Vehicle Test Engineer / Senior Engineer in Bedford

UTAC is a market-leading international group in digital & sustainable mobility, customisable testing solutions, vehicle engineering, homologation, regulatory advice & expertise, certification, training, corporate events and classic & sportscars festivals. The Group provides services and systems to customers in various sectors: mobility, transport, tyre, petrochemical, agriculture and defence industries. UTAC operates test centres and laboratories in France (including the official Euro NCAP facility), the UK, USA, Finland, Morocco, and Germany; it has subsidiaries in China, Korea and Japan. UTAC employs around 1300 people across its various locations.

As a group we share a strong and clear vision to deliver safe and efficient solutions and systems to our customers. Our core values of Expertise, Innovation and Integrity provide a clear daily guide to how we work together safely, as one team, helping each other to succeed.

Reports to: Principal Engineer – Vehicle Test

The Vehicle Test team utilise the extensive track facilities at UTAC’s Millbrook Proving Ground to conduct whole vehicle testing on production and prototype vehicles. This is a varied role, where you will have the opportunity to gain the unique, yet transferrable skills associated with vehicle testing. Your day would consist of time on-track collecting, verifying and analysing data, as well as time within the office and workshop while you keep your customer projects progressing. Test subjects covered by the team include: Vehicle durability, NVH, road load data collection, ADAS, vehicle dynamics, subjective appraisals and many others.

Working within our Vehicle Test team is unlike other workplaces, so we’re looking for well-rounded professionals that are keen to learn and apply their skills to exciting new challenges.

Role & Responsibilities

• Plan – Conduct – Review – Collate – Communicate test activities by:
• Working as a team of Engineers and Technicians to deliver customer programs
• Scheduling work and facility utilisation to deliver tests efficiently
• Learning to specify and configure data acquisition equipment
• Collecting, processing and reporting data for test activities
• Learning to make engineering judgements on the performance of test vehicles
• Leading issue investigations, coordinating repairs and rebuilds on test vehicles
• Compiling progress / incident / certification reports
• Liaising with customers in a professional manner
• Generating ideas that contribute to departmental growth and improvements
• Working with approval authorities on witnessed type-approval testing
• Acting in accordance with the behaviours for UTAC staff at all times

Qualifications

• Degree level education in relevant subject

Experience

• Verification and validation testing
• Understanding of data acquisition methods and applications
• Conducting technical investigations and report writing
• Basic practical skills - mechanical / automotive
• Customer service experience
• Basic knowledge of alternative fuelled vehicles (EV/ Hybrid/ Hydrogen)
• Basic knowledge of vehicle network systems – CAN, LIN, FlexRay

Skills

• Strong communication skills - verbal, written and interpersonal
• Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications
• Confident when communicating with customers
• Ability to work well in a team
• Ability to overcome unforeseen challenges

Personal Behaviours

• Willingness to learn
• Customer focused
• Punctual with a strong work ethic
• Strong attention to detail
• Flexible and adaptable
• Dependable personally and within a team
• Pro-active attitude to work
• Positive outlook to overcoming challenges

Other

• Flexibility to travel as and when required
• Full UK driving licence & own transport (UTAC is not easily accessible via public transport)
• SC clearance or ability to achieve this
• Willing to undergo a Criminal Disclosure check

NOTE: This position is based primarily on-site at Millbrook, Bedford but off-site testing may be required for short periods at a time.

For you, as a potential UTAC team member, we believe that the international and diverse nature of our business combined with the passion, energy and friendliness of our people create a great place to work. UTAC is proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing inclusion and supporting our people to be themselves and at their very best.

By joining us you will gain access to a broad range of learning relevant to your role and personal development, as well as exposure to leading technologies and expertise. Our reward and benefit programmes are designed to support our people with competitive and locally tailored packages combined with support for individual health and wellbeing both inside and outside of work.

In the UK this includes:

• Life Cover
• Access to a wide range of discounts and offers via the Perkz reward scheme
• Recognition awards linked to our UTAC values of Expertise, Innovation and Integrity
• Healthcare cashback plans
• Generous holiday benefits
• Contributory pension schemes
• Attractive family friendly policies; maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, flexible working
• Access to a variety of employee assistance support services

Learn more about UTAC and what and how we do what we do at www.utac.com

Candidates for positions at UTAC must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the country the role is based in. Immigration visa sponsorship is not available for this position.