Rowden
Principal Quality Test Engineer (Hardware)
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Principal Quality Test Engineer (Hardware)
Department: Engineering Employment Type: Permanent – Full Time Location: Bristol, UK Reporting To: Jake Reynolds Compensation: £75,000 – £95,000 per year
About the Role
We're constructing the UK's next-generation engineering powerhouse, delivering critical technologies that enhance national security and resilience.
Our expertise combines sensing, AI, and communications to enable operational capability at the edge—where connectivity may be degraded or non-existent. Our mission is to accelerate technology deployment, improve real-time decision-making for frontline teams, and safeguard personnel and assets in high-stakes environments.
Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 160 people across 20,000+ square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. As one of Europe’s fastest-growing engineering firms, we have a growing international presence.
Key Responsibilities
As Principal Quality Test Engineer, you’ll build and lead Rowden’s hardware assurance capability. This includes:
- Defining test methodologies, laboratory standards, and quality processes that ensure every hardware product—from multi-frequency RF/smart radios to ruggedised mechanical systems—meets precision requirements.
- Setting the benchmarks for quality assurance, shaping a scalable, automated test framework that spans RF, electronics, networking, and mechanical validation.
- Operating at the frontline of product delivery, working closely with VP Engineering, VP Product, and Principal Software Test Engineer, to ensure flawless hardware deployment.
You’ll report at least 3 days weekly to our Bristol HQ, though additional time may be required based on project demands. Candidates must be eligible for SC security clearance in the UK.
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Core Areas of Responsibility
Hardware Test Discipline & Methodology
- Develop comprehensive test protocols, standards, and quality gates for RF, electronics, networking, and mechanical products across all development stages—from prototype to production.
- Establish traceable, scalable test processes ensuring adherence to design specifications, test coverage requirements, and repeatable validation.
Test Laboratory & Automation
- Design, equip, and maintain a world-class hardware test laboratory, selecting and managing specialised RF instrumentation, test rigs, and automation tools.
- Enhance workflow efficiency through bespoke test automation, reducing cycle times and improving accuracy in validation.
Team & Culture
- Build and lead a hardware QA team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, reliability, and process discipline.
- Mentor engineers across disciplines, translating complex quality needs into clear, actionable guidelines for engineering, production, and procurement teams.
Quality & Delivery
- Arbitrate final hardware approvals to ensure products meet end-user standards before shipping.
- Identify risks proactively, report defects early, and provide data-driven actionable insights to engineering teams.
Requirements & Behaviours
We seek technically astute, pragmatical candidates with:
- Extensive hardware test leadership, ideally across RF systems, communications, custom electronics/PCBs, and mechanical validation.
- Proven experience in creating test functions, designing test strategies, and standardising quality processes at scale.
- Deep practical knowledge of RF protocols, PCB validation, signal integrity, and mechanical reliability.
- Ability to operate in complexity—turning ambiguity into clear, transferable test processes and equipment protocols.
- ** extremities (defence/aerospace), though technical backgrounds in electronic warfare (EW), radar, or satellite systems are a plus.
- Mentorship and team leadership delivering success in high-pressure, systems-level environments.
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The ideal Match embodies:
- Relentless focus on quality, reliability, and detail-driven engineering.
- Enthusiasm to build a functional capability in the dynamic and driven environment of Rowden.
- Ownership over mission-critical work, thriving in autonomous roles with clear accountability.
- Commitment to rowden’s Bristol base· at least 3 days/month & project-adapted flexibility.
Working at Rowden
We’re building an inclusive, adaptive team—our doors are open to diverse talents, skills, and backgrounds. Disability Confident Committed, we’re here to accommodate individual needs transparently.
Flexibility: On demand, we foster hybrid and flexible arrangements—average 3 onsite days/week, but open talk for tailored solutions (e.g., part-time roles).
Every application counts: if perspectives, methodologies, and transferable skills apply, we’d welcome your enthusiasm—even without all criteria met.
[UK Security Vetting Guidelines]: Security Clearance Reference
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