Principal Test Engineer

Job Description

Leonardo is a world-leading high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. The products developed at Basildon have widespread uses in industrial and civil applications as well as fulfilling many military requirements.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers.

As a Principal Test Engineer, you will support the design, development, and ongoing support of electro-optical test equipment and test processes for Leonardo’s range of Precision Guidance products – from early development through to production.

You will work as part of the test engineering team, contributing to the specification, design, integration, and verification of test solutions. This includes working on a variety of systems incorporating optical, thermal, electronic, and software components.

The role is hands‑on and requires a broad technical understanding. You’ll also provide support to production teams and contribute to resolving test‑related issues on existing systems.

As a Principal Test Engineer at Leonardo, you will have the opportunity to pro‑actively engage in activities such as

Interpretation of product test requirements to

• Define a test strategy and plan
• Define a test system
• Generate work packages and estimate the cost to deliver said plan across multiple functions
• Generation, coordination and execution of work packages, from bid through to project completion, to cost, quality and time, with appropriate level of procedural governance.
• Build, commissioning and verification of new test solutions.
• Development testing of product with an understanding of environmental stress screening and production lifespan.
• Preparation of technical documentation including user instructions.
• Support to test system related issues in production and investigation of root cause of detector faults returned from the field.

• HND or above, in system or electrical engineering
• Experience of one or more of the following areas Electrical test, , Electro-optics.
• Understanding optoelectronic devices and systems, such as lasers and photodetectors, is highly desired in the field.
• Ability to assimilate and apply technical information to design tasks and to problem solving
• Ability to validate and qualify new mechanical designs under different environmental conditions
• Practical ‘hands on’ laboratory test, diagnostic and measurement experience, including electro‑optical instrumentation
• Demonstrate evidence of good organisation, planning and execution of work
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work closely in a team with other engineering and science disciplines
• Good Communication and customer liaison skills.
• Careful Measurement and analytical skills.

• Test Software Experience, LabVIEW, MATLAB or similar
• Experience of soldering surface mount components
• Experience of mechanical design
• Experience of using industry standard ECAD tools
• Understanding of how the operating environment influences the design

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit https //

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company‑funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge – Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Secure your Future – Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters – Free access to mental health…