Test & Quality Lead in Cheshire, Warrington

We've partnered with an established IoT and supply chain visibility business, based in the Northwest, who deliver real-time condition, location and security tracking for pharmaceutical, perishable and high-value cargo shipments worldwide. Since the mid-2010s, they've built a strong reputation in cold-chain and high-value logistics and were recently named in The Sunday Times Tech 100 for 2025. They're now looking for a Test & Quality Lead to take ownership of testing, validation and certification across their device portfolio.

This is a newly created role. Testing and certification work has historically been absorbed informally by the hardware and firmware engineering team, and a wave of new certifications tied to an upcoming product refresh has made that unsustainable. The business is deliberately ring-fencing test and quality as a dedicated function, separate from design and development. They're explicit that this isn't a stepping stone into a design engineering role, but a long-term specialist position reporting into their Device Engineering Lead.

The role is genuinely hands-on: lab-based device testing using standard tools such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers and J-Link debuggers, working alongside embedded C++ firmware and test code, with day-to-day work tracked in Jira. You'll also take ownership of the relationship with certification bodies and test houses, including preparing and modifying devices for compliance testing. This would suit someone who enjoys practical, independent engineering work and genuine ownership, rather than a purely process- or admin-led QA role.

• Test IoT devices across lab and real-world environments and scenarios, validating performance against product specifications.
• Work with mechanical engineers on durability and IK (impact) testing, coordinating with external labs for facility-dependent compliance work.
• Validate the accuracy and reliability of device data, including location, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, vibration and battery life, identifying edge cases and failure modes early.
• Flash and configure devices with test firmware using standard embedded tooling (J-Link, GCC-based toolchains), and support debugging across hardware and firmware.
• Carry out minor PCB rework and modification (e.g. removing antennas, adding test connectors) to prepare devices for lab or test-house requirements.
• Take ownership of relationships with certification bodies and test houses (including FCC, CE, PTCRB and country-specific approvals), managing the technical side of submissions and test campaigns.
• Get involved early in new product development, helping ensure designs are testable and certification requirements are scoped from the outset.
• Maintain clear, structured test and validation documentation, and contribute to building more automated, continuous testing over time.
• Use basic scripting (e.g. Python) to automate repetitive test tasks and get more out of lab equipment.
• Provide an independent view on product quality and readiness, working closely with the Device Engineering Lead and wider engineering team.

• Proven hands-on experience testing hardware, electronics or IoT devices in real-world conditions.
• Comfortable working across hardware, firmware and software, with strong problem-solving skills and genuine attention to detail.
• Practical experience with standard test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers) and embedded debugging tools.
• Confidence in carrying out minor PCB-level rework and modification.
• Basic programming or scripting ability to support test automation.
• Strong, clear written documentation and reporting skills.
• Experience supporting product certification or working with certification bodies/test houses (CE, FCC, RF/radio compliance) is highly valued.
• Nice to have: experience with structured validation approaches (IQ/OQ/PQ), regulated environments (GDP/GMP), or frameworks such as CFR 21 Part 11.
• Comfortable working in a small, distributed team, with a willingness to travel occasionally, domestically and internationally, for testing and certification work.
• Northwest England-based is preferred given the lab-based nature of the role, but an exceptional candidate further afield would still be considered.

Our client offers strong benefits, including private health & dental cover, and the potential to participate in a share scheme.