Test Engineer

Posted 2 days 11 hours ago by Arctic Research and Development

£80,000 - £100,000 Annual
Permanent
Full Time
Other
Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, United Kingdom, GL501
Job Description

The last frontier

The Arctic is a place of extremes: unforgiving, untamed, and undergoing rapid change. A literal defrosting reveals a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity spanning energy, defence, logistics, research, and infrastructure.

ARD was founded on a paradox. The Arctic is both the next great economic frontier and one of the most hostile environments on Earth. Rich in resources and strategically vital, yet bone-chillingly cold, dark for months, and fundamentally inhospitable to humans. This paradox-an explosion of activity in a place that resists human presence-is why we exist.

Our solution is autonomy.

We build systems that operate reliably and intelligently in the Arctic, so that humans don't always have to.

Founded by record-holding pioneers with decades of polar experience, we take calculated risks on hard problems that matter. If you want to build and deploy ground-up technology with real-world impact, at an inflection point in history that won't reappear, we'd like to talk.

The role

As a Test Engineer at Arctic Research and Development, you'll be the centre of our mission: building hardware that thrives where few things can. You'll design, develop, and execute test campaigns across our full Arctic hardware stack - from embedded PCBs and energy systems to composite structures and autonomous platforms - while working alongside our mechanical, electronics, and RF teams.

This is the most critical stage of our R&D pipeline. The test frameworks you'll build and the results you deliver will directly determine the reliability, safety, and confidence of our systems in Arctic operations.

Core responsibilities

  • Design and operate custom testbeds tailored to ARD's hardware line
  • Execute static, dynamic, fatigue, thermal, and vibration tests aligned with both internal requirements and international standards (e.g. MIL-STD 810H, IP/IK, CE/UL)
  • Operate cold chambers, vibration tables, structural testing equipment, and data acquisition systems
  • Translate tests results into actionable design recommendations, guiding iterations and fast
  • Guide the selection and setup of testing infrastructure in ARD's in-house R&D lab

What we value

  • Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, with a portfolio ready to demonstrate
  • 3+ years of hands-on prototyping experience, ideally in lab or workshop environment
  • Experience scaling tests systems from prototype to production, ideally in environmental and structural contexts
  • Familiarity with US, EU, and UK testing certifications and standards
  • Proven track record designing hardware test systems and developing automated test software
  • Ability to operate with a large-degree of autonomy within a lean and competent team
  • Field-ready mindset - you're comfortable testing gear in sub-zero environments outside of the R&D lab

What we offer

  • Competitive compensation
  • Real field exposure - travel to Arctic sites and Outposts when needed
  • Mission-driven culture - focus on impact, not hours logged
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