Electronic Test Engineer

This is a permanent, full-time position based on-site at our client’s manufacturing facility in the South of England. The Test Engineer role is somewhat unusual in that it encompasses two quite distinct but equally important functions, both of which require genuine technical competence and attention to detail.

The first function relates to the technical development and validation of new products and product improvements during the design and prototype phases. During this stage, you will work closely with the electronics and firmware engineering teams to carry out what we might call development testing. This involves setting up and executing rigorous test protocols that allow the design team to verify that their circuits are performing as intended, to identify any issues that might emerge during integration of multiple boards and subsystems, to diagnose anomalies when they arise, and ultimately to support the engineers in iterating and refining the product design for performance and reliability. You will be hands-on, building test jigs and bespoke instrumentation where necessary, working with oscilloscopes and similar analytical equipment to understand what is happening at the component and board level, and feeding back clear technical observations that help the development team solve problems and optimise their designs.

The second function is rather more formal and procedurally structured, and relates to compliance and conformance testing. Once a product design has been finalised and is ready for market release, there are prescribed testing regimes that must be completed to satisfy various regulatory requirements and standards. These include testing to the Low Voltage Directive, EMC regulations, and UL/CSA compliance standards depending on the intended markets. This testing is more formalised, with defined test specifications, acceptance criteria, and detailed documentation requirements. You will be responsible for ensuring that products meet all applicable standards before they can be sold, and that the appropriate compliance records and certifications are in place.

The role requires someone who can move comfortably between these two different modes of working. The development testing demands creativity, problem-solving ability, and a collaborative approach. The compliance testing demands precision, methodical attention to procedure, and the ability to produce clear, accurate documentation., * Plan, design and execute rigorous test protocols across the full range of operating conditions, including various load conditions, speed profiles and supply voltage scenarios

• Design and commission test rigs, build custom instrumentation and automation solutions, and ensure all test equipment is properly calibrated
• Carry out development phase testing on prototype boards and integrated systems, identify performance issues and anomalies, and work collaboratively with the design engineers to diagnose and resolve problems
• Perform formal compliance and conformance testing against relevant standards including CE, UL/CSA and EMC requirements
• Maintain day-to-day scheduling and prioritisation of test activities, managing the testing pipeline to support product timelines
• Operate and troubleshoot a range of laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, power analysers, load banks, programmable power supplies and similar analytical tools
• Work safely and competently with three-phase electrical systems and high-power test equipment
• Write clear, well-structured test procedures, test reports, and technical documentation that communicates findings to both engineering and commercial colleagues
• Liaise across functions with Power Electronics engineers, Motor Control engineers, firmware teams and the manufacturing function
• Contribute ideas for continuous improvement in test methodology, test cell capability and overall testing processes as the product range develops and grows

• Proven hands-on experience testing motor drives, power electronics, AC-DC converters or similarly complex electromechanical systems in an R&D or manufacturing environment
• Genuine competence with electrical test equipment including oscilloscopes, power analysers, load banks and programmable power supplies
• Practical experience commissioning and calibrating test rigs, working safely with three-phase electrical power
• Ability to write clear, logical test procedures and to produce detailed technical reports
• Comfortable working across the electronics and firmware boundary, able to diagnose issues that involve both hardware and software
• Strong communication skills and genuine ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage multiple testing priorities
• Formal qualification in electrical engineering, electronic engineering or a closely related discipline (HNC, HND, BSc, BEng or MEng preferred)

Desirable

• Specific experience with electric motor drive systems, particularly inverters or DC drives
• Familiarity with compliance testing protocols and the standards landscape (CE, UL/CSA, EMC)
• Experience designing or specifying bespoke test rigs, jigs or test automation solutions
• Knowledge of product development cycles and design validation methodologies

Our client is an established and well-regarded manufacturer of electric drive systems and motor control solutions, serving industrial customers across the globe. Operating from their purpose-built UK manufacturing facility, they design and produce a comprehensive range of AC and DC motor control products across single-phase and three-phase applications, with power ratings reaching up to 1 megawatt. The business has been successfully developing innovative electromechanical solutions since the late 1980s and works with a broad network of distributors and systems integrators worldwide.