Senior Test Design Engineer - Systems & Automation

Thales Group; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and flexible working options

Annual bonus

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Life cover

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Thales Group is seeking an experienced Test Design Engineer with a focus on Test Solutions to join its engineering function in the UK. You will define and deliver robust test architectures to support development, verification, and validation of complex aerospace and defence systems, aligning with MOD standards and programme needs.

You will lead test strategies across the product lifecycle, collaborating with design, integration and customer teams, and shaping the technical direction of test

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Systems Architect / Systems Engineer.
• Strong background in test system design and architecture.
• Experience of integrating hardware, software, and COTS solutions into test.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to interface with customers.
• Demonstrable ability to work across the full system lifecycle - from concept through to in-service support.

Responsibilities

• Define test strategies, frameworks, and architectures to support product development, verification, qualification, and in-service support.
• Translate system and customer requirements into effective test system requirements and architectures.
• Ensure test solutions integrate seamlessly with hardware, software, and system environments.
• Work closely with design engineers, test engineers, and programme managers to ensure traceability and compliance throughout the lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Contribute to bid and proposal activity, providing technical input to estimates, schedules, and solution concepts.
• Engage directly with key stakeholders to ensure alignment with defence standards, policies, and best practices.
• Drive innovation in test methods, including automation, digital twins, and model-based test approaches.

Skills

Systems architecture

Test system design

Stakeholder management

Communication

Systems engineering

Job description

Thales Group is seeking an experienced Test Design Engineer with a focus on Test Solutions to join its engineering function in the UK. You will define and deliver robust test architectures to support development, verification, and validation of complex aerospace and defence systems, aligning with MOD standards and programme needs.

You will lead test strategies across the product lifecycle, collaborating with design, integration and customer teams, and shaping the technical direction of test