Principal Manufacturing Test Engineer

Manufacturing Test Engineer

This is an opportunity for a Manufacturing Test Engineer to join our defence client in their Manufacturing facility based in Stevenage, supporting the introduction of test systems and the testing and diagnostics of electrical/electronic systems and sub-assemblies during development and early production.

The role will be responsible for development testing and ensuring new products and test solutions are ready for production.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing Test Engineering support throughout the design and development phases, from initial concept to Production Readiness Review and release to Operations.

• Supporting test facility introduction and ensuring appropriate configuration control of equipment and facilities prior to use, including generating test specifications and operator instructions.

• Conducting testing of electrical/electronic systems, sub-assemblies and circuit cards, diagnosing development test failures down to card—and potentially component—level, and identifying corrective actions.

• Collaborating closely with Operations, design teams and other stakeholders to resolve technical challenges.

• Offering technical support and advice to the Test Engineering Team Lead and mentoring less experienced test engineers.

You will work with a small team of dedicated engineers in a fast-paced, friendly and inclusive manufacturing environment. The team includes apprentices, graduates and experienced practitioners, all committed to delivering technical excellence across a range of products in development and production.

Requirements:

• Minimum HNC or equivalent qualification (ideally HND/degree) in a relevant subject, plus significant experience in digital, analogue and RF electronics manufacture and test.

• Strong understanding of electrical/electronic and RF measurement principles, test methodologies and test equipment, as well as systems-level functional testing.

• Experience of the full product development lifecycle within an electronics manufacturing environment.

• Extensive experience using both manual and automated test equipment, ideally within a defence or similar high-reliability sector.

• Ability to plan and organise your own workload, prioritising multiple tasks to meet project objectives while remaining available to support others.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including effective teamwork and the creation of test specifications, operator instructions and technical reports based on higher-level requirements.