Principal Test Engineer

Principal Test Engineer

Norfolk

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Principal Test Engineer to take ownership of test engineering strategy, standards and technical governance within a manufacturing environment.

This is a senior technical role focused on expertise, influence and complex problem-solving rather than people management. You will act as the recognised Subject Matter Expert and technical authority for test engineering, providing direction across manufacturing, production, quality and design functions.

The successful candidate will play a key role in improving test capability, increasing equipment reliability, reducing production issues and developing robust, standardised test solutions.

• Act as the technical authority for test engineering activities across the organisation.
• Define and own the test engineering strategy, standards and roadmap.
• Establish best-practice methodologies for test development, validation and deployment.
• Review, approve and govern test solutions and architectures.

• Act as the escalation point for complex or critical test failures.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions.
• Provide expert knowledge across automated test equipment (ATE), functional and end-of-line testing, instrumentation and measurement techniques.
• Resolve complex hardware/software interface issues.
• Support Design for Test (DFT) and New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.

Work closely with Manufacturing and Production teams to improve:

• First Pass Yield (FPY)
• Test cycle times
• Equipment uptime and reliability
• Overall test efficiency
• Identify and eliminate recurring test issues and systemic weaknesses.
• Provide hands-on technical troubleshooting when required.

• Lead improvements across test processes, equipment and methodologies.
• Identify opportunities for automation, digitalisation, improved data utilisation and cost reduction.
• Drive cycle-time improvements and increased test capability.
• Evaluate and introduce new technologies, tools and approaches.

• Develop and maintain test specifications, engineering standards and validation/qualification processes.
• Ensure test engineering activities comply with relevant quality, regulatory and customer requirements.
• Conduct technical reviews and audits of test systems and processes.

• Build and maintain a comprehensive test engineering knowledge base.
• Develop technical documentation covering test architectures, diagnostic procedures, fault-finding guides, maintenance and calibration standards.
• Reduce single-point-of-failure risks by ensuring critical knowledge is documented and shared.
• Develop and deliver structured training for engineers and technicians.
• Mentor and coach engineering personnel and support wider capability development.
• Define competency requirements for test engineering roles.

You will work closely with stakeholders across:

• Manufacturing Engineering
• Production & Operations
• Quality & Reliability Engineering
• Design & Development
• Supply Chain
• External suppliers and equipment vendors

You will be expected to influence and drive technical decisions through expertise and credibility, rather than formal line-management authority.

• Degree or equivalent experience in Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Extensive test engineering experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of automated test systems and ATE.
• Strong understanding of electronics and/or mechanical systems.
• Experience with data analysis, fault diagnosis and complex technical problem-solving.
• Proven experience using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, RCA and Six Sigma
  .
• Demonstrable experience improving test processes, equipment performance and manufacturing outcomes.

• Recognised technical expert with strong credibility.
• Comfortable operating as a technical authority without direct management…