Test and Compliance Engineer

Overview

KO2’s client is hiring a founding test and compliance engineer to take full ownership of testing and validation within a brand new, high performance manufacturing facility in Reading.

This is a key, early hire where you will define how testing and compliance is done from day one, with the goal of helping build the best in class motor manufacturing facility in Europe. You will own the entire testing and compliance programme across both motor production and PCB assembly, creating an end to end validation environment that supports rapid product development while meeting the highest aerospace and defence standards.

The products are small brushless motors ranging from 1kW to 15kW power, operating across 6 to 14S voltage platforms, requiring rigorous, evidence driven validation and verification processes.

You will take full responsibility for designing and executing test strategies, covering EMC, environmental and functional validation. This includes pre compliance and formal EMC testing, environmental testing such as thermal, vibration and shock, and propulsion level validation including performance, efficiency and endurance.

A major part of the role is ownership. You will build the complete testing framework, from lab capability and external test house management through to documentation and evidence packs required for aerospace and defence applications. You will define acceptance criteria, implement production test processes, and ensure traceability from design through to manufactured product.

You will work closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to embed compliance thinking early in the design process, ensuring products are built for validation rather than retrofitted to pass tests later.

The facility itself will consist of two core areas, PCB assembly and motor winding, and your role will span both, ensuring consistent, high quality validation across the full product lifecycle.

This role requires someone highly experienced in aerospace or defence environments, with a strong understanding of relevant standards and how to apply them in practice. The ideal candidate will be an EMC expert with a background in aerospace or defence and experience working on propulsion systems or similar high reliability technologies.

You should be comfortable taking full ownership of a discipline, building processes from scratch, and operating in a fast paced environment where speed and quality both matter.

Responsibilities

• Own the entire testing and compliance programme across motor production and PCB assembly; create an end to end validation environment.
• Design and execute test strategies including EMC, environmental, functional validation; perform pre compliance and formal EMC testing; conduct thermal, vibration, and shock environmental testing; validate propulsion performance, efficiency and endurance.
• Build the complete testing framework: lab capability, external test house management, documentation and evidence packs for aerospace and defence applications; define acceptance criteria; implement production test processes; ensure design-to-manufactured traceability.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to embed compliance thinking early in the design process.
• Validate across both PCB assembly and motor winding areas to ensure consistent quality throughout the product lifecycle.
• Bring senior aerospace/defence experience and EMC expertise to the role; apply standards in practice; work on propulsion or high reliability technologies.
• Take ownership of the discipline, build processes from scratch, and operate in a fast paced environment where speed and quality matter.

Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace or defence environments with a strong understanding of relevant standards.
• EMC expertise with background in propulsion systems or similar high reliability technologies.
• Proven ability to design, implement and own testing and compliance programs from concept through to manufactured product.

Role requirements and logistics

Full time onsite role based in Reading

Salary £80,000 to £100,000 with flexibility for exceptional candidates

Short term contracts can be considered as an interim solution while a permanent hire is secured

If you want to define the testing and compliance strategy for a facility being built to set the standard across Europe, this is that opportunity

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