Simulator Engineer (HIL/HWIL)

Innovate Recruitment Ltd; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovate Recruitment Ltd is seeking an ambitious HWIL/HIL Simulator Engineer to join a specialist defence engineering team in Stevenage. The role is hands-on, focused on servo-hydraulic and electro-mechanical systems, real-time simulation, and safe operation of complex test equipment.

You will work with multi-axis flight motion simulators, control systems, and test hardware to recreate flight conditions without launching missiles.

Qualifications

• Hands-on engineering role focusing on HWIL systems and practical ability.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to defence engineering context.
• Degree or equivalent in engineering disciplines with relevant hands-on experience.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose faults and return equipment to service following breakdowns
• Carry out planned and corrective maintenance activities
• Read and interpret mechanical and electrical engineering drawings
• Support equipment upgrades, modifications and obsolescence activities
• Assist with installation, commissioning and acceptance of new or upgraded equipment
• Help improve equipment reliability, maintainability and availability
• Investigate unfamiliar systems and work methodically towards practical solutions
• Contribute ideas to improve the operation and maintenance of the HWIL facility

Skills

Practical engineering ability

Hands-on

Willingness to learn

Fault finding (mechanical/electrical)

Interpreting engineering drawings

Education

Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronics, Robotics, Aerospace or related

HNC/HND qualification

Engineering apprenticeship

Strong equivalent practical engineering experience

Tools

CREO CAD

Management information systems usage

Job description

HWIL/HIL Simulator Engineer (Servo-Hydraulic / Electro-Mechanical / Motion Control)

Security Clearance Requirements:

Applicants must be British Citizens, or Dual UK Nationals holding British citizenship. Restrictions relating to nationality and right to work may apply. Successful candidates will be required to undergo BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) checks after offer stage.

The Role

We are looking for an ambitious HWIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) Simulator Engineer to join a specialist engineering team supporting a unique missile testing capability.

This is a hands‑on engineering role suited to someone with experience in servo‑hydraulic systems, electro‑mechanical equipment, control systems, motion control or servo systems.

The HWIL facility combines real missile hardware with complex real‑time simulations and specialist physical equipment to recreate flight conditions without an actual missile launch.

You will work with multi‑axis flight motion simulators, antenna positioning systems, control equipment and test hardware, helping to ensure equipment remains safe, reliable and available.

Key Responsibilities

• Diagnose faults and return equipment to service following breakdowns
• Carry out planned and corrective maintenance activities
• Read and interpret mechanical and electrical engineering drawings
• Support equipment upgrades, modifications and obsolescence activities
• Assist with installation, commissioning and acceptance of new or upgraded equipment
• Help improve equipment reliability, maintainability and availability
• Investigate unfamiliar systems and work methodically towards practical solutions
• Contribute ideas to improve the operation and maintenance of the HWIL facility

What We're Looking For

You do not need experience in every area. We are primarily looking for strong practical engineering ability and a willingness to learn.

Experience in one or more of the following would be valuable:

• Hydraulics or servo‑hydraulic systems
• Electro‑mechanical systems
• Control systems
• Motion control or servo systems
• Mechanical and electrical fault finding
• Interpreting engineering drawings
• Workshop skills and use of hand/electrical tools
• CAD, particularly CREO, would be advantageous
• IT literacy and use of management information systems

You should be comfortable working hands‑on, as physical activity is inherent to the role, and willing to work at height where required.

Engineering Background

Applications are welcomed from candidates with:

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronics, Robotics, Aerospace or a related engineering discipline
• HNC/HND qualification
• Engineering apprenticeship
• Strong equivalent practical engineering experience

We are more interested in your engineering ability, practical experience and willingness to learn than whether you meet every individual requirement.

This is an opportunity to develop your engineering experience across mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, controls and simulation disciplines while working within a specialist defence engineering environment.