Ground Trials Engineer

Ground Trials Engineer - Hertfordshire - Hybrid - Excellent Benefits

The Opportunity
An opportunity has opened up for a Ground Trials Engineer to play a critical role in proving and validating complex, mission-critical systems before they enter operational use. Based in Hertfordshire, this role places you at the centre of high-profile trials activity, working on technically challenging programmes where your contribution has real-world impact. If you enjoy hands-on engineering, fast-paced environments and seeing systems progress from design to proven capability, this role offers variety, responsibility and excitement in equal measure.

The Role
As a Ground Trials Engineer, you will be responsible for taking systems through the proving and acceptance journey, ensuring they meet performance, safety and operational requirements. Working closely with systems engineers, design teams and wider stakeholders, you will plan, prepare and execute trials, capture and analyse data, and provide clear evidence to support decision-making. You will be involved across the full trials lifecycle, from early readiness and risk reduction through to formal acceptance and reporting.

Key Responsibilities as Ground Trials Engineer

* Plan, generate and execute system, sub-system and integration trials

* Deliver a wide range of trials activities including laboratory-based trials, ground trials, harbour trials, sea trials and firing trials

* Define trials objectives, methods and success criteria

* Ensure the correct data is captured to support system acceptance and technical assurance

* Conduct post-trial data analysis and produce clear, structured reports

* Investigate issues identified during trials and support effective resolution

* Prepare for, support and close out Trials Readiness Reviews

* Support trials conducted both in the UK and overseas, with travel as required

* Maintain risk assessments, safety cases and compliance documentation

* Support test facility operations, audits and asset management

* Manage hardware and software configuration control within the trials environment

What is required as Ground Trials Engineer

* Experience in systems proving, trials, test and evaluation or system integration

* Background working with complex electrical, mechanical or integrated systems

* Exposure to weapons, missile, combat or safety-critical systems environments

* Practical experience of ground-based, maritime or operational test activities

* Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present complex data clearly

* Confident communicator able to work with engineers, managers, suppliers and partners

* A structured, safety-focused and methodical approach to engineering challenges

Desirable (But Not Essential)

* Experience with model-based systems engineering tools such as DOORS, Rhapsody or similar

* Exposure to coding or scripting, particularly Python

* Familiarity with formal verification, validation and acceptance processes

Why this opportunity as Ground Trials Engineer could be great for you
This is a rare chance to be part of a highly capable engineering team working on challenging and meaningful programmes. You’ll gain broad exposure to diverse trials activities, develop deep technical expertise and play a vital role in delivering proven, operational systems. For engineers who thrive on responsibility, variety and real-world impact, this is a genuinely exciting next step