Experimental Test Specialist

Job Title: Experimental Test Specialist

Working Pattern: Fulltime

Working location: West Lafayette, IN

As an Experimental Test Specialist, you will be recognized as an authoritative source of technical expertise and advice on the Test & Experimental Engineering (T&EE) capabilities in West Lafayette, IN (WL) and be viewed as a key member of the broader team of technical expertise by senior capability leadership. WL T&EE facilities include component, subsystem, and whole engine test facilities as well as the utilities infrastructure necessary to run those tests.  This role is a specialist with both depth and breadth of knowledge in those capabilities. You will be a critical resource to the “run and maintain” activity of T&EE, taking an active role in resolving current problems while supporting other technical specialists in advancing knowledge in their capability areas.

Programs will bring their hardware and test plans to your facilities.  They are the experts on their unit under test (UUT), and you will be the expert on your test facility.  As a member of a team, you will figure out together how their UUT installs and runs in your test bed.

You will also be responsible for maintenance and break/fix of your facilities, developing and following preventative maintenance routines and interacting with local contractors to keep your facilities available and reliable for the Programs coming to you to test.

Why Rolls-Royce?

Rolls-Royce is one of the most enduring and iconic brands in the world and has been at the forefront of innovation for over a century. We design, build and service systems that provide critical power to customers where safety and reliability are paramount.

We are proud to be a force for progress, powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.

We want to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that has shaped our history continues into our future and we need people like you to come and join us on this journey.

Rolls-Royce has been recognized as the top employer in the Engineering & Manufacturing category on the prestigious Forbes Top Employers for Engineers list for 2025. This ranking highlights our commitment to innovation, employee development, and fostering a collaborative environment where engineers can thrive.

Be part of a team that sets the industry standard and drives groundbreaking solutions.

At Rolls-Royce, we are committed to creating a workplace where all employees feel respected, supported, and empowered to do their best work. We foster a welcoming and innovative work environment that invests in you, giving you access to an incredible breadth and depth of opportunities where you can grow your career and make a difference.

Rolls-Royce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristics.

What you will be doing

With this attractive opportunity you will get a chance to:

• Support development and execution of the strategy with respect experimental and development test of components, subsystems, and whole engines; you will be regarded as a thought leader.
• Lead the definition of capability projects including capturing requirements, creating proposals, achieving stakeholder approval, acquiring funding and aligning partner support.
• Support the development and application of new capabilities; you will lead capability development projects.
• Lead the resolution of new and emerging technical, compliance and business problems using analytical processes and professional judgement.
• Proactively access internal and external networks of fellow specialists to further the understanding of experimental and development testing; you will support the implementation of strategic, collaborative relationships.
• Provide technical direction to peers and more junior professionals, and technical leadership to teams and projects within experimental and development testing.
• Support the definition of skill and professional knowledge within experimental and development test; you will identify, co-ordinate and deliver training; you will support the development of other specialists, providing active mentoring.
• Ensure appropriate policies, standards and best practices are defined, shared and adopted
• Lead the sharing of Best Practice; you will represent the area as an authority in experimental and development test; you will provide concise justification for decisions, recording and capturing salient information in reports and systems

Who we’re looking for:

At Rolls-Royce we put safety first, do the right thing, keep it simple and make a difference. These principles form the behaviours that guide us and are an essential component of our assessment process. They are the fundamental qualities that we seek for all roles.

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Software, Controls, Systems, Cybersecurity) with 5+ years of experience, OR
• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Software, Controls, Systems, Cybersecurity), with 3+ years of experience, OR
• JD/PhD
• To be considered for this role, you must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a US DoD security clearance.

Preferred Requirements:

• An attitude of ‘safety first’ and a willingness to comply with all relevant health, safety, and environmental requirements
• A deep understanding of specialist subject and proven ability to influence key decisions
• Understanding of Intellectual Property and Export Control requirements

What we offer

We offer excellent development opportunities, a competitive salary, and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.

Your needs are as unique as you are. Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home, or another remote location.  It’s a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement.  As a minimum we’re all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, on average three days per week.

For fully remote roles, employees can live in any state except Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Relocation assistance is available for this position.

Closing date: February 17, 2026

Validation and Verification $110,476 - $179,524-Annually West Lafayette, IN

Benefits

Rolls-Royce provides a comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards package that includes base pay and a discretionary bonus plan. Eligible employees may have the opportunity to enroll in other benefits, including health, dental, vision, disability, life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance; a flexible spending account; a health savings account; a 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match; Employee Assistance Program; Paid Time Off; certain paid holidays; paid parental and family care leave; tuition reimbursement; and a long-term incentive plan. The options available to an employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as date of hire, employment type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.