R&D Test Engineer - Turbojet Engines

Destinusgroup; Hengelo; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus is seeking a highly organised and technically strong R&D Test Engineer to join our propulsion team, responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing turbojet engine test campaigns from component characterization to full engine testing.

You will own the campaign lifecycle, define objectives, schedule resources, manage risks, and deliver traceable, high-quality results while collaborating with test cell operators and engineers to translate requirements into safe, well-executed tests.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years in test engineering or test campaign planning for propulsion systems.
• Strong understanding of gas turbine thermodynamics and instrumentation.
• Experience with data acquisition software and data analysis tools.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal).
• Familiarity with European aerospace standards (EASA).
• Hands-on capability in test cell environments.
• Proven project and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage end-to-end test campaigns for turbojet engines and components, defining objectives, scope, success criteria, and acceptance requirements.
• Build and maintain detailed test campaign schedules, coordinating test cell availability, engine readiness, instrumentation needs, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Translate design and aerodynamics requirements into detailed test plans, procedures, and instrumentation matrices with full traceability.
• Act as the main point of contact for a test campaign, coordinating design, aerodynamics, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams.
• Track campaign progress, risks, and open actions with mitigation plans.
• Oversee data acquisition and post-test analysis, ensuring quality-controlled, comprehensive technical reports.
• Define post-processing and automation needs (MATLAB, Python) to standardise data reduction and visualization.
• Support calibration and quality control plans for sensors (thrust, flow, vibrations, temperature, pressure).
• Contribute hands-on to test rig preparation and execution when required.
• Lead root cause analysis and feed findings back into future planning.
• Ensure safety protocols and regulatory guidelines are strictly followed and drive process improvements.

Skills

Test planning

Project management

Data analysis

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Instrumentation

Communication

English

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

HBM catman

National Instruments LabVIEW

Job description

Destinus is seeking a highly organised and technically strong R&D Test Engineer to join our propulsion team. This role is central to the planning, coordination, and oversight of the test campaigns that validate our next-generation propulsion systems, from early component characterisation through to full engine testing. The successful candidate will own the test campaign lifecycle – defining objectives, scheduling resources, managing risk, and ensuring traceable, high-quality results – while working closely with test cell operators and engineers to translate campaign requirements into safe, well-executed test runs. This position requires a strong foundation in thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, excellent project and stakeholder management skills, and a commitment to rigorous safety and quality standards.

What You’ll Do

• Plan and manage end-to-end test campaigns for turbojet engines and associated components (e.g., combustors, intakes, nozzles), defining objectives, scope, success criteria, and acceptance requirements.
• Build and maintain detailed test campaign schedules, coordinating test cell availability, engine and article readiness, instrumentation needs, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Translate design and aerodynamics requirements into detailed test plans, procedures, and instrumentation matrices, ensuring full traceability between test objectives and results.
• Act as the main point of contact for a test campaign, coordinating design, aerodynamics, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams throughout preparation, execution, and close-out.
• Track campaign progress, risks, and open actions, proactively identifying schedule or technical risks and defining mitigation plans.
• Oversee data acquisition and post-test analysis, ensuring test results are processed, quality-checked, and consolidated into comprehensive technical reports with clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Define and prioritise post-processing and automation needs (using MATLAB, Python, etc.) to standardise data reduction, visualisation, and performance calculations across campaigns.
• Support the definition of calibration and quality control plans for critical sensors (thrust, flow, vibrations, temperature, and pressure).
• Contribute hands‑on to test rig preparation and execution when needed – including test cell setup, instrumentation installation, and troubleshooting – to stay closely connected to test realities.
• Lead root cause analysis for engine and test rig issues, ensuring findings are captured and fed back into future campaign planning.
• Ensure all test operations adhere strictly to established safety protocols and regulatory guidelines, and drive continuous improvement of test planning processes and documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience (3+ years) in test engineering or test campaign planning for turbojet, turbofan, or ramjet engines, or comparable propulsion/mechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of gas turbine engine thermodynamics, performance cycles, and instrumentation (pressure, temperature, thrust, flow, and vibrations).
• Demonstrated project or campaign management skills, including scheduling, risk management, and cross-functional coordination.
• Experience with data acquisition software (e.g., HBM catman, National Instruments LabVIEW) and data analysis tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python, Excel).
• Comfortable working hands‑on in a test cell environment when required, in addition to planning and management responsibilities.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal).
• Familiarity with high-altitude flight testing considerations.
• Knowledge of European aerospace standards (e.g., EASA).

Who You Are

You’renot just aTesting Engineer—you’reapioneerin aerospace innovation. You thrive inhigh-stakes environments, whereprecision, problem-solving, and technical masterydefine your success.You’repassionate aboutbreaking barriers in aerospace performance, and youdon’tjust execute tests—youengineer solutionsthat drive progress. Ifyou’reeager topush the limits of technology, work withtrailblazing experts, and play akey role in shaping the future of hypersonic flight, we want you on our team.