Production Test Engineer - Contractor

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL); Guildford; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace firm based in Guildford is seeking an experienced Production Test Engineer - Contractor. In this role, you will evaluate existing testing practices and recommend improvements for avionics acceptance tests. The ideal candidate has a strong background in electrical hardware testing within aerospace environments and holds an engineering qualification. This is a consultancy role expected to last 6-12 months, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of production testing processes.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in electrical hardware testing within aerospace or high-reliability systems.
• Familiarity with environmental, functional, and integration testing of complex systems.
• Experience in creating test procedures and evaluation reports.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate current testing practices and provide recommendations for improvements.
• Shadow the engineering team during module electrical bench testing.
• Deliver comprehensive documentation including test procedures and reports.

Skills

Electrical hardware testing

Understanding of DC Power systems

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Engineering qualification (HNC/HND or degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or related field)

Tools

Test automation tools

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Spacecraft Production · Guildford

Production Test Engineer - Contractor

*This role sits inside IR35*

This is a 6-to-12-month consultancy role suited for an experienced Electrical Test Engineer with a strong background in aerospace or high-reliability systems. You will play a key role in evaluating our current testing practices and providing expert recommendations to improve the efficiency, consistency, and scalability of our avionics acceptance test processes. You will help to define what an industrialised Production Test Team will constitute: people; equipment; process; facilities.

Key Tasks

Phase 1: Test Observation & Evaluation

• Shadow the existing engineering and test team during module electrical bench testing and verification activities.
• Observe and document current test sequences and workflows.
• Identify inefficiencies, risks, or potential failure points in the test process.
• Produce a detailed report and presentation outlining:
• Observations on test execution and documentation.
• Recommendations for process improvements.
• Suggestions for tools, automation, or procedural enhancements.
• Resource knowledge and skill sets.

Phase 2: Process Definition & Presentation

• Define what production-ready module testing could look like in a scaled environment.
• Develop a workflow proposal suitable for integration within a Production Test team.
• Prepare and deliver a formal presentation to Engineering and Production leadership and relevant stakeholders.
• Include potential resource, tooling, and personnel considerations for implementation.
• Install, configure, and operate test rigs, ground support equipment, sensors, and subsystems.
• Perform test execution, troubleshooting, first-line quality inspections, and anomaly logging and reporting.
• Deliver comprehensive documentation: test procedures, reports, qualifications, and anomaly summaries.
• Ensure Health & Safety compliance during test campaigns, both in-house and on-site.

Deliverables

• Written report with findings and recommendations (end of Phase 1).
• Presentation and report outlining future-state test operations for module testing (end of Phase 2).
• Supporting documentation, flowcharts, financial analysis/justification or templates to guide future implementation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Previous Experience

• Proven experience in electrical hardware testing, preferably within aerospace, space systems, or other high-reliability domains.
• Familiarity with environmental, functional, and integration testing of complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Understanding of DC Power systems, RF test principles and required equipment (VNA/spectrum analysers/signal generators), on-board computer systems, payload data storage and interfacing.
• Familiarity with test automation tools and data acquisition systems.
• Understanding of Design for Test (DfT) and scalable production test methodologies.

Qualifications Knowledge & Skills

• Engineering qualification (HNC/HND or degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or related field)
• Knowledge of industry standards for space hardware testing (e.g., ECSS, NASA GEVS, MIL-STD).
• Strong analytical and systems thinking capabilities.
• Experience creating test procedures, workflows, and evaluation reports.
• Comfortable working independently within a small, fast-moving team environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings and schematics

Department

Spacecraft Production

Role

Production Test Engineer

Locations

Guildford

Job Reference

351

Spacecraft Production · Guildford

Production Test Engineer - Contractor

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