Principal Test Development Engineer

Copello; Slough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Copello is partnering with a leading defence and advanced engineering organisation to appoint a Principal Test Development Engineer. You will design, develop and implement test solutions for complex electronic products, guiding them from development through qualification and into production.

You’ll lead automated test development, contribute to Design for Test, and work with cross‑functional teams to ensure efficient, reliable and cost‑effective testing across legacy and new products.

Qualifications

• Experience developing automated test programmes using National Instruments TestStand, CVI and/or LabVIEW.
• Proficiency in C-based programming.
• Experience producing basic 2D mechanical drawings for test equipment and facilities.
• Experience creating electrical circuit drawings and wiring documentation for test boxes, fixtures and cables.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative and robust test solutions across a range of electronic products and systems.
• Provide cost estimates, resource requirements and development timescales for test equipment as part of bids and proposals.
• Lead Design for Test (DfT) activities with engineering teams to ensure products can be tested throughout their lifecycle.
• Develop cost-effective test strategies for qualification and production phases.
• Design test facilities and produce associated technical documentation and manufacturing information.
• Support build and manufacture of test equipment and facilities.
• Develop test software and firmware for automated test solutions.
• Commission new test facilities and implement calibration procedures as required.
• Produce clear, structured test procedures and work instructions for production and qualification testing.
• Collaborate with software and engineering teams to establish software interfacing protocols.
• Provide technical support for existing test equipment, including troubleshooting and improvement of legacy systems.
• Ensure all work complies with information and security requirements.

Skills

TestStand

LabVIEW

C programming

Electrical drawings

Test documentation

RF testing

Tools

National Instruments TestStand

NI CVI

LabVIEW

Job description

Principal Test Development Engineer

The Opportunity

Copello are partnering with a leading organisation within the defence and advanced engineering sector who are looking for a Principal Test Development Engineer to join their team.

This is a key technical role focused on the design, development and implementation of test solutions for complex electronic products, supporting their journey from initial development through qualification and into production.

You’ll play an important role in ensuring products can be tested efficiently, reliably and cost-effectively, while also supporting and improving the test infrastructure used across existing and legacy products.

Working closely with engineering and other technical teams, you’ll have the opportunity to influence product design through Design for Test (DfT) principles and take ownership of test solutions from concept through to commissioning and production.

The Role

As Principal Test Development Engineer, you’ll be responsible for developing innovative and robust test solutions across a range of electronic products and systems.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing cost estimates, resource requirements and development timescales for test equipment as part of bids and proposals.
• Leading Design for Test (DfT) activities, working with engineering teams to ensure products can be tested effectively throughout their lifecycle.
• Developing cost-effective and efficient test strategies for products during both qualification and production phases.
• Designing test facilities and producing the associated technical documentation, drawings and manufacturing information.
• Supporting the build and manufacture of test equipment and facilities.
• Developing test software and firmware to support automated test solutions.
• Commissioning new test facilities, including developing and implementing calibration procedures where required.
• Producing clear, structured test procedures and work instructions to support production and qualification testing.
• Working collaboratively with software and engineering teams to establish appropriate software interfacing protocols and requirements.
• Providing technical support for existing test equipment, including troubleshooting, maintenance and continuous improvement of legacy systems.
• Ensuring all work is undertaken in accordance with relevant information and security requirements.

About You

We’re looking for an experienced test development professional with a strong background in automated test systems and electronic product testing.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Strong experience developing automated test programmes using National Instruments TestStand, CVI and/or LabVIEW.
• Proficiency in C-based programming.
• Experience producing basic 2D mechanical drawings for test equipment and facilities.
• Experience creating electrical circuit drawings and wiring documentation for test boxes, fixtures and cables.
• The ability to produce clear, consistent and user-friendly test procedures and technical instructions.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Visio.
• Experience developing test solutions for digital/FPGA-based products.
• Experience testing RF products.

Please note: Due to the nature of the work, candidates must be sole British Citizens and must be willing and able to obtain and maintain SC through to DV-level security clearance.