compilation of new test instructions
• Estimating test timescales for new products and validating UPC/DTCR figures
• Supporting design engineers with functional and ESS testing of initial prototypes

What We're Looking For

• Minimum HNC-level qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant subject; HND/Degree preferred, plus experience in digital and analogue electronics manufacture and test
• Solid understanding of electrical/electronic measurement and test principles, test equipment, and fault diagnosis techniques for electronic/electro-mechanical sub-assemblies
• Experience using manual and automated test equipment, ideally within a defence or similar manufacturing environment
• Familiarity with ERP/MES systems (e.g. SAP, MES) for recording test activities and generating non-conformance reports and concessions
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and deliver multiple tasks against project objectives
• Good verbal and written communication skills, including writing test specifications, operator instructions, and technical reports from higher-level requirements
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail

What's on Offer

• Bonus: Up to £2,500 (company performance-related, varies year to year)
• Pension: Up to 14% total combined employer/employee contribution
• Overtime: Paid overtime opportunities available
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
• Flexible Working: Applications for flexible working arrangements welcomed
• Enhanced Parental Leave: Up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave, with enhancements for paternity, neonatal leave, and fertility testing/treatment
• Site Facilities: Subsidised meals, free car parking, and more

This role is being handled on behalf of our client. Due to the nature of this role, only applications from British Citizens who can meet the required security clearance criteria will be considered.