ATE Technical Lead

SoCode Recruitment; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 83,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

SoCode Recruitment seeks an ATE Technical Lead with a hands-on background to own the complete ATE lifecycle from R&D through manufacturing and ongoing production support. You will lead technical decisions, debug and integrate testers, and ensure successful transfer to manufacturing sites.

The role requires 5+ years of ATE experience, strong Python, and experience coordinating hardware, software, and manufacturing teams. Cambridge area, hybrid on-site schedule.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of ATE experience including tester development and production support.
• Experience with TestStand or equivalent ATE platforms.
• Strong Python skills for automation, debugging and data analysis.
• Hardware, electronics, networks and embedded systems knowledge.
• Ability to lead tester architecture and manage cross-functional delivery.
• Experience with manufacturing transfer and production support.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, integration and deployment of automated testers from R&D to manufacturing.
• Own ATE lifecycle including debugging, integration, and production support.
• Coordinate hardware, software, embedded, mechanical, QA and manufacturing teams.
• Manage tester architecture, requirements, design reviews and risk management.
• Oversee production transfer, calibration, troubleshooting and yield improvement.

Skills

ATE

TestStand

Python

Embedded systems

Hardware integration

Leadership

Manufacturing

Cross-functional

Tools

NI TestStand

Job description

ATE Technical Lead

Contract Opportunity - Inside IR35

Hourly Rate: FLEXIBLE

Location: Outer Cambridge (3 days on site)

Duration: 1 Year (Possible extension)

*Please note, no sponsorship is being offered for this role unfortunately, so please only apply if you have valid right to work in UK and are happy commuting to Cambridge 3 days per week*

We are looking for an ATE Technical Lead with a strong hands-on background in Automated Test Equipment (ATE), who can lead the development, integration and deployment of automated testers from R&D through to manufacturing and ongoing production support. This is not just an automated test developer or production test engineer role. We are looking for someone who can own the complete ATE lifecycle, lead technical decisions, remain hands-on with debugging and integration, and ensure testers are successfully transferred into and supported at manufacturing sites.

• 5+ years’ ATE experience covering tester development, system integration, validation, deployment and production support.
• National Instruments TestStand experience, alongside automated test development and hardware integration (equivalent ATE platforms may be suitable).
• Strong Python skills for test automation, debugging, tooling and manufacturing data analysis.
• Multidisciplinary hardware and embedded systems knowledge, including electronics, instrumentation, networks, embedded interfaces and system-level debugging.
• Technical leadership and project ownership, managing tester architecture, requirements, design reviews, project plans, risks and delivery through to production.
• Manufacturing and production experience, including tester bring-up, troubleshooting, calibration, failure analysis, yield optimisation and continuous improvement.
• Strong stakeholder management, coordinating hardware, software, embedded, mechanical, quality and manufacturing teams.
• Experience working with external manufacturers, ideally Contract Manufacturing Organisations (CMOs), including production transfer, deployment, technical documentation and issue resolution.

Even better if you've got this experience too:

• Linux and command-line tools
• SQL and manufacturing databases
• Embedded communication protocols: I²C, SPI, UART and Ethernet
• Test fixture design, calibration and tester safety
• Production test-station management
• Supplier, subcontractor and CMO management