Systems Test Engineer- ContractYou will be joining a highly regarded engineering organisation operating in a safety-critical, regulated environment where reliability genuinely matters. The systems you will be working on are used globally and demand absolute confidence in their performance, placing testing at the centre of the engineering function.This is a contract role based primarily on site in South West London, where you will work within a collaborative systems engineering team. From the outset, you will immerse yourself in complex hardware and software systems, developing a deep understanding of how the full solution fits together and how it behaves in real-world conditions.You will work closely with software, hardware and systems engineers to understand requirements, agree test scope and define effective validation strategies. As your product knowledge grows, you will take ownership of higher-risk and more complex areas of the system, leading test execution and ensuring delivery is on time and to specification.In the lab environment, you will be trusted to work safely and independently, setting up test rigs, troubleshooting equipment issues and ensuring systems are ready for execution. You will analyse failures methodically, identify root causes across hardware and software boundaries, and provide clear, constructive feedback that drives product improvement. Your input will help strengthen test cases, improve test plans and refine overall testing processes.You will also contribute to continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance tools, environments and ways of working. As a more experienced engineer, you will naturally support others in the team, sharing knowledge, offering guidance and leading by example through your professionalism, focus and attention to detail.This is a hands-on contract opportunity for a Systems Test Engineer who enjoys technical ownership, system-level thinking and working on products where quality and reliability are non-negotiable.Key skills and experience required:Experience testing complex, safety-critical or regulated systems (e.g. marine, aerospace, automotive or similar)Strong understanding of hardware and software interaction at a system levelProficiency in manual and/or automated testing of integrated systemsExperience applying structured and risk-based test methodologiesAbility to analyse failures, identify root causes and drive corrective actionsExperience writing and improving test plans, test cases and test scriptsFamiliarity with requirements management tools and test management toolsExperience or working knowledge of PythonStrong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in cross-functional engineering teamsISTQB or similar testing certification beneficial but not essential