Test Engineer

Title: R&D Test and Validation Engineer. Location: On-site support at the company site and University of Nottingham test facilities in Stamford and Nottingham. Duration: Initial 12 months, with potential extension. Hybrid role – up to 5 days per week on-site during active test periods. Rate is £16.41 - £28.21/hour on PAYE contract. Role Overview: We are seeking a skilled Powertrain (Power Electronics + Motor/Generator) Test & Validation Engineer to join our team and provide on-site technical support for the development and validation of Electrical Powertrain systems (PE + MG). The successful candidate will serve as the key interface between the client Powertrain design team and the test facility. This role combines hands-on test execution with product validation activities, data analysis, and problem resolution to ensure high-quality validation of next-generation electric powertrain systems.

Key Responsibilities: Manage daily test cell activities for Powertrain (PE + MG) systems, including test setup, execution, and data collection. Execute test requests and develop test procedures for electrical validation of the powertrain system. Work closely with the Power Electronics and Motor design teams to define validation requirements and test plans. Investigate and resolve system or component issues, identify causal mechanisms for failures, recommend corrective actions, and own problem resolution to closure. Close the loop between design/simulation data and physical test results through post-processing and analysis using tools such as MATLAB and Ansys. Generate high-quality technical reports and review presentations. Support test facility setup, instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and troubleshooting. Ensure data quality during and after testing before sharing results with the design team. Manage spare parts readiness and coordinate hardware changes in collaboration with component owners and the materials team. Utilise structured problem-solving methods (e.g., Fault Tree Analysis) and work with subject matter experts as required.

Required Experience & Skills: Prior experience working in a powertrain or electrical testing environment (Power Electronics + Motor/Generator experience is strongly preferred). Hands-on experience with component validation, failure analysis, and issue resolution. Proficiency in using data acquisition systems, data processing, and analysis. Automotive or heavy-duty industry experience is preferred, though not mandatory. Demonstrated ability to interpret test requirements, set up instrumentation, and ensure high-quality test data. Software Requirements · Required: Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) · Strongly Preferred: MATLAB / Simulink, Ansys, PCAN (or equivalent CAN tools) Qualifications & Competencies Education: · Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required. Experience: · Proven track record of technical problem solving and quality decision-making in a relevant engineering discipline. · Previous experience leading or supporting powertrain validation activities is highly desirable. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated test and validation engineer to play a critical role in the development of advanced electric powertrain technology within a collaborative industry-academic environment.