Test Development Engineer
Location: Colchester, Essex (Hybrid - 3 Days Onsite / 2 Days Remote)
An opportunity has arisen for a Test Development Engineer to join a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance embedded computing solutions serving aerospace, defence, telecommunications, industrial, transportation and other mission-critical markets.
The organisation develops advanced embedded computing platforms, single board computers, networking products and high-reliability electronic systems used in some of the world's most demanding applications. With continued investment in product innovation and manufacturing capability, the business is experiencing significant growth and expanding its engineering team to support an increasing pipeline of new product introductions.
This is a technically challenging engineering role focused on developing and supporting Automated Test Equipment (ATE) solutions that enable the efficient manufacture of complex embedded computing hardware. Working closely with hardware, software, manufacturing and verification teams, you will influence product testability from the earliest stages of development through to full-scale production.
This role would suit an engineer with experience designing Automated Test Equipment (ATE), developing manufacturing test solutions or supporting production test systems who enjoys solving complex technical challenges within a collaborative engineering environment.
Main Responsibilities of the Test Development Engineer (Colchester):
- Define Design for Testability (DfT) requirements during new product development and PCB design reviews
- Develop and maintain Automated Test Equipment (ATE) requirements for new embedded hardware platforms
- Design and specify ATE hardware including fixtures, interface test adapters (ITAs), harnesses, switching systems and interface electronics
- Work closely with software engineers to develop automated production test sequences and diagnostic routines
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI), pilot builds and transition into volume manufacturing
- Validate and qualify production test systems prior to manufacturing release
- Troubleshoot production test failures and carry out root cause investigations
- Drive improvements in manufacturing yield, throughput and overall test efficiency
- Produce and maintain technical documentation including test procedures, schematics, maintenance guides and interface documentation
- Support ongoing maintenance, calibration and continuous improvement of deployed ATE systems
- Collaborate with hardware, firmware, software, manufacturing and quality teams to optimise product test strategies
- Support production growth through scalable, high-performance automated test solutions
Requirements of the Test Development Engineer (Colchester):
- Proven experience developing or supporting Automated Test Equipment (ATE) within an electronics manufacturing environment
- Strong understanding of electronic hardware including analogue and digital circuits, power systems and high-speed interfaces
- Experience designing production test systems for complex electronic assemblies or embedded computing products
- Knowledge of Design for Testability (DfT), Built-In Self-Test (BIST) and diagnostic methodologies
- Experience working with oscilloscopes, programmable power supplies, switching hardware and electronic test instrumentation
- Strong fault-finding and root cause analysis skills
- Experience working closely with software engineers to develop integrated hardware and software test solutions
- Excellent technical documentation and requirements capture skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary engineering teams
Experience within one or more of the following technologies would be advantageous:
- Embedded computing systems
- Single Board Computers (SBCs)
- VPX, VME or CompactPCI architectures
- Automated Test Equipment (ATE)
- PCB and multilayer board design
- Manufacturing and production test systems
- Functional test and environmental testing
- High-reliability electronics
- Defence electronics
- Aerospace electronics
- Industrial computing platforms
Desirable:
- Experience within aerospace, defence, telecommunications or industrial electronics sectors
- Knowledge of SMT manufacturing, PCB assembly and functional test processes
- Experience improving manufacturing yield and production throughput
- Ability to design custom electronics for test fixtures and adapters
- Experience supporting qualification and environmental testing programmes
- Understanding of manufacturing process optimisation and production scalability
Working Pattern & Benefits:
- Hybrid working - 3 days onsite in Colchester and 2 days remote
- Opportunity to work on technically advanced embedded computing platforms used in mission-critical applications
- Join a rapidly growing engineering organisation with significant investment in new product development
- Work across the full product lifecycle from concept through to production
- Annual company profit share bonus
- Private healthcare
- Company pension with up to 10% employer contribution
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and holiday purchase scheme
- Life assurance and income protection
- Enhanced parental leave
- Cycle to Work and salary sacrifice schemes
- Employee Assistance Programme and virtual GP
- Excellent long-term technical and career development opportunities
To apply for this Test Development Engineer role, please send your CV to Kishan Chandarana:
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