Test Engineering Manager

Ontic, a leading licensor and manufacturer of complex engineering parts for the global aerospace and defence industries, are now recruiting for a Test Engineering Manager to join our team in Bishops Cleeve.

Ontic is a more than just a business, we're a community of innovators who pride ourselves on fostering a culture where talent thrives, ideas flourish, and careers are built. We're committed to excellence, driving us to continuously improve and adapt, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of our industry.

The Role:

Reporting to the Head of Engineering, you will lead and develop a team of Test Engineers responsible for ensuring robust test capability across our production cells. Your focus will be on commissioning and maintaining test equipment, driving root cause analysis to component level, and supporting delivery and cost-of-poor-quality objectives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing the Test Engineering team to achieve business objectives

• Performance management, coaching and capability development

• Test equipment set-up, validation and ongoing support within production

• Root cause and corrective action management, including troubleshooting to component level (analogue, digital or RF)

• Training and supporting Production Test Technicians

• Supporting new product introduction and the transition of newly acquired/licensed products

• Proactive engagement with internal stakeholders, customers and suppliers

This is a hands-on leadership role in a regulated manufacturing environment, where technical depth and people leadership are equally important.

About You:

You’ll be an experienced Engineering Manager (or a senior Test Engineer ready for your next step) with a strong background in high-mix, complex electronics manufacturing.

We’re looking for:

• Level 5 qualification (or higher) in Electronics Engineering

• Proven leadership experience within a manufacturing or production environment

• Strong component-level fault-finding capability across analogue, digital or RF electronics

• Experience within a regulated industry (aerospace desirable, but not essential)

• Willingness to travel internationally when required to support product transitions

• A structured, data-driven approach to root cause analysis and continuous improvement

• The ability to balance hands-on technical support with strategic team leadership

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with confidence engaging across engineering, operations, suppliers and customers

• A proactive mindset with the resilience to operate effectively in a fast-paced production environment

Benefits:

At Ontic we care about your financial, physical, and mental wellness so we offer a range of benefits to support this, we care about what matters to you and have a valued culture of recognition and empowerment, accompanied by benefits that support work/life balance.

Our benefits package highlights include:

• Up to 29 days annual leave + bank holidays

• 10 hours paid volunteering time

• Annual goal share bonus scheme for all employees

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Discounts and offers from a range of retailers

Best place to work

We are more than the sum of our parts. And we’ve been recognised internally and externally for being so:

• We were ranked #9 in Best Companies’ Q3 leaderboard for Best Manufacturing Company based on our employee feedback

• 72.5% of employees who took part in our 2023 employee satisfaction survey said they are proud to work at Ontic

We are a fast-paced business with ambitious growth plans; so if you are dedicated, enthusiastic and always seeking ways to improve, you'll enjoy a career with us!