Principal Engineer, Defense Environmental & Reliability Testing

About the Opportunity

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 are looking for a technical leader who has lived inside defense programs - someone who 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 labs strategic direction capability roadmap and customer relationships.

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

What You Will Own

You are the technical and business authority for the Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab. Lab engineers and technicians report directly to you. You own daily scheduling lab operations customer relationships and the capability roadmap. Specific responsibilities include:

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

Qualifications :

What We Are Looking For

Required:

• 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 accreditation requirements and quality management in a testing environment
• Experience directly supervising engineers and/or technicians in a lab setting
• Strong communication skills - written and verbal - with the ability to represent Eurofins credibly to program managers engineers and contracting officers

Strongly Preferred:

• Experience working within or directly supporting U.S. defense programs (prime contractor Tier 1 supplier government lab or independent test lab)
• Hands-on experience with HALT/HASS reliability life testing or MIL-HDBK-217 reliability prediction
• Background in business development customer account management or technical sales support in the TIC or defense sector
• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Engineering Physics or related technical field (equivalent experience considered)
• Active or lapsed security clearance a plus

Why This Role

• Direct line to senior sales and operations leadership - not buried in a lab hierarchy
• A defined growth vertical with real investment behind it - MIL/Aero/Defense is a named strategic priority not an afterthought
• Coast-to-coast network (Baltimore Santa Clara) gives you a platform to pursue large defense programs that require geographic coverage
• Baltimore sits inside one of the densest defense and intelligence corridors in the country - Aberdeen Proving Ground NSA Naval Academy and a deep base of prime contractors within driving distance
• Competitive base compensation and bonus eligibility

Additional Information :

Compensation:

• Range $120-$145k

Schedule:

• M-F 8:30am -5pm

What we offer:

• Excellent full time benefits including comprehensive medical coverage dental and vision options
• Life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation and holidays

Eurofins USA Consumer Product Testing is a Disabled and Veteran Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time