Environmental Test Engineer

Cambridge Aerospace; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Private medical & dental

Cycle to work

Job summary

Cambridge Aerospace is seeking an Environmental Test Engineer to plan and execute environmental testing and qualification activities across defence and aerospace programmes. The role translates real operational environments into credible test evidence and is hands-on in nature.

You will join a fast-moving development team and support test method development, data acquisition, and witness test campaigns both in-house and with external facilities.

Qualifications

• A good understanding of engineering principles and an interest in environmental testing.
• Some experience supporting or running structured engineering tests, gained through employment, university, an apprenticeship or personal projects.
• Ability to produce clear and structured technical documentation.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving development environment.
• A practical, hands-on approach to engineering and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of environmental test methods, working with cross-functional teams to mitigate risk.
• Help derive and justify test severities from operational and lifecycle environments.
• Plan, execute and witness environmental test campaigns, both in-house and through external test facilities
• Develop test procedures, plans, reports and qualification evidence packs
• Support the design and build of mechanical test rigs
• Specify and configure instrumentation, data acquisition and test setups
• Investigate test deviations and failures and support re-test activities
• Work alongside experienced engineers to develop your knowledge of environmental testing and qualification

Skills

Engineering principles

Structured testing experience

Technical documentation

Hands-on engineering

Problem solving

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Instrumentation & data acquisition

Job description

We are seeking an Environmental Test Engineer to support the planning and execution of environmental testing and qualification activities across defence and aerospace programmes. The role is hands‑on and focused on translating real operational environments into credible, defensible test evidence.

This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer looking to build their existing environmental testing experience while working on complex, real‑world aerospace systems.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of environmental test methods, working with cross‑functional teams to mitigate risk
• Help derive and justify test severities from operational and lifecycle environments
• Plan, execute and witness environmental test campaigns, both in‑house and through external test facilities
• Develop test procedures, plans, reports and qualification evidence packs
• Support the design and build of mechanical test rigs
• Specify and configure instrumentation, data acquisition and test setups
• Investigate test deviations and failures and support re‑test activities
• Work alongside experienced engineers to develop your knowledge of environmental testing and qualification

Must have

• A good understanding of engineering principles and an interest in environmental testing
• Some experience supporting or running structured engineering tests, gained through employment, university, an apprenticeship or personal projects
• Ability to produce clear and structured technical documentation
• Comfortable working in a fast‑moving development environment
• A practical, hands‑on approach to engineering and problem‑solving

Nice to have

• Experience in fast‑paced R&D or startup environments with rapid prototype iteration times
• Experience processing and analysing test data using MATLAB, Python or equivalent tools
• Exposure to the defence or aerospace industries
• Awareness of environmental standards such as DEF STAN 00-035, MIL-STD-810 or STANAGs
• CAD experience, ideally Siemens NX or SolidWorks, although this is not essential
• Some experience with instrumentation and data acquisition systems
• Exposure to working with external test houses
• Ability to gain UK Security Clearance, although this is not required at the application stage

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and stock options
• Private medical and dental cover
• Cycle to work scheme
• Hands‑on experience with advanced aerospace and defence technology
• Opportunities to learn from experienced engineers and take on increasing responsibility as you develop

About Us

The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air: low‑cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence.

We’re building low‑cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems needed to detect and target them, at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery.

We have immense backing from some of the world’s leading venture funds. We’re one of the fastest‑growing defence technology companies in history, and we’re hiring talented engineers who want to develop their skills while contributing to an important mission.

If you are ambitious, eager to learn, willing to work hard and excited by the opportunity to build technology that addresses one of the defining challenges of our time, now is the time to join us.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We’re interested in your potential, practical ability and willingness to learn, not just the number of years you have worked.