Principal Test Engineer

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Principal Test Engineer to take ownership of test engineering strategy, standards and technical governance within a manufacturing environment. This is a senior technical role focused on expertise, influence and complex problem-solving rather than people management. You will act as the recognised Subject Matter Expert and technical authority for test engineering, providing direction across manufacturing, production, quality and design functions.

The successful candidate will play a key role in improving test capability, increasing equipment reliability, reducing production issues and developing robust, standardised test solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Authority & Strategy
  • Act as the technical authority for test engineering activities across the organisation.
  • Define and own the test engineering strategy, standards and roadmap.
  • Establish best-practice methodologies for test development, validation and deployment.
  • Review, approve and govern test solutions and architectures.
• Technical Expertise & Problem Solving
  • Act as the escalation point for complex or critical test failures.
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions.
  • Provide expert knowledge across automated test equipment (ATE), functional and end-of-line testing, instrumentation and measurement techniques.
  • Resolve complex hardware/software interface issues.
  • Support Design for Test (DFT) and New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.
• Manufacturing & Operational Support
  • Work closely with Manufacturing and Production teams to improve First Pass Yield (FPY), test cycle times, equipment uptime and reliability, and overall test efficiency.
  • Identify and eliminate recurring test issues and systemic weaknesses.
  • Provide hands-on technical troubleshooting when required.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
  • Lead improvements across test processes, equipment and methodologies.
  • Identify opportunities for automation, digitalisation, improved data utilisation and cost reduction.
  • Drive cycle-time improvements and increased test capability.
  • Evaluate and introduce new technologies, tools and approaches.
• Governance & Standards
  • Develop and maintain test specifications, engineering standards and validation/qualification processes.
  • Ensure test engineering activities comply with relevant quality, regulatory and customer requirements.
  • Conduct technical reviews and audits of test systems and processes.
• Knowledge & Capability Development
  • Build and maintain a comprehensive test engineering knowledge base.
  • Develop technical documentation covering test architectures, diagnostic procedures, fault-finding guides, maintenance and calibration standards.
  • Reduce single-point-of-failure risks by ensuring critical knowledge is documented and shared.
  • Develop and deliver structured training for engineers and technicians.
  • Mentor and coach engineering personnel and support wider capability development.
  • Define competency requirements for test engineering roles.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Work closely with stakeholders across Manufacturing Engineering, Production & Operations, Quality & Reliability Engineering, Design & Development, Supply Chain, and External suppliers and equipment vendors.
  • Influence and drive technical decisions through expertise and credibility, rather than formal line-management authority.

What We're Looking For

• Essential Experience & Qualifications
  • Degree or equivalent experience in Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
  • Extensive test engineering experience within a manufacturing environment.
  • Strong knowledge of automated test systems and ATE.
  • Strong understanding of electronics and/or mechanical systems.
  • Experience with data analysis, fault diagnosis and complex technical problem-solving.
  • Proven experience using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, RCA and Six Sigma.
  • Demonstrable experience improving test processes, equipment performance and manufacturing outcomes.
• Personal & Leadership Skills
  • Recognised technical expert with strong credibility.
  • Comfortable operating as a technical authority without direct management responsibility.
  • Able to influence stakeholders and drive change through technical expertise.
  • Highly analytical and structured approach to problem solving.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across all levels.
  • A proactive approach to continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.

Lean Six Sigma certification or experience would be desirable.

What Success Looks Like

• Reduced test-related production issues.
• Improved first-pass yield and test efficiency.
• Reduced test equipment downtime.
• Faster resolution of complex technical issues.
• Improved mean time to repair (MTTR).
• Increased adoption of standardised test processes.
• Successful delivery of test improvement and innovation projects.
• Improved capability across the engineering and production teams.
• Reduced dependency on individual technical expertise.
• A robust, accessible and well-maintained test engineering knowledge base.

This is an opportunity to become the technical point of reference for test engineering, shaping strategy and standards while remaining close to the technical challenges that matter most. You will have the opportunity to influence how test engineering is developed, standardised and improved across the operation, working on high-value problems and introducing new technologies and ways of working.