Propulsion Test Instrumentation Engineer

Technology Innovation Institute; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi is seeking a seasoned instrumentation engineer to develop and validate gas‑turbine measurement systems. You will design sensors, conditioning, and DAQ architectures, lead calibration and uncertainty workflows, and deliver reliable acquisition solutions for propulsion test campaigns.

You will collaborate with Digital Engineering, translate research questions into measurement requirements, and contribute to capability roadmaps and knowledge exchange to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering (or related).
• Typically 5–7 years of relevant engineering experience in gas‑turbine instrumentation and experimental development.
• Applied knowledge of thermodynamics, gas dynamics and propulsion.

Responsibilities

• Develop measurement strategies with propulsion and test specialists to define locations, accuracy, bandwidth and repeatability.
• Design measurement architectures covering sensors, signal conditioning, acquisition and processing; specify pressure, temperature, thrust, speed, flow.
• Deliver instrumentation and DAQ work packages from specification through commissioning; evaluate equipment and install acquisition software.
• Develop measurement methods and tooling; prototype and compare approaches against reference methods.
• Establish calibration, end‑to‑end verification and uncertainty budgets; document usable ranges and discrepancies.
• Develop reusable data‑reduction and quality checks; preserve traceability between configurations, calibration records, raw data and processing versions.
• Develop a 2–3 year instrumentation and DAQ capability roadmap with the team; propose investments and options.
• Contribute to design reviews and knowledge exchange; support colleagues with independent work.

Skills

DAQ hardware & software

Python or MATLAB

Interface & timing

Measurement assurance

Transducer selection

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering

Tools

LabVIEW / NI-DAQmx / NI PXI

Job description

Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is a publicly funded research institute, based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is home to a diverse community of leading scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and researchers from across the globe, transforming problems and roadblocks into pioneering research and technology prototypes that help move society ahead.

Develop and validate instrumentation and data acquisition systems for gas-turbine and jet-engine component, rig and engine development tests. Combine applied propulsion physics with experimental engineering to translate research questions into measurement requirements, implement reliable acquisition systems and establish whether test data support the intended engineering conclusions.

Working alongside colleagues in Digital Engineering, contribute specialist expertise from measurement design through hands‑on commissioning and experimental investigation. The role combines responsibility for agreed engineering deliverables with shared technical decisions, capability planning and knowledge exchange that supports colleagues’ professional development.

Key responsibilities

• Develop measurement strategies with propulsion and test specialists. Translate research objectives and model‑validation needs into experimental plans; use sensitivity and pre‑test uncertainty analysis to establish measurement locations, accuracy, bandwidth and repeatability requirements.
• Design measurement architectures covering sensors, signal conditioning, acquisition and processing. Specify pressure, temperature, thrust, speed, flow and dynamic measurements as required, accounting for installation effects, environmental conditions, sampling, filtering and synchronisation. Define interface requirements and verification criteria.
• Deliver agreed instrumentation and DAQ work packages from specification through commissioning. Evaluate equipment, support sensor selection and installation, develop or configure acquisition software, verify channel settings and troubleshoot complex signal, timing and integration problems through practical testing.
• Develop measurement methods, acquisition utilities and experimental fixtures where existing solutions cannot answer the research question. Prototype and compare approaches against reference methods; quantify their limitations and demonstrate the improvement before adoption on propulsion tests.
• Establish calibration, end‑to‑end verification and uncertainty budgets. Assess repeatability and measurement readiness, document usable ranges and limitations, and investigate discrepancies between predictions and measurements with discipline specialists. Distinguish physical behaviour from measurement and processing artefacts.
• Develop reusable data‑reduction and quality checks with modelling and software colleagues. Preserve traceability between configurations, calibration records, raw data and processing versions; define common channel metadata, units and interfaces for reproducible comparisons and integration with engineering tools.
• Develop a two- to three-year instrumentation and DAQ capability roadmap with the team. Assess research needs, emerging techniques and equipment obsolescence; propose staged investments and make‑or‑buy options based on technical benefit, risk, cost, delivery and maintainability.
• Contribute to design reviews, joint development and practical problem solving. Share methods and engineering reasoning through peer review and documented examples, supporting colleagues as they undertake more complex work with increasing independence.

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering, or a related discipline. Relevant postgraduate study is desirable.
• Typically 5-7 years of relevant engineering experience, including substantial gas‑turbine or jet‑engine instrumentation and experimental development. Exceptional practical depth may compensate for fewer years. Research experience must include personal responsibility for hardware, acquisition systems or validated experimental methods.
• Applied knowledge of thermodynamics, gas dynamics and propulsion, with the ability to design measurements and interpret steady and transient engine behaviour using first principles.
• Demonstrated development of measurement systems from requirements and architecture through integration and verification. Practical depth in transducer selection, signal conditioning, grounding and shielding, anti‑aliasing, timing and troubleshooting in propulsion test environments.
• Experience designing experiments and applying calibration traceability, uncertainty analysis and repeatability assessment to equipment choices and engineering conclusions. Evidence of improved methods, sound technical trade‑offs and effective collaboration and technical communication in English.

Technical skills

• DAQ hardware and software: hands‑on implementation on at least one modular or engine‑test acquisition platform is required. LabVIEW and NI-DAQmx with NI PXI/PXIe or CompactDAQ are preferred; equivalent measurement systems are welcome.
• Analysis and software practice: proficiency in Python or MATLAB for signal processing, data reduction and uncertainty calculations. Experience with version control such as Git, verification cases, configuration management and maintainable acquisition or instrument‑interface utilities.
• Interfaces and timing: practical instrument integration and synchronised acquisition. Relevant experience may include Ethernet or serial interfaces, VISA/SCPI instrument communication, CAN, EtherCAT or Modbus, and hardware triggering or clock synchronisation.
• Measurement assurance: applied uncertainty methods such as GUM or ASME PTC 19.1. Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 calibration and laboratory practices is desirable; the emphasis is on using appropriate methods and documenting evidence.

Depth on a relevant platform matters more than familiarity with every product or protocol listed above. Candidates should be able to explain what they designed, implemented and verified themselves.

Additional expertise

• Real‑time or FPGA acquisition, CompactRIO, embedded measurement electronics or PCB design; TestStand for automated test sequences, or DIAdem for test‑data analysis. Precision timing (IEEE 1588 PTP or IRIG‑B) and aerospace telemetry/test‑data standards such as IRIG 106 are additional assets.
• Advanced pressure, temperature, thrust or vibration measurements; small gas‑turbine development, rocket‑test instrumentation, or introducing a new measurement technique into experimental use.

Initial priorities

Agree a capability assessment and staged roadmap with the team; commission a priority propulsion measurement and DAQ solution with documented verification and uncertainty; and establish reusable configurations, interfaces and methods that colleagues can maintain and extend. Priorities will reflect programme needs, available facilities and resources.

Location and appointment

• Based on site in Abu Dhabi, with willingness to relocate where necessary.