Mechanical Test Engineering Manager

SPX; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SPX in Bristol is seeking a Mechanical Test Engineering Manager to lead a small specialist team handling mechanical production and test engineering for the OEM portfolio. You will act as a bridge between Operations, Manufacturing Partners, Design Engineering, Product Management and Project Management, ensuring production issues are resolved quickly and test methodology remains robust.

As the role evolves, you will transform legacy test-bed methodology, own test approaches, reduce cycle times and

Qualifications

• Strong mechanical engineering background with production/test focus.
• Experience leading small to medium technical teams and cross-functional groups.
• Proven ability to diagnose mechanical, production and test‑related issues and lead hands‑on problem solving.
• Experience developing, improving or sustaining product test methods and equipment.
• Experience partnering with manufacturing partners or external production suppliers to improve performance.
• Experience supporting NPI, design transfer or production readiness activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical and operational support for mechanical production and test engineering across the OEM portfolio.
• Lead a small specialist team responsible for mechanical production engineering and test engineering support.
• Lead production, testing and repair, shipping and distribution teams to support efficient delivery and customer outcomes.
• Act as the troubleshooting and problem‑resolution lead for production issues, field failures and customer escalations.
• Manage priorities across multiple stakeholders and deliver practical engineering improvements without requiring close supervision.
• Overhaul legacy test‑bed methodology and equipment, delivering more flexible, relevant and affordable test solutions.
• Own and continuously improve product test methodology for robustness, efficiency, repeatability and scalability.
• Develop, improve and sustain production test equipment, test rigs, calibration approaches and diagnostic processes.
• Liaise with manufacturing partners to investigate, troubleshoot and resolve production issues with strong root‑cause analysis.
• Participate in NPI activities to ensure manufacturability, testability, serviceability and production readiness from the outset.
• Work with repair, customer support, engineering and manufacturing teams to identify root causes and implement effective field solutions.
• Serve as the technical connection between Operations, partners, design engineering, product management and project management.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Team leadership

Root cause analysis

Test method development

Cross-functional collaboration

NPI / production readiness

Problem solving

Production issues troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

HND/HNC/apprenticeship in related field

Tools

Test rigs

Calibration approaches

Job description

Career Opportunities: Mechanical Test Engineering Manager (74275)

How you will make an Impact (Job Summary)

SPX is a diverse team of unique individuals who all make an impact. As the Mechanical Test Engineering Manager, you will provide hands‑on technical leadership for a small specialist team covering mechanical production engineering and test engineering support for the OEM business. You will act as a key bridge between Operations, Manufacturing Partners, Design Engineering, Product Management and Project Management, ensuring production issues are resolved quickly, test methodology remains robust, and new products are introduced effectively into production.

What you can expect in this role (Job Responsibilities)

While each day brings new opportunities at SPX, your core responsibilities will be:

• 1. Lead technical and operational support for mechanical production and test engineering:
• Lead a small specialist team responsible for mechanical production engineering and test engineering support across the OEM product portfolio.
• Lead production, testing and repair, shipping and distribution teams to support efficient delivery and customer outcomes.
• Act as the troubleshooting and problem‑resolution lead for production issues, field failures and customer escalations.
• Manage priorities across multiple stakeholders and deliver practical engineering improvements without requiring close supervision.
• 2. Transform and continuously improve product test methodology:
• Deliver a critical transformation project to overhaul legacy test‑bed methodology and equipment, replacing decades‑old approaches with more flexible, relevant and affordable test solutions suitable for production, engineering and field deployment.
• Own and continuously improve product test methodology, ensuring test approaches are robust, efficient, repeatable, scalable and appropriate for production, engineering validation and field failure diagnosis.
• Reduce test cycle time, improve production efficiency and enable distribution partners to operate appropriate field test equipment without specialist engineering support.
• Develop, improve and sustain production test equipment, test rigs, calibration approaches and diagnostic processes.
• 3. Partner across manufacturing, engineering and product teams:
• Liaise closely with manufacturing partners to investigate, troubleshoot and resolve production issues, ensuring effective root cause analysis, corrective actions and sustained process improvement.
• Participate in NPI activities with Engineering, Product Management and the Project Management Office, ensuring manufacturability, testability, serviceability and production readiness are considered from the outset.
• Work with repair, customer support, engineering and manufacturing teams to identify root causes and implement effective solutions for field failures and customer issues.
• Serve as the technical connection between Operations, manufacturing partners, design engineering, product management and project management.

What we are looking for (Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education)

We each bring something to the table, and we are looking for someone who has:

Required Experience

• Strong mechanical engineering, production engineering, manufacturing engineering or test engineering background within an OEM, manufacturing, engineering or product‑based environment.
• Experience leading small to medium‑sized technical teams, engineering support teams, production engineering functions or site‑based manufacturing teams.
• Strong practical engineering skills, with the ability to diagnose mechanical, production and test‑related issues and lead hands‑on problem solving where required.
• Proven experience developing, improving or sustaining product test methods, production test equipment, test rigs, calibration approaches or diagnostic processes.
• Experience working with manufacturing partners, contract manufacturers or external production suppliers to resolve technical issues and improve production performance.
• Experience supporting NPI, design transfer or production readiness activities in conjunction with engineering, product management, programme or project management teams.
• Strong root cause analysis and structured problem‑solving capability, with experience resolving production issues, field failures, customer escalations or product performance concerns.
• Ability to lead technical projects independently, manage priorities across multiple stakeholders and deliver practical engineering improvements without requiring close supervision.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience innovating new engineering solutions, automating or simplifying test processes, designing practical test equipment or developing field‑deployable diagnostic tools.
• Experience improving test cycle time, production efficiency, serviceability or field diagnostic capability.
• Experience working in a hands‑on technical leadership role across operations, engineering, manufacturing partners and customer support.
• Experience supporting OEM products through production, repair, distribution and field support environments.

Education & Certifications

• Degree, HNC/HND, apprenticeship or equivalent practical background in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, production engineering, mechatronics or a related discipline preferred.
• Equivalent practical experience in mechanical, production, manufacturing or test engineering will be considered.
• Hybrid role based in Bristol, with office attendance expected Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
• Hands‑on technical leadership role requiring close collaboration with operations, engineering, manufacturing partners, repair, customer support, product management and project management teams.
• May require occasional travel to manufacturing partners, suppliers, customers or other SPX sites as business needs require.