Trials Team Lead

Location: based in Belfast, onsite with optional 1 day hybrid working per week.

Other: permanent, full-time.

Travel: flexibility to work overtime and travel extensively within the UK and internationally, often at short notice and for periods of up to four weeks, to support operational and project requirements is essential.

Take the lead in delivering complex defence trials that directly support the development and validation of world-leading air defence capabilities!

What The Role Has To Offer

• Purpose-led work – Play a critical role in testing and proving defence technologies that protect nations and support armed forces worldwide.
• Variety and international exposure – Combine hands‑on engineering, leadership and project delivery, with opportunities to support trials across the UK and overseas.
• Work‑life balance that matters – Enjoy hybrid working, a half‑day finish Friday, performance bonus, private healthcare and a comprehensive benefits package.

Join Thales and help deliver cutting‑edge defence capability to armed forces around the world. As Europe’s leading defence electronics provider and a key supplier of integrated air defence systems, we develop the technologies that protect nations and support critical missions. Our Trials & Environmental Test Department plays a vital role in proving the performance, safety and reliability of these systems through development, qualification and customer trials across the UK and internationally.

As a Trials Team Leader, you'll take a hands‑on role at the heart of these activities, leading work packages and supporting teams while planning, delivering and evaluating complex trials programmes. Reporting to the Head of Trials & Environmental Test, you'll work alongside engineering teams, customers and stakeholders in a varied, fast‑paced environment where no two days are the same.

We're looking for a qualified Electrical or Mechanical Engineer with practical experience in testing and operating complex engineering systems. You'll be confident analysing technical data, using test instrumentation and producing high-quality engineering documentation. A proactive and collaborative leader, you'll combine strong technical capability with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, thriving in a role that offers challenge, responsibility and the opportunity to travel both within the UK and overseas.

What We Offer You

• We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees’ wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:
• Performance‑related bonus.
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata).
• 24 hours volunteering paid for.
• Life cover.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app.
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers.

Key Responsibilities And Tasks

• Plan, manage and coordinate trials activities - Lead the planning, organisation, execution and documentation of development, qualification and customer trials, both in the UK and overseas, ensuring activities are delivered safely, efficiently and to project requirements.
• Manage stakeholder engagement and project delivery - Collaborate with project teams, engineering functions, customers, suppliers and external agencies to assess requirements, secure resources, monitor commitments and support the successful delivery of trial programmes.
• Lead work packages and support team performance - Manage allocated work packages and provide technical leadership within multidisciplinary teams, working closely with other Trials Managers and reporting progress to the Head of Trials & Environmental Test.
• Prepare, install and operate trial equipment - Support the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and operation of missile, missile system and specialist test equipment required for ground, flight and environmental trials.
• Analyse trial outcomes and ensure continuous improvement - Review and assess test data, trial records and performance results to determine achievement of objectives, identify issues and recommend next steps or corrective actions.
• Coordinate field operations and ensure compliance - Oversee logistics, travel, accommodation and deployment activities for trial personnel, whilst ensuring adherence to company, customer and regulatory health, safety and security requirements.
• Provide customer support and training - Deliver technical support, training and guidance to customers and end users, including support to customer practice firings, equipment installations and in‑service activities both on‑site and remotely.

About You

At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.

• Acquired a degree (minimum 2:2) in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or an HNC/equivalent qualification supported by relevant industry experience.
• Acquired a full UK driving licence and the ability to travel within the UK and internationally as required.
• Proven experience in the design, assembly, testing and operation of electrical and/or mechanical equipment and systems.
• Proven ability to utilise analogue and digital instrumentation within a manufacturing, test or engineering environment.
• Demonstrated capability in analysing technical data, interpreting results and making informed engineering recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing clear technical reports, procedures, test documentation and engineering records.
• Proven ability to work independently, applying a proactive approach, sound judgement and creative problem‑solving skills within multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead work packages, support and develop team members, communicate effectively with customers and colleagues, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
• Acquired membership of a relevant professional engineering institution.
• Demonstrated experience of team leadership, work package management, coaching and mentoring technical teams.

If you're an experienced engineer ready to lead challenging trials programmes and make a tangible impact on critical defence capability, we'd love to hear from you.

Security Clearance Requirement: Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!