Principal Engineer, Defense Environmental & Reliability Testing

Job Description

Eurofins Electrical & Electronics is expanding its Aerospace, Defense, and Military testing practice and is seeking a Principal Engineer to own and grow the Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab in Baltimore. This is not a standard lab‑manager role; we need a technical leader who has lived inside defense programs, understands MIL‑STD‑810, DO‑160, and reliability qualification from the engineering side, can run a high‑performing lab, and can engage defense customers at the program level.

This is a bench‑present role. You are in the lab every day—running tests, reviewing data, setting procedures, and leading by technical example. If you are looking for a desk job, this is not it.

The Baltimore Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab operates within a growing coast‑to‑coast defense testing network (Baltimore + Santa Clara) with active ITAR/EAR compliance, CMMC Level 1 (Level 2 in progress), and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation including MIL‑scope testing. You will have direct access to sales leadership and meaningful influence over the lab’s strategic direction, capability roadmap, and customer relationships.

This role reports directly to the Director of Sales and Operations, East Region.

• Defense & Aerospace Testing: Lead hands‑on execution of environmental qualification and reliability programs to MIL‑STD‑810, RTCA/DO‑160, and customer-specific defense requirements including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, altitude, humidity, and combined environments.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for defense and aerospace customers—from pre‑proposal through test execution and final report delivery.
• Develop and review test plans, procedures, and reports that meet program‑level documentation standards expected by prime contractors and government customers.
• Drive capability expansion into HALT/HASS, reliability life testing, and additional MIL‑scope services aligned with defense market demand.
• Commercial Environmental & Reliability Testing: Oversee and personally execute commercial environmental simulation and reliability testing across climatic, mechanical, and dynamic disciplines (IEC, ASTM, and related standards).
• Maintain and grow commercial customer relationships alongside the defense portfolio.
• Manage RFQ intake, quoting, scheduling, and on‑time delivery for the full Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab book of business.
• Lab Operations & People Leadership: Directly manage Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab engineers and technicians—own their daily direction, scheduling, development, and performance.
• Set and maintain the technical standard and culture of the lab through hands‑on daily presence.
• Oversee ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation compliance, internal audits, calibration programs, and equipment maintenance.
• Own CAPEX proposals and equipment roadmap to support capability growth and operational reliability.
• Collaborate with Eurofins labs across the network to deliver integrated testing solutions and share best practices.
• Customer & Sales Engagement: Act as a technical sales resource—supporting proposals, customer site visits, and defense program pursuits alongside the regional sales team.
• Build relationships with prime contractors, Tier 1 suppliers, and government program offices in the Mid‑Atlantic defense corridor.
• Represent Eurofins E&E at industry events, trade shows, and technical working groups relevant to defense and reliability testing.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) – required for ITAR and CMMC compliance; this requirement cannot be waived.
• 7+ years of hands‑on experience in environmental simulation and reliability testing with direct exposure to MIL‑STD‑810 and/or RTCA/DO‑160 in a defense, aerospace, or government lab context.
• Deep working knowledge of environmental and reliability test disciplines: vibration, mechanical shock, thermal, altitude, humidity, combined environments, and reliability qualification.
• Demonstrated ability to engage customers technically—writing test plans, presenting results, and managing customer expectations at the program level.
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025…