Test Engineer - Environment
About this role
Helsing needs an Environment Test Engineer to validate the survivability and performance of drone sub-systems and Ground Support Equipment under real-world stress conditions. As a generalist within the Environmental Cluster, this individual will ensure test coverage continuity across multiple hardware domains, absorb campaign overflows, and extend capabilities into sensitive hardware domains.
The person in this role will design, execute, and analyze environmental stress test campaigns covering mechanical, thermal, and environmental qualification. Daily tasks involve running vibration and shock campaigns, executing thermal soak and cycling, conducting dust and water ingress tests, and performing altitude simulations and fatigue endurance tests. Success in this position requires a strong technical background in physical instrumentation, environmental standards literacy, and a willingness to operate within the specific constraints of defense-related hardware.
What you will do
- Design and execute vibration test campaigns using sine sweep, random vibration, and shock methods to simulate transport and launch environments.
- Execute controlled thermal exposure tests across the full operational temperature range on assigned sub-systems.
- Perform dust and water ingress tests on enclosures and connectors to validate field survivability.
- Run humidity-controlled and salt-spray campaigns to identify corrosion risks in structural joints and electronic housings.
- Validate component behavior under simulated low-pressure conditions relevant to operational altitudes.
- Conduct high-cycle mechanical campaigns to characterize material and joint fatigue over required operational lifespans.
- Push hardware beyond design limits to physically map failure envelopes and validate safety margins.
What you need
- Possess a working knowledge of applicable environmental standards as primary frameworks for test design and execution.
- Demonstrate expertise in physical instrumentation including strain gauges, accelerometers, thermocouples, pressure transducers, and load cells.
- Maintain a solid understanding of structural mechanics, material fatigue, vibration dynamics, and shock response for metallic and composite structures.
- Bring hands-on experience operating vibration tables, shock rigs, thermal chambers, IP spray equipment, and salt-spray cabinets.
- Show proficiency with precision measurement tools such as load frames, calipers, torque meters, and dimensional gauges.
- Understand the physical and regulatory constraints governing environmental testing of defense-related hardware, including ITAR and EAR export control obligations.
Nice to have
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline
- Direct experience with environmental chamber operation, vibration testing, and physical instrumentation
- Prior exposure to defense, dual-use, or regulated hardware in a test context
- Experience in an aerospace or defense environment operating under ITAR/EAR or equivalent export control frameworks
Benefits
- Competitive salary and VSOP options
- Relocation support up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation
- Learning allowance of €500/£450 yearly
- Health and wellness support including gym membership and mental health support via Nilo.health
- Enhanced parental leave of 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers and 6 weeks for secondary caregivers
- Family support including 5 days of paid family emergency leave and phased return to work
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the focus of the Environmental Cluster?
The Environmental Cluster is the physical reality team within the Test Department that validates survivability and performance under real-world stress. It is organized around domain specialists while requiring a generalist backbone to ensure test coverage continuity.
What kind of testing campaigns will I run?
You will run vibration and shock campaigns, thermal soak and cycling, dust and water ingress tests, humidity and salt spray campaigns, altitude simulations, and fatigue and endurance tests.
What regulatory frameworks apply to the test data?
The role requires awareness of ITAR and EAR export control obligations when handling test data and reports related to lethality hardware.
What benefits are provided for relocation and family support?
Helsing offers relocation support up to €2,500 with 4 weeks of temporary accommodation. They also provide enhanced parental leave, family emergency leave, and health benefits like gym memberships and mental health support.