Test & Validation Engineering Technician

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Vale of White Horse; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Williams F1 Team in the UK is seeking an Engineering Technician to set up and operate test rigs including HiL transmission, VTT dyno, brake dyno and eight-post rigs. You will calibrate control software and data acquisition, and maintain instruments and actuators.

You’ll support Test Engineers, help write SOPs, and assist in developing Technicians and Apprentices, while maintaining safety and quality standards across testing activities.

Qualifications

• Extensive practical knowledge of vehicle and/or powertrain testing and validation.
• Experience in setting up and operating test rigs and associated instrumentation.
• Ability to interpret test data and identify root causes of issues.
• Technical qualifications to Level 5 (or Level 3 with strong vocational equivalence).

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate HiL, dyno, eight-post and other test rigs.
• Calibrate control software and data acquisition systems, instruments and actuators.
• Carry out routine maintenance of test rigs, ensure safety and data quality.
• Support development of Technicians and Apprentices.

Skills

Vehicle/powertrain knowledge

Hands-on testing

Test rig operation

Data interpretation

Education

Technical qualifications to Level 5

Tools

Instron

Servotest

Cats3

MATLAB

HBM

Catman

Atlas

Mistras AE

GOM Aramis

NX

Team Centre

VBA

National Instruments

Job description

• Full-time

Company Description

For almost 50 years, Williams F1 Team has been at the forefront of one of the fastest sports on the planet, being one of the top three most successful teams in history competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. With an almost unrivalled heritage of engineering and racing F1 cars and unforgettable eras that demonstrate it is a force to be reckoned with, the British squad boasts 16 F1 World Championship titles to its name.

Since its foundation in 1977 by the eminent, late Sir Frank Williams and engineering pioneer Sir Patrick Head, the team has won nine Constructors’ Championships, in association with Cosworth, Honda and Renault. Its roll call of drivers is legendary, with its seven Drivers’ Championship trophies being lifted by true icons of the sport: Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. The team has made history before and is out to make it again with a long-term mission to evolve and return to the front of the grid.

Job Description

Every component on a Williams car earns its place on the grid through hours on the rig before it ever sees a track. Our Test and Validation team is behind that process, and we're looking for an Engineering Technician who's ready to get hands‑on with the equipment that makes it happen.

You’ll set up and operate our test rigs, from HiL transmission and VTT dyno to brake dyno, eight-post rig, fuel, cooling and structural test facilities, running tests on components and assemblies across the car. You’ll keep our control software, data acquisition systems, instruments and actuators calibrated and ready, be the first line of support when something needs fixing, and help write and maintain the standard operating procedures that keep our results consistent. You’ll also play a part in developing the Technicians and Apprentices coming up behind you.

If you’ve built a career on practical, hands‑on engineering, you know your way around a test rig inside and out, and you want to put that expertise to work at the sharp end of Formula 1, this is a role worth talking about.

What you’ll be doing

• Providing skilled, practical support to Test Engineers across component and sub‑assembly test activities on a wide range of rigs.
• Configuring and calibrating control software, data acquisition systems, instruments and actuators before every test.
• Carrying out routine maintenance of test rigs, spotting potential issues early and supporting pre‑emptive maintenance.
• Upholding Test Engineering's data analysis and reporting standards, and signing off work before release.
• Following predefined test procedures and making sure every test is carried out safely.
• Writing and maintaining standard operating procedures to keep our deliverables consistent and high quality.
• Guiding and supporting the development of Technicians and Apprentices.
• Contributing to the design and development of our test capability, working alongside Test Engineers and stakeholders across the business.

Key Accountabilities:

Fulfil all organisational expectations, including but not limited to the following:

• Understand and work in line with Williams Values & Behaviours, encouraging others to do the same.
• Ensure understanding of and compliance with health and safety obligations.
• Maintain personal high standards of behaviour and conduct, being a positive ambassador for the department.
• Ensure you adhere to brand rules and maintain high standards of department presentation.
• Work to quality standards and identify and contribute ways to continuously improve department and personal performance.
• Ensure understanding of cost cap rules and requirements.

Core Competencies:

• Extensive practical knowledge and understanding of vehicle and/or powertrain systems and testing; assembly, operation, maintenance, and repair.
• Familiar with specialist technical and practical skills, tools and methods that are employed in the preparation of vehicle components and sub‑systems for testing.
• Good understanding of instrumentation and actuators used on‑vehicle and in the test environment, including best practices for application, handling, and calibration.
• Demonstrate high level of competence in the operation of test rigs and facilities. Able to interpret test data and ensure test objectives are met.
• Able to identify common problems in vehicle and test systems and use technical knowledge to find root cause.
• Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications and Experience Level:

• Extensive experience working in an R&D environment, supporting the execution of vehicle or powertrain testing and validation, ideally in Formula One.
• Extensive practical engineering skills and knowledge in the preparation and operation of vehicles and test rigs
• Experience operating complex test facilities, interpreting data and fault finding.
• Relevant technical qualifications to Level 5, or level 3 with strong evidence of vocational development equivalent to level 5
• Previous supervisory or technical responsibility is desirable.
• Proficiency with the following hardware & software is highly desirable: Instron, Servotest, Cats3, MATLAB, HBM, Catman, Atlas, Mistras AE, GOM Aramis, NX, Team Centre, VBA & National Instruments

Qualifications

What you’ll bring

• Extensive practical knowledge of vehicle and/or powertrain systems, from assembly through to operation, maintenance and repair.
• Hands‑on experience preparing vehicle components and sub‑systems for testing, using the right specialist tools and methods.
• A solid understanding of instrumentation and actuators, both on‑vehicle and in the test environment, including calibration best practice.
• Confidence operating test rigs and facilities, interpreting data and getting to the root cause of a problem.
• Extensive experience in an R&D environment supporting vehicle or powertrain testing, ideally within Formula One.
• Relevant technical qualifications to Level 5 (or Level 3 with strong evidence of vocational development to that level); previous supervisory or technical responsibility is a plus.
• Familiarity with tools such as Instron, Servotest, Cats3, MATLAB, HBM, Catman, Atlas, Mistras AE, GOM Aramis, NX, Team Centre or VBA is highly desirable.

Additional Information

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Atlassian Williams F1 Team is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We are happy to discuss reasonable job adjustments.