Wind Tunnel Technician / Test Engineer in Bedford, Bedfordshire

Energy Jobline CVL; Bedford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days leave

Matched pension

Private medical

Life assurance x3

Sick pay

Share incentive

Training & development

Job summary

Energy Jobline CVL is seeking a hands‑on Mechanical/Test Engineer to join a specialised aerodynamics testing site in Bedford. You’ll prepare, operate and develop sophisticated wind tunnel testing equipment, with a focus on complex mechanical systems.

Numerous transferable skills in test rigs, hydraulics, pneumatics and instrumentation are highly valued. Training on the wind tunnel will be provided and some shift work may be required.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Familiarity with control systems is advantageous.
• Strong problem‑solving and fault‑finding skills.
• Experience in testing, R&D, aerospace, defence or other demanding environments would help.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and operate specialist test facilities.
• Set up measurement and monitoring equipment.
• Maintain, calibrate and quality-check equipment.
• Assemble models and test rigs ahead of testing.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and test equipment issues.
• Work with instrumentation and control systems.
• Support development of test facilities and equipment.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Test rigs experience

Instrumentation

Hydraulics

Pneumatics

Control systems

Fault finding

Problem solving

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.

Day to day, this will include:

• 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.