Who we are
Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.
As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.
We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.
The role
The Head of Test will lead all hardware, ground, and lab testing activities for all mechanic and mechatronic systems and components. This pivotal leadership role requires a unique blend of engineering rigor and the robust, high-volume validation methodologies honed in the automotive industry. The successful candidate will drive the strategic direction of testing, ensuring comprehensive validation, reliability, and performance through hands-on technical leadership, advanced testing methodologies, and a deep understanding of complex mechanical and electromechanical systems. This role is ideal for a seasoned leader who thrives on solving intricate technical challenges at the intersection of diverse industries and possesses a strong mechanical, hands-on background.
The day-to-day
• Strategic Leadership: Define and implement the overall testing strategy for hardware, ground, and lab environments, aligning with program objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Team Management & Development: Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of test engineers and technicians, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Test Methodologies: Introduce and integrate advanced test methodologies, automation, and validation processes from the automotive sector (e.g., HIL, MIL/SIL, rapid prototyping validation, end-of-line testing, durability testing, advanced data analytics) into aerospace and defence programs.
• Test Planning & Execution: Oversee the development, review, and execution of comprehensive test plans, procedures, and reports for various levels of assembly, from component to system-level integration.
• Hardware & Facilities Management: Manage the design, build, maintenance, and upgrade of state-of-the-art test rigs, environmental chambers, structural test setups, and other lab/ground test infrastructure.
• Technical Guidance & Hands-on Support: Provide expert technical guidance and hands-on support in setting up, troubleshooting, and operating complex mechanical and electromechanical test systems, ensuring data integrity and test validity.
• Failure Analysis & Root Cause: Lead detailed failure analysis and root cause investigations for test anomalies, collaborating closely with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to implement corrective actions.
• Compliance & Quality: Ensure all testing activities comply with stringent aerospace and defense standards (e.g., AS9100), safety regulations, and program-specific requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Design Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, and Program Management teams to ensure seamless integration of testing into the product development lifecycle.
• Resource & Budget Management: Manage departmental budgets, resources, and schedules effectively to ensure timely and cost-efficient completion of testing milestones.
You should apply if you have
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in hardware test engineering, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership or management role, ideally managing a team of engineers and technicians.
• Demonstrated experience in both the Aerospace/Defence and Automotive industries is essential, specifically in hardware, ground, and lab testing environments.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and proven hands-on experience with complex mechanical systems, test fixtures, instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and laboratory equipment.
• Expertise in various testing methodologies, including but not limited to: structural testing, fatigue and durability testing, vibration and shock testing, thermal cycling, EMI/EMC, functional testing, and environmental qualification.
• Proficiency in setting up and operating test equipment, including data acquisition systems (e.g., National Instruments LabVIEW/TestStand), strain gauges, accelerometers, load cells, and other sensors.
• Solid understanding of design validation (DV) and production validation (PV) testing principles, as well as reliability growth and accelerated life testing.
• Familiarity with automotive industry validation practices (e.g., ISO 26262, APQP) and their applicability to safety-critical systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience in statistical data analysis and robust root cause analysis techniques.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of an organisation.
Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.
Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields
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Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns
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The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world
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Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward
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In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts
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We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about
What we offer
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A focus on outcomes, not time-tracking
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Competitive compensation and stock options
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Relocation support
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Social and education allowances
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Regular company events and all-hands to bring together employees as one team across Europe
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A hands-on onboarding program (affectionately labelled “Infraduction”), in which you will be building tooling and applications to be used across the company. This is your opportunity to learn our tech stack, explore the company, and learn how we get things done - all whilst working with other engineering teams from day one
Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.
Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found
here.
