Wind Tunnel Technician / Test Engineer

Proactive Global; Bedford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Pension with matched contributions up

Job summary

Proactive Global is recruiting on behalf of a highly specialised engineering organisation in Bedford for a hands-on Mechanical or Test Engineer. You will work with complex machinery and test systems in a transonic wind tunnel environment, with full training provided.

You will assemble models and test rigs, set up measurement equipment, calibrate gear, and troubleshoot faults. A strong mechanical background and troubleshooting skills are essential; wind tunnel experience is not required.

Qualifications

• Solid practical mechanical engineering background.
• Experience operating, maintaining or fault-finding complex machinery or equipment.
• Knowledge of instrumentation and measurement systems.
• Experience with hydraulics and/or pneumatics.
• Appreciation of control systems.
• Strong problem-solving and fault-finding skills.
• Experience in testing, R&D, aerospace/defence/tech environments is advantageous.
• HNC/HND Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Preparing and operating specialist test facilities.
• Assembling models and test rigs.
• Setting up measurement and monitoring equipment.
• Operating complex engineering test facilities.
• Maintaining and calibrating equipment and performing quality checks.
• Troubleshooting mechanical and test equipment issues.
• Supporting instrumentation and control systems.
• Participating in ongoing development of test facilities.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Test rigs

Instrumentation

Hydraulics

Pneumatics

Control systems

Fault-finding

Teamwork

Education

HNC/HND Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Are you a hands-on Mechanical or Test Engineer who enjoys working with complex machinery, specialist equipment and test systems? We are recruiting on behalf of a highly specialised engineering organisation in Bedford, working at the forefront of aerodynamic research, testing and advanced engineering. This is far from a standard maintenance or production engineering position. You'll work within an impressive transonic wind tunnel facility, helping prepare, operate and develop sophisticated equipment used for technically challenging aerodynamic testing. Previous wind tunnel experience is not essential. We're particularly interested in engineers with strong transferable experience involving test rigs, complex mechanical equipment, instrumentation, hydraulics, pneumatics or engineering test facilities.

What will you be doing?

You’ll work as part of a highly skilled engineering team responsible for preparing and operating specialist test facilities.

• Preparing and assembling models and test rigs
• Setting up specialist measurement and monitoring equipment
• Operating complex engineering test facilities
• Maintaining, calibrating and carrying out quality checks on specialist equipment
• Mechanical assembly and preparation ahead of testing
• Troubleshooting mechanical and test equipment issues
• Working with instrumentation, control systems and associated equipment
• Supporting specialist optical measurement systems
• Carrying out maintenance on rigs and test equipment
• Identifying opportunities to improve equipment, processes and testing methods
• Supporting the continued development of test facilities and equipment

What are we looking for?

We're interested in hearing from Test Engineers, Test Technicians, Mechanical Technicians, Development Engineers, R&D Technicians, Engineering Technicians or engineers from similar hands-on backgrounds.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• A solid practical mechanical engineering background
• Experience operating, maintaining or fault-finding complex machinery or specialist equipment
• Knowledge of instrumentation and measurement systems
• Experience with hydraulics and/or pneumatics
• An appreciation of control systems
• Strong practical problem-solving and fault-finding skills
• Experience within testing, R&D, aerospace, defence, automotive, motorsport or another technically demanding engineering environment would be advantageous
• HNC/HND Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
• A flexible, team-focused approach and excellent attention to detail

You don't need previous wind tunnel experience — full training on the specialist facilities will be provided.

What's on offer?

£35,000-£40,000 depending on experience, alongside:

• 26 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Company pension with matched contributions up to 7%
• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance at 3x basic salary
• Enhanced company sick pay
• Share incentive scheme
• Ongoing specialist training and development

This is a genuinely unusual opportunity for a hands-on engineer who wants to move away from a standard factory environment and work with specialist, large-scale engineering test technology.

The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, and flexibility for rotating shift work may be required.

Security clearance requirements apply to this position.