Socode are partnering with a high-technology engineering business in Cambridge that develops complex hardware systems used in demanding, high-performance environments. As part of continued growth and new product introductions, they’re looking to hire a Hardware Test Engineer to strengthen their verification and manufacturing readiness capability.

This role is about making sure hardware products perform exactly as intended before they reach volume production. You’ll sit between design and manufacturing, building test capability, diagnosing issues and ensuring new products transition smoothly into scalable production. If you enjoy structured problem solving, fault-finding and building test solutions that directly impact product quality, this is worth a conversation.

What will you be doing?

• Developing practical test strategies to prove product performance against specification
• Supporting new hardware products as they move from engineering development into manufacturing
• Designing and building test setups for both development validation and production use
• Troubleshooting complex hardware systems to identify root causes of failures
• Analysing test data and producing clear technical reports to guide design decisions
• Creating cost-effective hardware and software-based test solutions within agreed timelines
• Working closely with multi-disciplinary teams to improve test coverage and efficiency
• Establishing repeatable test procedures that simplify complex assembly and validation steps
• Defining test requirements for products entering volume manufacture
• Supporting improvements to cost, standardisation and supply chain resilience
• Specifying and working with third parties on bespoke automated test equipment and fixtures

What are they looking for?

• Degree-qualified in Engineering, Physics or a related discipline
• A few years of industry experience in hardware test, product validation or integration
• Solid understanding of structured verification and validation processes
• Experience diagnosing faults across integrated hardware systems
• Comfortable working at the interface between design engineering and manufacturing
• Clear communicator who can explain technical findings to both engineers and managers
• Well organised, able to juggle multiple workstreams without losing detail
• Self-driven and comfortable taking ownership of deliverables
• Open to occasional travel to manufacturing sites when required

Nice to have

• Experience developing test scripts or tools using Python or LabVIEW
• Hands-on experience debugging hardware at board or system level
• Familiarity with production test environments and assembly processes
• Experience defining or specifying automated test equipment (ATE) or custom fixtures