Lead Test Engineer

ontic; Bishop's Cleeve; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontic Bishops Cleeve is seeking a Lead Test Engineer to join the Manufacturing Engineering team in Bishop's Cleeve. This hands-on technical leadership role focuses on planned and preventative maintenance of specialist manufacturing and environmental test equipment used for environmental and stress testing, including ESS/HASS chambers and associated systems.

You will take ownership of maintenance activities, diagnose faults, coordinate contractors, and collaborate across engineering and

Job description

Bishops Cleeve - Gloucestershire, UK | Permanent | 37 hours per week

About Ontic Bishops Cleeve

Our Bishops Cleeve site in Cheltenham is home to teams working predominantly on electronic and electro-mechanical aerospace products, including fuel measurement systems, sensors, emergency oxygen systems, engine and environmental controls and airborne radar technology.

It's highly specialised work, supported by capabilities including clean-room, aviation fuel and extreme-temperature testing. Our people combine technical expertise with the precision and quality aerospace demands.

Join the team and you'll be part of a welcoming, collaborative site where people take pride in what they do, support one another and play their part in keeping aircraft flying safely and reliably around the world.

The opportunity

We're looking for a Lead Test Engineer to join our Manufacturing Engineering team at Bishops Cleeve. This is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone with a strong maintenance background who enjoys taking ownership, solving problems and having the freedom to manage their work independently.

You'll take a leading role in keeping a varied range of specialist manufacturing and environmental test equipment safe, reliable and available. This includes equipment used for environmental and stress testing, such as ESS and HASS chambers, altitude chambers and vibration equipment, alongside induction heaters and welders, electron beam welding machines, leak testers, vacuum furnaces, curing ovens and ultrasonic cleaning tanks.

While environmental test chamber experience would be valuable, your core maintenance capability is the priority. If you're strong in planned and preventative maintenance, electrical and mechanical fault-finding and control systems, there will be an opportunity to build your knowledge of our specialist chambers and test equipment. You'll have the independence to take ownership of your area while building relationships across multiple departments and becoming a trusted technical presence across the site.

What you'll be doing

• Take technical ownership of planned and preventative maintenance, keeping specialist manufacturing and test equipment safe, reliable and available.
• Diagnose electrical, mechanical and cooling system faults, responding to breakdowns and driving practical solutions that minimise disruption to production and testing.
• Support and maintain environmental test equipment, including ESS/HASS chambers, altitude chambers and vibration equipment, developing deeper specialist knowledge where required.
• Work independently to identify priorities and solve technical problems, while building strong relationships across engineering, production and other teams around the site.
• Coordinate contractors and specialist service engineers, while supporting the installation, commissioning and ongoing improvement of new and existing equipment.

What you'll bring

• Strong hands-on industrial or manufacturing maintenance experience, including planned and preventative maintenance, breakdown response and electrical/mechanical fault-finding.
• Practical experience with PLCs and electrical control systems, together with the ability to interpret technical drawings and electrical schematics.
• Experience working with industrial equipment and components such as motors, AC/DC drives, servo systems, sensors, pneumatics and hydraulics.
• Management of Contractors especially in the HSE aspects and safe systems of work (Risk assessments, method statements, scope of works, RAMMS etc.). Knowledge of industrial safety standards, including LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) and safety circuits (e.g., Pilz).
• A relevant technical qualification such as an HNC, City & Guilds or BTEC in Mechanical, Electrical or Refrigeration Engineering, together with the confidence to operate independently, take ownership and provide technical leadership.
• Experience with environmental test chambers, ESS/HASS, vibration testing, HVAC or industrial maintenance, calibration or test and measurement systems would be advantageous rather than essential, alongside a willingness to learn and develop your knowledge of specialist equipment.
• Ability to solve problems, take ownership, lead and act like a solution provider with a "can do" attitude, ability to train, coach and mentor

Why Ontic?

At Ontic, we're specialists in keeping critical aircraft flying. Our work supports civil and military aviation around the world, giving established aircraft products the long-term support they need to remain safe, reliable and available.

But it's our people who make that possible. We're a growing, global team where you're trusted to take ownership, encouraged to challenge how things have always been done and supported to develop your career as our business grows.

We believe in embracing the challenge - working together to solve complex problems and create opportunities for our customers, our business and each other.

Benefits at Ontic

At Ontic, we're committed to supporting ou