Test Design Engineer

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83000 employees on five continents. With over 7500 people in the UK operating across defence space aerospace and digital security we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

We are seeking an experienced Test Design Engineer with a focus on Test Solutions to join our engineering this role you will define and deliver innovative robust and scalable test architectures to support the development verification and validation of complex aerospace and defence systems.

As a key member of the engineering team you will ensure that our test strategies align with customer requirements (including MOD standards) programme needs and long-term product sustainment. You will shape the technical direction of test systems across the product lifecycle working at the interface between design engineering integration and our customers.

Location(s):Crawley or Reading or Cheadle or Bristol or Glasgow or any other Thales site in the UK

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and architecture of test solutions for complex aerospace and defence systems ensuring compliance with MOD and industry standards
• Define test strategies frameworks and architectures to support product development verification qualification and in-service support
• Translate system and customer requirements into effective test system requirements and architectures
• Ensure test solutions integrate seamlessly with hardware software and system environments
• Work closely with design engineers test engineers and programme managers to ensure traceability and compliance throughout the lifecycle
• Provide technical leadership mentoring and guidance to multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Contribute to bid and proposal activity providing technical input to estimates schedules and solution concepts
• Engage directly with key stakeholders to ensure alignment with defence standards policies and best practices
• Drive innovation in test methods including automation digital twins and model-based test approaches

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a Systems Architect / Systems Engineer
• Strong background in test system design and architecture
• Experience of integrating hardware software and COTS solutions into test
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to interface with customers
• Demonstrable ability to work across the full system lifecycle from concept through to in-service support

Desirable Skills

• Experience with test automation
• Knowledge of safety security and information assurance in defence systems

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape next-generation test systems for critical aerospace and defence programmes
• Work on challenging projects with direct impact on UK defence capability
• Professional development support including chartership and advanced training
• Hybrid and flexible working options.

Benefits:

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held however if not currently held it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo achieve and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered.

To be eligible for full SC you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 some circumstances a minimum of 3 years residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance:

Thales we ensure equal opportunities pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance buying or selling annual leave cycle to work schemes employee discounts paid volunteering day stocks and shares annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes employee networks wellbeing policies and inclusive features here.

If this role isnt quite right for you we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

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