// Role Summary
Lead the development and evolution of automated test systems for world-leading unmanned aerial and surface target products, shaping future test strategy while remaining hands-on with complex solutions.
// Key Responsibilities
- Lead design, development, and verification of automated test solutions.
- Maintain and enhance existing NI-based Automated Test Equipment (ATE) systems.
- Embed Design for Test (DFT) principles into new product development.
- Mentor and support engineers, providing technical leadership.
- Develop documentation, processes, and future test strategies.
// Role Specification
About the Role
We are recruiting for a Principal Test Development Engineer to join QinetiQ Target Systems (QTS) within our Engineering Team. QTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ Group PLC, specializing in the design and manufacture of a range of state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial and Surface Target systems. Our targets are used for realistic weapons test and evaluation, and operator training in over 40 countries worldwide.
As a Principal Test Development Engineer, you will play a critical role in ensuring the reliability, performance, and future development of automated test capability supporting QinetiQ Target Systems' world-leading unmanned aerial and surface target products. You will lead the development and evolution of automated test systems, support production-critical test equipment, work closely with design and manufacturing teams, and provide technical leadership within a specialist engineering discipline. You'll have the opportunity to shape future test strategy while remaining hands-on with complex electronic and software-based test solutions.
Responsibilities:
- Maintaining and enhancing existing NI-based Automated Test Equipment (ATE) systems.
- Leading the design, development, and verification of automated test solutions using TestStand, LabVIEW, and FlexStand.
- Designing test fixtures and commissioning new test capability for products and subsystems.
- Working with engineering teams to embed Design for Test (DFT) principles into new product development.
- Mentoring and supporting engineers while providing technical leadership within the test function.
- Developing documentation, processes, and future test strategies to support production and new product introduction.
Essential Experience:
- Strong hands-on experience with TestStand and automated functional test systems.
- Experience developing solutions using LabVIEW.
- Proven background in Automated Test Equipment (ATE) design, support, or test development.
- Electronics engineering knowledge, including the ability to understand schematics.
- Experience within a production or manufacturing environment.
- Experience using instrumentation such as oscilloscopes, DMMs, signal generators, and data acquisition equipment.
Essential Qualifications:
- Degree in Electronics Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Demonstrable experience working with TestStand-based test environments.
- Certified Teststand Developer or Certified Teststand Architect status is desirable.
We value difference and do not have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education; provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn, we would like to hear from you.
This role is 37 hours per week based at our Ashford site with a minimum average site attendance of five days per week. We offer flexible working hours and you’ll benefit from a 13:30 PM finish on Fridays.