Manufacturing Test Engineer - CCA

Mbda Systems; Bolton; On-site; GBP 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organization in Bolton seeks an experienced Manufacturing Test Engineer to join their Circuit Card Assembly team. The role requires expertise in diagnosing faults on PCB assemblies, collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance product quality. Candidates should have a formal engineering apprenticeship and relevant degree. This position offers a hybrid working environment and various employee benefits including bonuses and flexible working options.

Benefits

Company bonus: Up to £2,500

Pension contribution up to 14%

Opportunity for paid overtime

Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days

Enhanced parental leave

Subsidised meals and free car parking

Qualifications

• Strong theoretical and practical understanding of electrical/electronic measurement.
• Ability to interpret detailed schematics, drawings, and test-related documentation.
• Hands-on experience using both manual and automated test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Perform fault diagnosis down to component level on PCB assemblies.
• Generate test specifications and maintain configuration control.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product improvements.

Skills

Electronics Test & Diagnosis

Engineering Documentation Interpretation

Test Equipment Experience

Manufacturing Systems Proficiency

Education

Formal Engineering Apprenticeship to NVQ Level 3

Level 4 Further Education Certificate (HNC or equivalent)

BEng/BSc in relevant Engineering/Technical Degree

Tools

SAP

MES

PLM

Job description

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Manufacturing Test Engineer to join our Circuit card assembly Engineering team. This is a fast-paced but friendly and inclusive Manufacturing environment that will challenge you.

Salary

Circa £45,500 depending on experience.

Dynamic (hybrid) working

4 or 5 days per week on-site due to workload classification.

Security Clearance

British National Only. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you

• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (based on company performance and will vary year to year)
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…

The opportunity

As part of our continued growth, we are looking for a highly skilled and methodical Electronics Manufacturing Test Engineer to join our Circuit Card Assembly team. In this critical role, you will specialise in diagnosing faults on PCB assemblies down to component level. Your expertise will be crucial in accurately identifying root causes of failure, providing technical reports and supporting the implementation of corrective actions, which in turn will be utilised to improve production yield and ensure programme targets are achieved.

You will be working with a small team of dedicated engineers in a fast-paced but friendly and inclusive manufacturing environment. The team has a great mix of people, ranging from apprentices and graduates through to time served experienced engineers, all striving to deliver technical excellence across a number of different missile systems in development and production.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Root Cause Analysis: Performing fault diagnosis down to component level on analogue and digital PCB assemblies using a wide range of both automated and manual test equipment including oscilloscopes, multi-meters, signal generators, etc.
• Test Specification/Instruction Generation: Supporting the introduction of new test facilities by generating test specifications, operator instructions, and maintaining appropriate configuration control.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serving as a key point of contact, collaborating closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Process, Design Engineers, and other stakeholders to overcome technical challenges and drive product improvements.
• Design & Development Support: Providing crucial Test Engineering input during the design and development phases, from initial concept through to Production Readiness Reviews.

What we're looking for from you

• Formal technical Engineering/Craft Apprenticeship to NVQ Level 3/TR23/TR21 AND
• Formal further education certificate to Level 4 (HNC or equivalent in a relevant subject)
• BEng/BSc in relevant Engineering/Technical Degree
• Expertise in Electronics Test & Diagnosis: A strong theoretical and practical understanding of electrical/electronic measurement and test principles, test equipment and fault diagnosis techniques for electronic sub-assemblies and PCBs.
• Engineering Documentation Experience: An ability to interpret detailed schematics, drawings and test related documentation.
• Test Equipment Experience: Hands‑on experience using both manual and automated test equipment, preferably within a defence or similar high‑reliability manufacturing environment.
• Manufacturing Systems Proficiency: Familiarity with enterprise resource planning, manufacturing execution and version control system tools (e.g., SAP, MES, PLM) for logging test activities and generating non‑conformance quality reports.
• Desirable Experience working with RF-based circuitry would be preferable, but is not mandatory.

Our company

Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given. MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom. We are proud of our employee‑led networks, e.g. Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more… We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Seniority level

Associate

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Engineering, Manufacturing, and Production

Industries

Defense and Space Manufacturing