Test Engineering Manager

Catalyst; Peterlee; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Catalyst in County Durham is seeking a Test Engineering Manager to lead the Industrial Engineering function, overseeing manufacturing test development, automated test equipment, and production test systems.

You will drive continuous improvement, supervise Production Engineers to optimise efficiency, quality and throughput, and support product lifecycle management, NPI, and ISO9001 compliance across manufacturing operations.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering automated test solutions.
• Proven leadership in electronics manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing and CI techniques.
• Experience supporting NPI and sustaining engineering activities.
• Excellent root cause analysis and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the company's manufacturing test strategy.
• Lead development of production and service test solutions.
• Manage automated test equipment (ATE) development.
• Design and develop LabVIEW-based test software and hardware solutions.
• Oversee design and build of functional test rigs, fixtures and calibration systems.
• Improve test coverage, reliability and repeatability.
• Drive reductions in test cycle time and test-related failures.
• Lead and develop the Industrial Engineering team.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Support ISO9001 compliance and continual improvement.

Skills

LabVIEW

Test automation

NI TestStand

Lean manufacturing

NPI support

Six Sigma

Root cause analysis

Python

C#

Problem solving

Education

HND or equivalent in related discipline

Tools

LabVIEW

NI TestStand

Job description

My client is a market leader in their field of electronics, supplying the global test equipment and instrumentation sectors. Following a consolidated period of CAPEX investment, improvement works and with ambitious growth plans, my client seeks a Test Engineering Manager to join their Industrial Engineering function at their County Durham HQ.

About the Role

Reporting to the UK Operations Director, my client seeks a Test Engineering Manager to lead the function across the business, with overall accountability for manufacturing test development, automated test equipment, production test systems, production engineering, manufacturing process optimisation and continuous improvement.

The Test Engineering Manager will be responsible for strong technical leadership in automated test development and LabVIEW-based systems with responsibility for leading Production Engineers to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, throughput, labour utilisation and operational performance. The position plays a key role in supporting product lifecycle management, NPI, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.

Main Responsibilities

• Define and implement the company's manufacturing test strategy.
• Lead development of production and service test solutions.
• Manage automated test equipment (ATE) development.
• Design and develop LabVIEW-based test software and hardware solutions.
• Oversee design and build of functional test rigs, fixtures and calibration systems.
• Improve test coverage, reliability and repeatability.
• Drive reductions in test cycle time and test-related failures.
• Ensure calibration and maintenance processes are established for all test assets.
• Lead and develop the Industrial Engineering team.
• Establish departmental objectives aligned with business goals.
• Manage engineering priorities, resources and budgets.
• Develop technical capability and succession planning within the team.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Lead and develop the Industrial Engineering team.
• Establish departmental objectives aligned with business goals.
• Manage engineering priorities, resources and budgets.
• Develop technical capability and succession planning within the team.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Support ISO9001 compliance and continual improvement.
• Reduce Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
• Ensure robust process controls and traceability.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Promote a strong safety and compliance culture.

About You

To be considered for the role, it is essential that you possess considerable demonstrable experience gained in electronics manufacturing. You will possess comprehensive test engineering experience, leadership/management experience and skills and be educated to a minimum of HND level in an appropriate/related discipline.

Key Selection Criteria

• Extensive experience developing automated test solutions.
• Strong LabVIEW programming experience.
• Experience designing and building production test equipment and fixtures.
• Proven people management experience.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement techniques.
• Experience supporting NPI and sustaining engineering activities.
• Excellent root cause analysis and problem-solving skills
• NI TestStand.
• Python, SQL or C#.
• PCBA manufacturing and test processes.
• Calibration systems and metrology.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Design for Manufacture (DFM).
• Design for Test (DFT).
• Medical, safety test or instrumentation sector experience