Test and Automation Engineer

AVT Australia, a CACI company, specialises in the design and production of lightweight camera gimbal systems. Our world-leading camera systems operate in a range of defence and commercial applications including airborne surveillance, ground based counter drone systems, marine vessel camera systems, ground vehicle camera systems, and many more.

Our office is located within walking distance to Queen Victoria Market and Flagstaff Station. We offer great working conditions, fun atmosphere and believe in a positive work-life balance. Simply put, we believe your job should add meaning to your life, not consume it!

About the role:

We are seeking a practical and capable Test & Automation Engineer to improve the safety, quality, repeatability and efficiency of production for precision gyrostabilised camera systems. Reporting to the Production Engineering Lead, you will design, develop, validate and support test equipment, automated test software, fixtures, calibration methods and manufacturing processes. This is a hands-on role spanning new product introduction, day-to-day production support and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, program, validate and maintain automated and semi-automated test stations, jigs, fixtures and data-acquisition systems.

• Develop reliable functional, performance, calibration, environmental and end-of-line test methods for subassemblies and complete camera systems.

• Troubleshoot equipment, software, instrumentation and product test issues to minimise production downtime.

• Analyse test data and workflows to improve first-pass yield, cycle time, throughput, quality and cost.

• Lead root-cause investigations and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.

• Translate product requirements into capable, documented and maintainable production test processes for new and changed products.

• Develop maintainable test applications and scripts, manage configurations and limits, and capture traceable results.

• Prepare test specifications, validation reports, work instructions, maintenance procedures and fault-finding guides.

Specify instrumentation and support calibration, preventive maintenance, critical spares and supplier activities.

• Train production personnel and collaborate with Production, Quality, Design Engineering and Supply Chain teams.

Essential experience and Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in electrical, electronics, mechatronics, robotics, software, systems or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

• Practical experience developing and supporting manufacturing test systems for complex electronic or electromechanical products.

• Programming capability in one or more relevant languages, such as Python, C#, C/C++ or LabVIEW.

• Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition, communications, sensors, actuators and automated equipment interfaces.

• Strong fault-finding skills and the ability to interpret schematics, drawings, specifications, logs and test data.

• Experience applying structured problem-solving and continuous-improvement methods.

• Clear technical writing and effective collaboration with production technicians and multidisciplinary engineers.

Highly regarded

• Experience with gyrostabilised platforms, gimbals, motion control, inertial sensors, electro-optics, imaging systems or precision calibration.

• Experience in aerospace, defence, automotive, medical-device or another regulated, high-reliability manufacturing environment.

• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, design for manufacture and test, statistical process control, measurement-system analysis or FMEA.

• Experience with version control, issue tracking, databases, manufacturing execution systems or test-result visualisation.

• Understanding of configuration management, traceability, ESD controls and equipment calibration requirements.

• You communicate clearly, collaborate well and welcome feedback from the shop floor.

• You adapt readily in a growing business and are committed to safe work, product quality and continuous learning.

Applicants must have full, permanent work rights in Australia. Compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is applicable to this role. Applicants must be able to obtain National Police and other related security clearances that apply to the role.