Build & Test Technician in Buckingham

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Hooper Quinn for a motivated Build & Test Technician to join our growing team. This role is ideal for someone with strong practical engineering skills who thrives in a fast-paced, high-performance environment and is eager to learn, develop, and contribute to our reputation for technical excellence. The successful candidate will support the build, integration, and testing of advanced engineering systems ranging from prototype products to bespoke research and development rigs. You will work closely with engineers to assemble complex mechanical and electrical systems, validate performance through structured testing, and help bring new technologies from concept to reality.

Term: Permanent

Location: On site in Buckingham

Salary: £35,000 - £45,000

Reference: V2602

PACKAGE:

• Competitive salary
• 8% pension
• Performance bonus scheme
• 36 days’ annual leave (including Bank holidays)
• Comprehensive healthcare cover (extendible to dependants)
• Cycle2Work scheme

Development & Growth:

• Significant opportunities for professional development
• Exposure to diverse, cutting-edge projects across multiple industries
• Mentoring and support from senior engineers

Culture, Team, & Environment:

• Quarterly team days
• Annual company ski holiday
• A critical role within a thriving, ambitious, and innovative organisation
• Work alongside a close-knit team of exceptional people who excel in their fields
• Supportive working environment in an inspiring facility situated in the Buckinghamshire countryside

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build mechanical, electrical, and electronic assemblies for prototype and production projects
• Set up and operate test rigs to validate assemblies and components
• Perform functional, performance, and quality assurance checks, ensuring the highest standards
• Record and report test results, supporting engineers in product development and troubleshooting
• Procure, order, and manage project parts (procurement, purchasing, and inventory management)
• Define, document, and continuously improve build and test processes
• Support workshop organisation, logistics, and facilities related to engineering activities.

ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Precision and attention to detail, producing high-quality builds that meet exacting engineering standards
• Pride in delivering clean, reliable, and well-documented engineering work
• A methodical and disciplined approach to troubleshooting and fault diagnosis
• A proactive mindset, identifying opportunities to improve build processes, test procedures, and workshop practices
• Strong personal organisation and the ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining high standards
• Alignment with Hooper Quinn’s values of curiosity, craft, and resilience

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Hands-on engineering experience is essential; a degree or NVQ is advantageous but not required
• Experience working in prototype development, R&D environments, motorsport, or low-volume production environments
• Practical experience assembling mechanical, electrical, or electronic systems
• Familiarity with workshop tools and equipment used for precision engineering builds
• Experience using measurement and inspection tools (e.g. callipers, micrometers, torque tools)
• Experience with wiring, crimping, soldering, or wiring harness assembly is beneficial
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, or assembly instructions
• Familiarity with test equipment such as multimeters, power supplies, or basic instrumentation is advantageous
• Basic CAD familiarity or the ability to interpret CAD drawings is beneficial
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with engineers and technicians across disciplines
• Ability to organise workloads, manage tasks independently, and maintain clear documentation of build and test activities

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, please submit the following to careers@hooperquinn.com, using “V2602 – Build & Test Technician” as the subject of your email:

• CV
• Cover letter outlining your suitability for this role and your motivation for joining Hooper Quinn
• Response to the Application Tasks detailed below

You are welcome to include relevant work samples/portfolio in support of your application.

IMPORTANT: Applications will not be considered if any of the three required documents is missing. Only applications submitted to the above email address will be considered.

APPLICATION EXERCISES:

These short exercises are designed to give us an insight into how you think, communicate, and approach challenges, and equally, to give you a feel for the types of situations you may encounter in this role. Please ensure your responses reflect your own reasoning and experience. Submissions that appear to have been generated primarily by AI tools will not be considered. Please take no more than 60 minutes to complete the exercises.

EXERCISE 1: Fault Diagnosis

During testing of a prototype system, a mechanical assembly driven by a small electric motor fails after only a few minutes of operation. Observed symptoms:

• The motor becomes very hot
• The mechanism occasionally jams or stalls
• A faint grinding noise can be heard during operation

You have access to the prototype, the test rig, and standard workshop tools.

Task: Describe how you would approach diagnosing the problem. Your answer should include:

• The possible causes you would investigate
• The checks or measurements you would perform
• How you would isolate the root cause
• How you would document and communicate the issue to the engineering team

Please limit your response to approximately 300 words.

EXERCISE 2: Prototype Build Planning

You are asked to assemble a prototype mechanical system consisting of:

• a motor
• a gearbox
• a mounting frame
• a small electronic control module

The components have arrived from different suppliers and must be assembled into a working prototype for testing.

Task: Describe how you would approach this build. Your answer should include:

• The checks you would perform before starting the build
• How you would organise the assembly process
• What you would do to ensure build quality and reliability
• How you would record the build for future reference

Please limit your response to approximately 300 words.

EXERCISE 3: Working at Pace

Engineering projects at Hooper Quinn often move quickly, with tight timelines and evolving technical challenges. Please describe a situation where you had to deliver engineering work under significant time pressure. Include:

• The context of the project
• The actions you took to maintain quality while working quickly
• The outcome

Maximum: 250 words

Thank you for taking the time to complete these exercises. We appreciate the effort you put into your application and look forward to learning more about you.