Team Leader - Test & Development

We are supporting a long-established UK vehicle manufacturer in the appointment of a Test & Development Team Leader. This is a senior technical leadership role that sits at the heart of product verification and regulatory compliance, leading a stable, highly experienced Test & Development function. You will be accountable for planning, resourcing, executing and reporting all design validation activities across new technologies, product updates and certification programmes. This is a genuine people-manager role, with "as-and-when" hands-on technical involvement. Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of six Test & Development Engineers
• Own delivery of full vehicle and system-level Design Validation Programmes (DVPs)
• Schedule and manage all internal and external validation and certification activities
• Ensure all new products, technologies and vehicle updates are robustly validated prior to release
• Manage development vehicle fleet, test equipment, calibration and asset readiness
• Conduct 1-to-1s, performance development and training planning
• Control project delivery against cost, timing and technical targets
• Maintain traceable test documentation and technical reporting
• Drive continuous improvement of test processes and validation methodology Required Technical Background

• Degree in Engineering (or equivalent)

• Proven experience leading test & validation teams in an agile engineering environment

• Delivery of structured Design Validation Programmes (DVPs)

• Coordination of test programmes from concept through to completion

• Strong knowledge of instrumentation and measurement systems including: o Strain gauges, load cells, LVDTs, accelerometers (AC/DC), thermocouples, pressure and flow sensors, microphones

• Experience with HBM QuantumX / Vector DAQ systems and associated software

• Data analysis and post-processing using tools such as DIAdem, MATLAB, CATmanAP, nCode

• CAN data logging and interpretation (J1939)

• Production of concise, technically robust validation reports

• Strong understanding of EN / FMVSS / ECWVTA standards and engineering compliance frameworks

• Highly organised, delivery-focused, and confident presenting to senior stakeholders Desirable

• Whole-vehicle DVP ownership on major vehicle programmes

• Electric vehicle test and validation exposure

• Truck, automotive or off-highway vehicle experience

• Knowledge of automotive gateways and development deliverables

• Six Sigma / 8D / 5Y problem-solving methodologies Additional Requirements

• Full UK driving licence

• Willingness to travel occasionally and attend supplier/customer sites

• Comfortable working in fast-paced development environments Why This Role

• Highly established, technically capable Test & Development team

• Genuine leadership remit with real authority over validation strategy and delivery

• Long-term, stable environment with strong engineering culture