Principal Engineer, Defense Environmental & Reliability Testing

Eurofins•Baltimore, MD

3d•$120,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

Eurofins Electrical & Electronics is expanding its Aerospace, Defense, and Military testing practice and is seeking a Principal Engineer to own and grow the Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab in Baltimore. This is not a standard lab manager role. We are looking for a technical leader who has lived inside defense programs - someone who understands MIL-STD-810, DO-160, and reliability qualification from the engineering side, can run a high-performing lab, and can engage defense customers at the program level. This is a bench-present role. You are in the lab every day - running tests, reviewing data, setting procedures, and leading by technical example. If you are looking for a desk job, this is not it. The Baltimore Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab operates within a growing coast-to-coast defense testing network (Baltimore + Santa Clara) with active ITAR/EAR compliance, CMMC Level 1 (Level 2 in progress), and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation including MIL-scope testing. You will have direct access to sales leadership and meaningful influence over the lab's strategic direction, capability roadmap, and customer relationships. This role reports directly to the Director of Sales and Operations, East Region.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) - required for ITAR and CMMC compliance; this requirement cannot be waived
7+ years of hands-on experience in environmental simulation and reliability testing with direct exposure to MIL-STD-810 and/or RTCA/DO-160 in a defense, aerospace, or government lab context
Deep working knowledge of environmental and reliability test disciplines: vibration, mechanical shock, thermal, altitude, humidity, combined environments, and reliability qualification
Demonstrated ability to engage customers technically - writing test plans, presenting results, and managing customer expectations at the program level
Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements and quality management in a testing environment
Experience directly supervising engineers and/or technicians in a lab setting
Strong communication skills - written and verbal - with the ability to represent Eurofins credibly to program managers, engineers, and contracting officers

Nice To Haves

Experience working within or directly supporting U.S. defense programs (prime contractor, Tier 1 supplier, government lab, or independent test lab)
Hands-on experience with HALT/HASS, reliability life testing, or MIL-HDBK-217 reliability prediction
Background in business development, customer account management, or technical sales support in the TIC or defense sector
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related technical field (equivalent experience considered)
Active or lapsed security clearance a plus

Responsibilities

Lead hands-on execution of environmental qualification and reliability programs to MIL-STD-810, RTCA/DO-160, and customer-specific defense requirements including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, altitude, humidity, and combined environments
Serve as the primary technical authority for defense and aerospace customers - from pre-proposal through test execution and final report delivery
Develop and review test plans, procedures, and reports that meet program-level documentation standards expected by prime contractors and government customers
Drive capability expansion into HALT/HASS, reliability life testing, and additional MIL-scope services aligned with defense market demand
Oversee and personally execute commercial environmental simulation and reliability testing across climatic, mechanical, and dynamic disciplines (IEC, ASTM, and related standards)
Maintain and grow commercial customer relationships alongside the defense portfolio
Manage RFQ intake, quoting, scheduling, and on-time delivery for the full Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab book of business
Directly manage Environmental Simulation and Reliability Lab engineers and technicians - own their daily direction, scheduling, development, and performance
Set and maintain the technical standard and culture of the lab through hands-on daily presence
Oversee ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation compliance, internal audits, calibration programs, and equipment maintenance
Own CAPEX proposals and equipment roadmap to support capability growth and operational reliability
Collaborate with Eurofins labs across the network to deliver integrated testing solutions and share best practices
Act as a technical sales resource - supporting proposals, customer site visits, and defense program pursuits alongside the regional sales team
Build relationships with prime contractors, Tier 1 suppliers, and government program offices in the Mid-Atlantic defense corridor
Represent Eurofins E&E at industry events, trade shows, and technical working groups relevant to defense and reliability testing