Senior Manager of Test Engineering

Our client is a well-established technology and manufacturing organization supporting naval and defence customers across Canada and allied markets. They are looking for a Senior Manager, Test Engineering to lead their Test Engineering function and develop the long-term strategy for product testing and automated test systems.

The Opportunity
This is a senior technical leadership role overseeing a team of test engineers and technicians while providing strategic direction for testing across manufacturing and new product development.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring test systems are reliable, efficient, scalable, and capable of supporting both current production and future product technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Test Engineers, Technicians, and support staff.
• Set the strategic direction and roadmap for Test Engineering.
• Oversee the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of Automated Test Equipment (ATE).
• Support manufacturing operations and New Product Introduction (NPI) through effective test strategies and processes.
• Improve test coverage, reliability, throughput, yield, and overall manufacturing efficiency.
• Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective actions related to test failures and equipment performance.
• Establish and maintain test engineering standards, processes, documentation, and best practices.
• Oversee calibration, maintenance, reliability, and lifecycle management of test equipment.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Program Management.
• Evaluate and implement new test technologies, automation, data analytics, and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Manage test engineering projects, budgets, capital investments, vendors, and external partners.
• Ensure the Test Engineering team and infrastructure are prepared to support future business and product growth.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of test engineering experience, ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of engineering leadership or people management experience.
• Strong experience with automated test equipment, instrumentation, controls, and data acquisition systems.
• Experience with LabVIEW and test automation platforms.
• Experience supporting manufacturing and new product introduction.
• Understanding of calibration, metrology, quality systems, and Design for Test (DFT).
• Experience leading complex engineering projects and cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong strategic, technical, and people leadership skills.

Lean Six Sigma certification would be considered an asset.

Security Requirement
Due to the nature of the work and customers supported, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the required Canadian security clearance.


At Aplin — together with our brands CompuStaff, Impact Recruitment, and Vantix Systems — we connect great people with great organizations across North America. We believe diverse teams build stronger companies, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We use AI tools to assist in a fair and efficient matching process, helping our recruiters connect the right people with the right opportunities. To be considered, applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, including holding any required permits. Our recruitment services are always free for job seekers. Accommodation is available upon request throughout all stages of the recruitment process.