Production Testing Engineer

Location: Gorgonzola, Italy

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Gorgonzola hosts Navigations Air Systems (NAS) domain. The activity of NAS domain: avionics, navigation and radar systems for civil air traffic and technologies supporting the activities of civilian and military pilots, ATC controllers and technicians of several airlines, air traffic control agencies and Air Force around the world. Italy is the Group’s Competence center for the design, production and delivery of Navigation Aids products and Competence Centre for the delivery of non-Radar Surveillance Products.

JOB OBJECTIVE: The Production Testing Engineer at Thales support the definition, development, qualification, and continuous improvement of test systems and test processes within our manufacturing environment. He plays a key role in ensuring the effectiveness, reliability, and maintainability of testing systems, contributing both to day-to-day operations and long-term strategic initiatives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define industrial requirements and contribute to the creation of design specifications for test means and Automated Test Equipment (ATE);
• Perform, update, and maintain Testing Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA);
• Support the design, qualification, and validation of ATE and test systems;
• Prepare and maintain detailed testing procedures and test reports;
• Approve validation tests and ensure compliance of ATE and test systems with applicable standards;
• Support process validation activities within the testing perimeter, including PRR (Production Readiness Review) and FAI (First Article Inspection);
• Train production operators on the correct and safe use of ATE and testing systems;
• Manage production handover and oversee installation of ATE and test systems;
• Monitor operational performance of ATE and test systems, and drive continuous improvement initiatives;
• Ensure preventive and corrective maintenance is executed to maintain test equipment reliability
• Control changes to ATE and testing systems, maintaining configuration integrity;
• Generate reports and KPIs related to ATE and testing performance;
• Contribute to test strategy development and identify opportunities for process optimization (time reduction, increased test coverage, new capabilities);
• Participate in the definition of the Scope of Work (SOW) for testing-related activities;
• Engage in change management activities, including participation in Change Control Boards (CCB) to assess impact on testing;
• Provide feedback and lessons learned (REX) during the design phase to enhance product testability;
• Support production digitalization initiatives, particularly those involving test systems and data integration;
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyse, track and resolve test failures;
• Manage capital expenditures (Capex) related to testing infrastructure and tools.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering or a related technical field preferred; candidates with a high school diploma and extensive relevant experience will also be considered;
• Proven experience with automated test systems in electronic or industrial manufacturing environments;
• Solid knowledge of test strategies, validation processes (e.g., PRR, FAI), and risk analysis methodologies such as PFMEA;
• Familiarity with test data analysis, performance reporting, and KPI tracking;
• Understanding of configuration management and change control processes;
• Proficiency in ATE-related software tools (e.g., LabVIEW, TestStand) and experience supporting digitalization initiatives in manufacturing;
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in fast-paced, cross-functional teams;
• Experience in operator training, production support, and Capex management related to test infrastructure.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!