Senior Mechanical Test Engineer in Hampshire, Portsmouth

An established engineering organisation operating within the maritime and defence sector is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to join its test and verification team. This is a fully onsite, hands-on engineering role, ideal for someone who enjoys working directly with hardware, test rigs, and live product testing rather than desk-based analysis alone.

You will play a key role in delivering robust testing and validation of complex mechanical products, supporting projects from early design through to final qualification.

As a Senior Test Engineer, you will provide technical leadership and hands-on expertise across test planning, rig design, execution, and reporting. You will work closely with project leads, engineers, suppliers, and third-party test facilities, ensuring products meet performance, quality, and reliability requirements. This role sits within a fast-paced development environment and requires regular physical presence in the test facility. You will also support and mentor other test engineers and contribute to the continuous improvement of testing processes and capabilities.

Key responsibilities

• Capture test requirements from product specifications and engineering drawings
• Support project reviews and provide technical input to test strategies
• Develop detailed test plans, including rig allocation, scheduling, and hardware requirements
• Design and produce bespoke test hardware (e.g. adaptor plates, test shafts) using CAD
• Raise quotations and purchase orders for test and rig interface hardware
• Create and review risk assessments to ensure testing is carried out safely and within operating limits
• Assemble and operate test rigs, monitor live testing via data acquisition systems, and perform inspections at agreed intervals
• Manage testing activities at external suppliers, OEMs, and third-party test facilities
• Produce comprehensive test reports detailing methodology, data, conclusions, and recommendations
• Present test results to internal stakeholders where required
• Ensure compliance with QEHS requirements and promote 5S best practices
• Actively support training and mentoring of junior engineers
• Contribute to compliance with quality and environmental standards (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001)
• Support the ongoing development of the test facility as a centre of technical excellence

About you

• Proven experience in a Test Engineering environment
• Strong hands-on experience with mechanical systems and test rigs
• A degree (or preferably a Master's) in a relevant engineering discipline
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong capability interpreting engineering drawings and designing test hardware using CAD
• Confidence carrying out mechanical engineering calculations
• Experience within the marine or defence engineering sectors (desirable)
• Familiarity with test and monitoring tools such as LabVIEW or similar platforms
• Hands-on experience with instrumentation and data capture equipment (e.g. thermocouples, LVDTs, tachometers)
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across engineering teams
• Strong report-writing skills with a high attention to detail
• Commercial awareness and a practical, delivery-focused mindset
• Willingness to undertake occasional travel

What’s on offer

• A technically challenging, fully onsite and hands-on engineering role
• Exposure to complex, high-integrity engineering products
• The opportunity to influence test strategy and mentor others
• A collaborative engineering environment focused on quality and continuous improvement
• Long-term, permanent opportunity within a stable and growing organisation

If you are interested, please apply!