Principal Test Engineer CCA

MBDA Miissle System; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player offers an exciting opportunity for a Lead Test Engineer in a modern defence manufacturing environment. This role involves managing a dedicated team of test engineers, ensuring high-quality testing and diagnostics of circuit cards and electronics. You will provide technical leadership, drive team performance, and collaborate with various design teams to enhance testing capabilities. With a strong focus on technical excellence and continuous improvement, this position promises a rewarding career in a fast-paced, inclusive setting. Join a diverse engineering team committed to delivering essential military capabilities to the UK and its allies.

Benefits

Company bonus

Pension contribution

Paid overtime opportunities

Flexi Leave

Flexible working arrangements

Enhanced parental leave

Subsidised meals

Free parking

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of analogue and digital electronics and failure diagnosis techniques.
• Experience managing a small team of technical professionals.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of approximately 5 test engineers, including task deployment and prioritisation.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to ensure programme targets are met.

Skills

Analogue Electronics

Digital Electronics

Failure Diagnosis Techniques

Team Management

Technical Communication

Education

HNC or equivalent qualification

HND/degree in relevant subject

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

This role provides a technically challenging and rewarding opportunity to work in a modern defence manufacturing environment, providing essential and decisive military capability to our UK customer and their allies.

Salary

Circa £50,000.00 depending on experience

Working Arrangements

Hybrid working: 4-5 days per week on-site due to workload classification

Security Clearance

British Citizen or Dual UK national with British citizenship. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. All successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What We Offer

• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (performance-based, varies year to year)
• Pension: Up to 14% total contribution (employer and employee)
• Overtime: Paid overtime opportunities
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
• Flexible working: We welcome flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: Up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave, with enhancements for paternity, neonatal leave, and fertility treatments
• Facilities: Subsidised meals, free parking, and more

The Opportunity

This position is for a Lead Test Engineer with a strong technical bias to join the Circuit Card Assembly Business Unit in Manufacturing UK, supporting testing and diagnostics of circuit cards and electronics in manufacture.

• Manage a team of approximately 5 test engineers, including task deployment and prioritisation.
• Develop the team and conduct performance reviews.
• Drive team performance to meet programme and quality requirements, fostering continuous improvement.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to ensure programme targets are met within time, cost, and quality constraints.
• Support and guide the Test Engineering team to develop future test capabilities.
• Represent the team at stakeholder meetings, report on progress, and align with programme priorities.
• Collaborate with Test Equipment Design, Production Design Support, and Prime Design Teams/Test Architects on test capabilities.
• Lead defect investigations on analogue, digital, and RF-based CCAs.
• Contribute to NCRB to improve test yields.
• Manage configuration of test documentation in line with company processes.

You will work with a dedicated, diverse engineering team in a fast-paced, inclusive manufacturing environment focused on delivering technical excellence across various products.

Candidate Requirements

• HNC or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject; HND/degree preferred.
• Strong understanding of analogue and digital electronics and failure diagnosis techniques.
• Experience presenting technical information to stakeholders at various levels.
• Experience managing a small team of technical professionals.
• Ability to plan and organise team tasks to meet project objectives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including generating test specifications, operator instructions, and technical reports using Microsoft Office.

About MBDA

MBDA is a leading defence organisation committed to supporting armed forces and defending our nations. We value diversity and inclusion, with employee-led networks supporting various communities. We encourage applicants to seek support or adjustments during the recruitment process.

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