ATE Lead Engineer

Eaton Corporation; Wimborne Minster; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton Wimborne is seeking a Lead Electrical Test Design Engineer to lead complex automated test equipment projects for aerospace applications. You will guide the development, validation, and lifecycle support of electrical test solutions, ensuring safety, robustness and maintainability.

As a senior technical authority, you will mentor engineers, shape engineering outputs, and collaborate with global teams to align technical approaches with business objectives.

Qualifications

• Engineering or science degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 10 years in engineering, manufacturing, aerospace or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for automated electrical test design activities.
• Lead electrical test solutions from concept to operational use.
• Define and guide technical approaches for ATE projects and work packages.
• Review and approve technical documentation related to requirements, design and verification.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and promote best practices.
• Collaborate across sites, functions, suppliers and customers.

Skills

Electrical test design

Technical leadership

Problem-solving

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Engineering or science degree/apprenticeship

Equivalent experience

Tools

LabVIEW

Digital multimeters

Oscilloscopes

Job description

EATON Wimborne

Located in Wimborne, Dorset, Eaton's Aerospace division is a global leader in aerospace fuel systems, renowned for delivering fully integrated solutions for both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.

Our Wimborne facility specialises in cutting-edge air-to-air refuelling systems, advanced refuelling probes, air-to-air and air-to-ground launch systems utilising both pneumatic and pyrotechnic ejection technologies, as well as a range of Defensive Aids Sub-Systems.

With over 80 years of industry experience, we are recognised as the world’s leading provider of air-to-air refuelling systems, offering fifth-generation solutions to Air Forces worldwide.

Our legacy of innovation and technical excellence sets us apart as the most advanced air-to-air refuelling supplier on the globe.

What you’ll do:

Provide technical leadership within the Electrical Test Design team for the development, validation, introduction and lifecycle support of automated electrical test solutions for aerospace applications. The role leads complex electrical test design activities from concept through to implementation, ensuring solutions are safe, robust, reusable, maintainable and aligned with project, customer and business objectives. The Lead Engineer acts as a senior technical authority for automated test equipment, software-based ground support equipment, test hardware, software-controlled test systems, documentation, validation and configuration-controlled engineering outputs. The role provides guidance, review, mentoring and technical decision-making support to improve the capability, consistency and technical standard of the Electrical Test Design function.

• Provide technical leadership for complex electrical test design activities, including automated test equipment, test hardware, software-controlled test systems and associated documentation.
• Lead electrical test solutions from concept through to operational use, ensuring appropriate consideration of safety, value, reuse, maintainability, validation and configuration management.
• Define and guide the technical approach for assigned ATE projects and work packages.
• Review and approve technical documentation relating to requirements, design, verification, test procedures, operating processes and controlled introduction of electrical test equipment.
• Act as a technical point of escalation for complex electrical test design issues, using practical engineering judgement and structured problem-solving.
• Mentor and coach less experienced engineers, supporting technical capability, good engineering practice and confidence within the team.
• Apply advanced aerospace engineering principles to solve complex problems involving electrical systems, electronic hardware, software-controlled test equipment and laboratory instrumentation.
• Support root cause investigations, failure analysis, corrective actions and technical reviews relating to test equipment, test processes and product test issues.
• Collaborate across Eaton sites, functions, suppliers and customers to align technical approaches and support wider business objectives.
• Incorporate relevant technology, product, process and industry trends into electrical test design decisions where appropriate.
• Deputise for the Electrical Test Design Manager on technical matters when required.

Qualifications:

• Engineering or science degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 10 years within engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, electrical test, automated test equipment, product development or a closely related technical environment.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of electrical systems, electronic hardware and automated electrical test design.
• Able to interpret, review and challenge circuit diagrams, interface definitions, test requirements and technical documentation.
• Experience designing, developing, validating or supporting electrical test hardware and software-controlled test systems.
• Able to debug equipment using laboratory instruments such as digital multimeters, oscilloscopes and other electrical/electronic test equipment.
• Experience with LabVIEW or comparable software-controlled test environments is desirable.
• Understanding of requirements management, validation, configuration management and lifecycle control of engineering outputs.
• Working knowledge of aerospace engineering standards, safety expectations and controlled introduction of equipment into production or test environments.
• Able to assess trade-offs between technical requirements, safety, cost, schedule, reuse, maintainability and business impact.
• Strong technical leadership, with the ability to guide, influence and support others without relying on line-management authority.
• Clear and confident communicator, able to explain complex technical subjects to engineers, managers, suppliers and customers.
• Comfortable giving and receiving technical challenge, using evidence and engineering judgement to drive robust decisions.
• Proactive and self-directed, able to operate with minimal guidance on complex or ambiguous technical issues.
• Collaborative approach, able to work effectively across functions, disciplines and sites.
• Strong mentoring mindset, with a willingness to develop less experienced engineers and improve team capability.

The successful applicant will be in contact with US ITAR controlled technology, goods, and information. As a condition of employment, employees with access to US ITAR controlled technology and goods may be required to undergo an additional screening process as part of the recruitment process.

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for job applicants and employees. Our recruitment processes use balanced selection criteria and avoid unlawful discrimination against applicants on the basis of their age, colour, disability, marital status, national origin, gender, gender identity, genetic information, race or racial origin, religion, sexual orientation or any other status protected or required by law.