Manufacturing Test Engineer

MBDA; Henlow; On-site; GBP 40,050 - 48,950; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Pension up to 14%

Overtime paid

Flexi Leave up to 15 days

Flexible working

Enhanced parental leave

Site facilities

Job summary

MBDA is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to join the Manufacturing team, supporting test and diagnostics of electrical/electronic subsystems during early lifecycle phases. You will provide technical support to the manufacturing test capability to meet time, cost, and quality targets.

You will work in a tight-knit team to develop test strategies, implement configurations, and ensure successful production readiness while contributing to continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• HNC level in a relevant subject (HND/Degree preferred) with experience in digital and analogue electronics manufacture and test.
• Strong understanding of electrical/electronic measurement and test principles and test equipment.
• Experience using both manual and automated test equipment, preferably in defence/manufacturing.
• Familiar with ERP/MES programs (e.g. SAP, MES) for recording test activities and non-conformance reports.
• Ability to plan and organise own work to meet project objectives.
• Strong verbal and written communication; able to generate test specifications and technical reports.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Provide Test Engineering support during Design/Development from concept through Production Readiness Review.
• Support Test Facility introduction and ensure configuration control of equipment and facilities.
• Test electrical/electronic sub-assemblies and circuit cards; diagnose production test failures to component level.
• Collaborate with Operations, design teams and stakeholders to overcome technical challenges.
• Deliver in line with programme and quality requirements while maintaining governance and pursuing continuous improvement.
• Contribute to project test strategy and implement testability solutions.
• Compile initial process flows (MTIFs) for new product.

Skills

Digital electronics

Analog electronics

Electrical testing

Test equipment

SAP / MES

Project planning

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Education

HNC level or equivalent (HND/Degree preferred)

Tools

SAP / MES systems

Job description

Provide Test Engineering support to the team, working on the test strategy and test implementation for concepts / early development prototypes.

Salary: Circa £44,500 depending on experience.

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 4 or 5 days per week on-site due to workload classification.

Security Clearance: British Citizen Only.

Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (based on company performance and will vary year to year
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…

The opportunity:

This opportunity is for a Senior Test Engineer to join the Manufacturing team supporting test and diagnostics of electrical/electronic sub‑systems and circuit cards during early phases of the product lifecycle. You will be providing technical support to the manufacturing test capability, to ensure programme targets are met to agreed time, cost and quality requirements.

• Providing Test Engineering support during Design / Development phases from initial concept through to Production Readiness Review and release to Operations.
• Supporting Test Facility introduction and ensuring that appropriate configuration control of equipment and facilities is in place prior to use, including generating supporting test specifications and operator instructions.
• Supporting testing of electrical/electronic sub‑assemblies and circuit cards, with diagnosis of production test failures down to component level.
• Working closely with Operations, the design teams and other stakeholders to overcome any technical challenges.
• Always aiming to deliver in line with all programme and quality requirements, whilst maintaining Test Engineering functional governance and pursuing continuous improvement.
• Work alongside Test TX’s and design engineers to understand and implement the project test strategy and influence the design to include the appropriate testability solutions.
• Work alongside the Principal engineer / MEM in compiling the initial process flows (MTIF’s) for new product.
• Create and maintain the MTRS’s for production test equipment.
• Support the Process FMEA, ensuring test mitigations are in place.
• Initialise test fixture designs for new product.
• Assist TED in the compilation of new test instructions.
• Estimate the time taken to test new product and work alongside BCF to validate the UPC/DTCR.
• Support the design engineers in carrying out the functional & ESS testing of initial prototypes.

You will be working with a small team of dedicated engineers in a fast‑paced but friendly and inclusive manufacturing environment. The team has a great mix of people, ranging from apprentices and graduates through to experienced engineers, all striving to deliver technical excellence across a number of different missile systems in development and production.

What we're looking for from you:

• Minimum HNC level of qualification or equivalent in a relevant subject (HND/Degree preferred) plus experience in digital and analogue electronics manufacture and test.
• A good understanding of electrical/electronic measurement and test principles and test equipment, as well as fault diagnosis techniques for electronic/electro‑mechanical sub‑assemblies.
• Experience of using both manual and automated test equipment, preferably in a defence organisation or similar manufacturing environment.
• Familiar with enterprise resource planning and manufacturing execution system programs (e.g. SAP, MES) for recording test activities and generating non‑conformance reports and concessions.
• The ability to plan and organise own work in order to ensure multiple tasks can be prioritised and delivered against Project objectives.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, including generation of test specifications, operator instructions and technical reports based on higher level requirements.
• Proven analytical and problem solving skills, with strong attention to detail.