Job Description:

SENIOR TEST ENGINEER (HYDRAULICS)

Permanent Position

Office Based, Telford

37 hours, with overtime during busy periods

DFM Resourcing is recruiting an experienced, hands-on Test Engineer for an engineering organisation specialising in complex material-handling equipment and integrated systems. Based in Telford, the role focuses on hydraulic testing and integration with mechanical, electrical and control systems.

Working with project delivery and multidisciplinary engineering teams, you will plan and carry out testing of complete machines, partly completed systems and sub-systems, from initial checks and setting to work through to functional and performance acceptance testing. The position requires substantial practical hydraulic and mechanical expertise alongside working competence in electrical and control systems.

About The Role:

• An experienced Test Engineer is required to lead and carry out testing in Telford, specialising in hydraulics and integration with mechanical, electrical and control systems.
• The Telford-based role includes overseas and on-board vessel testing as projects require.
• Reporting to the Principal Engineer, work with project delivery and multidisciplinary engineering teams to plan tests, resolve issues and meet project testing requirements.
• Test complete material handling machines, part-finished systems and sub-systems, from initial checks and setting to work through functional and performance testing.
• This hands-on role requires hydraulic expertise, strong mechanical knowledge and practical electrical and controls competence—not simply general awareness. Diagnose faults across system interfaces and work effectively with specialist engineers.

Responsibilities

Working closely with Engineering, Production and Project teams, responsibilities will include:

• Write test plans, setting-to-work procedures and specifications, agreeing methods, acceptance criteria and recording requirements with relevant engineers.
• Coordinate testing with project delivery, identifying equipment, resources and specialist support.
• Carry out and coordinate hydraulic flushing, cleanliness checks, pressure and leak testing to approved procedures.
• Check mechanical assembly, alignment, fastenings and operating readiness against drawings and specifications.
• Lead setting to work, functional and performance testing of hydraulic equipment, mechanical assemblies and integrated systems.
• Check instrumentation, control signals, sequences, interlocks and protective functions against approved requirements with electrical and controls engineers.
• Investigate hydraulic, mechanical and electrical/control interface faults; record findings and coordinate corrective action and retesting.
• Select suitable, in-calibration test instruments; record and assess results against acceptance criteria.
• Produce test reports and traceable records of results, defects, corrective actions and outstanding items.
• Support customer-witnessed, customer-site and on-board vessel testing, clearly explaining methods and results.
• Contribute to test risk assessments and safe working procedures, including isolation and stored energy control; work within agreed competence and authorisation.
• Use procedure reviews and lessons learned to improve test safety, consistency and effectiveness.

Skills & Technical Knowledge

• Strong hydraulic knowledge: pumps, valves, actuators, filtration, pressure/flow control, schematic interpretation and fault diagnosis.
• Strong mechanical knowledge: interpret drawings, assess assembly readiness and investigate poor equipment performance.
• Practical electrical and controls knowledge: follow schematics, interpret sensor/control signals and investigate sequences and interlocks with specialists.
• Understand hydraulic, mechanical, electrical and controls interaction; apply structured multidisciplinary fault finding.
• Write clear test procedures and reports, interpret data and communicate findings to colleagues and customers.
• Competent in Microsoft Office, particularly Word for documentation and Excel for recording and analysing results.
• Use Autodesk AutoCAD to produce test layouts, occasionally develop test equipment, and view and interpret engineering drawings.
• Autodesk Inventor familiarity is advantageous, not essential.

Experience Required

• 10 years in a similar role, with substantial hands-on hydraulic testing, setting-to-work and fault-finding experience.
• Offshore equipment experience, interpreting applicable DNV, LR, ABS and BV code requirements for testing and acceptance.
• Equipment testing in relevant sectors, including lifting, cranes, industrial and structural engineering, resolving mechanical, hydraulic and electrical/control interface issues.

Applications:

This vacancy is available to Candidates with relevant experience as detailed in the job description. Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to respond to applicants who do not possess the required skills and experience. 

Candidates must be authorised to work in the country where this role is located BEFORE making an application.