Team Leader - Test & Development
SKILLS
FULL DESCRIPTION
Tasks: Lead a team of engineers in validating cutting-edge vehicle technologies and ensuring compliance.
Company: Join a long-established UK vehicle manufacturer with a strong engineering culture.
Benefits: Competitive salary up to £60,000 and flexible leave scheme.
Why this job: Make a real impact in a stable environment with genuine leadership opportunities.
Qualifications: Degree in Engineering and experience leading test & validation teams required.
Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a fast-paced development environment.
Team Leader - Test & Development
We are supporting a long-established UK vehicle manufacturer in the appointment of a Test & Development Team Leader. This is a senior technical leadership role that sits at the heart of product verification and regulatory compliance, leading a stable, highly experienced Test & Development function. You will be accountable for planning, resourcing, executing and reporting all design validation activities across new technologies, product updates and certification programmes. This is a genuine people-manager role, with “as-and-when” hands-on technical involvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop a team of six Test & Development Engineers
- Own delivery of full vehicle and system-level Design Validation Programmes (DVPs)
- Schedule and manage all internal and external validation and certification activities
- Ensure all new products, technologies and vehicle updates are robustly validated prior to release
- Manage development vehicle fleet, test equipment, calibration and asset readiness
- Conduct 1-to-1s, performance development and training planning
- Control project delivery against cost, timing and technical targets
- Maintain traceable test documentation and technical reporting
- Drive continuous improvement of test processes and validation methodology
Required Technical Background
Essential
- Degree in Engineering (or equivalent)
- Proven experience leading test & validation teams in an agile engineering environment
- Delivery of structured Design Validation Programmes (DVPs)
- Coordination of test programmes from concept through to completion
- Strong knowledge of instrumentation and measurement systems including: Strain gauges, load cells, LVDTs, accelerometers (AC/DC), thermocouples, pressure and flow sensors, microphones
- Experience with HBM QuantumX / Vector DAQ systems and associated software
- Data analysis and post-processing using tools such as DIAdem, MATLAB, CATmanAP, nCode
- CAN data logging and interpretation (J1939)
- Production of concise, technically robust validation reports
- Strong understanding of EN / FMVSS / ECWVTA standards and engineering compliance frameworks
- Highly organised, delivery-focused, and confident presenting to senior stakeholders
Desirable
- Whole-vehicle DVP ownership on major vehicle programmes
- Electric vehicle test and validation exposure
- Truck, automotive or off-highway vehicle experience
- Knowledge of automotive gateways and development deliverables
- Six Sigma / 8D / 5Y problem-solving methodologies
Additional Requirements
- Full UK driving licence
- Willingness to travel occasionally and attend supplier/customer sites
- Comfortable working in fast-paced development environments
Why This Role
- Highly established, technically capable Test & Development team
- Genuine leadership remit with real authority over validation strategy and delivery
- Long-term, stable environment with strong engineering culture
- Competitive salary to £60k and flexible leave scheme