Principal Test Engineer

MBDA UK Ltd; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player offers a unique opportunity for a Principal Test Engineer to shape production testing within the New Product Introduction team. This role involves defining test requirements for electrical/electronic weapon systems, collaborating with design engineers, and leading production readiness reviews. You'll work in a dynamic, hybrid environment, balancing on-site and remote work, while contributing to innovative projects that support national defense. Join a diverse team dedicated to excellence in manufacturing and testing, and enjoy a range of benefits including a company bonus, enhanced parental leave, and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Company bonus up to £2,500

Pension contribution up to 14%

Paid overtime opportunities

Up to 15 additional days of Flexi Leave

Flexible working arrangements

Enhanced parental leave up to 26 weeks

Subsidised meals

Free car parking

Qualifications

• Minimum HNC level qualification in relevant subject required.
• Experience in digital and analogue electronics manufacture and test.

Responsibilities

• Define test requirements and ensure production test readiness for weapon systems.
• Collaborate with engineers to implement project test strategies.

Skills

Digital Electronics

Analogue Electronics

Electrical Measurement

Test Principles

RF Technology

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

HNC in a relevant subject

HND/Degree in a relevant subject

Tools

Test Equipment

Job description

This role provides a unique chance to shape how MBDA undertakes production testing, working within the New Product Introduction team on future, Pre-DD1 projects.

Salary: Circa £50,000 depending on experience

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

Security Clearance:

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 principal test engineer to join the Manufacturing organisation performing test requirements definition and production test readiness activities for electrical/electronic weapon systems and sub-systems during prototype and initial development. This role sits under the Manufacturing UK Test Engineering organisation, deployed to the New Product Introduction team.

• 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, ensuring there is consistency across all Project sub-system test requirements.
• 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.
• Liaising with Test Equipment Design, Production Design Support, and the Prime Design Teams/Test Architects to support delivery of future test capabilities.
• Initialise test fixture designs for new product.
• 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.
• Lead and facilitate Production Readiness and Industrialisation Reviews, ensuring through Test Equipment PRR that new test capabilities meet the defined requirements.
• Maintain Project Manufacturing System / Industrial Validation Documentation (system and sub-system test requirements, test instructions, validation plans) which flow down to the respective Operations Equipment Teams.

You will be working with a small multi-disciplinary team of dedicated engineers in a fast-paced but friendly and inclusive manufacturing environment. The team has a great mix of personnel all striving to meet the challenge of delivering the manufacturing test architecture and industrial capability for NPI programmes.

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 appreciation of electrical/electronic measurement and test principles and test equipment, as well as systems-level functional testing. Some applied knowledge of RF technology would be beneficial.
• Experience in engaging with and presenting technical information to a wide range of stakeholders at multiple (including senior) levels of an organisation.
• Understanding of the new product introduction phase of the lifecycle, and experience in production test readiness activities at MBDA.
• Experience of generating test requirements, specifications, operator instructions and technical reports based on higher-level requirements.

Our company:

MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more...

We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.

#LI-RM1