Test Systems & Tooling Design Engineer

About Barber-Nichols

At Barber-Nichols (BN), we design and build custom turbomachinery for Defense, Aerospace, Cryogenics, and Energy. You'll join a close-knit team of experts who value initiative, collaboration, and a get-it-done mindset.

Your day-to-day

Imagine starting your morning reviewing a fresh P&ID with a test engineer. By mid-day you've translated it into a 3D assembly, selected components, and pushed a drawing package—complete with precise GD&T—toward release. In the afternoon, you're on the floor validating a visual assembly guide with technicians, gathering feedback to refine tooling and improve repeatability. Before you wrap, you capture lessons learned to elevate our internal standards and expand our test capabilities.

What you'll do

• Own the concept, design, and detailing of custom test hardware, assembly tooling / fixturing, and full test loops.
• Model parts and assemblies in CAD and produce manufacturing-ready drawings capturing dimensions, tolerances, materials, and processes.
• Collaborate with test engineers to create and maintain P&IDs for verification systems that meet customer requirements.
• Generate, review, and release models and drawings aligned to P issue complete drawing packages using appropriate GD&T.
• Research and specify special test or assembly hardware; create rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) cost estimates for test systems.
• Develop visual, step-by-step assembly procedures utilizing CAD imagery to drive repeatable builds; incorporate technician feedback before and after runs.
• Determine and design custom tooling to support efficient, safe assembly and testing.
• Continuously improve methods, documentation, and processes to eliminate defects and excursions.
• Capture lessons learned with Project Engineering; update work instructions to raise the quality of both product and process.
• Flag opportunities that impact safety, quality, delivery, and cost; elevate recommendations to the Assembly & Testing Manager.
• Provide insight for internal test capability expansion and capital improvements; contribute on continuous improvement teams.

Qualifications

Other details

Compensation and benefits

The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $110,000. This range reflects the anticipated minimum and maximum base + bonus based on a good-faith estimate. Final compensation will depend on your qualifications and may fall outside this range.

Explore our benefits : Careers | Barber-Nichols.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government commercial space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), applicants for employment at Barber-Nichols must be a U.S. or, lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. (i.e., current green card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1157-1158. Security clearance is required for this position.

To conform to U.S. Government international trade regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawfully permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Barber-Nichols is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

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