Job Title: Vehicle Test and Evaluation Engineer
Salary: The starting salary is £55,662, which includes allowances totalling £3,009.
The salary is broken down as £52,653 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £57,417. Plus, a location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
Location: Marlowe House
The police vehicle fleet is an important physical asset. It enables officers and staff to do their job, carries key equipment required, and provides safe transportation for the public / prisoners.
The role of Fleet Services is to keep the Met mobile, ensuring we can detect, respond to, and prevent crime whilst building public trust and confidence. Fleet Services are committed to leading with innovation, responsibility and environmental consciousness, striving for a fleet that is safer, smarter and cleaner, with a focused approach as follows:
1 - We will manage responsibly to deliver an excellent service and achieve value for money
2 - We will deliver strategies to manage the fleet efficiently and effectively
3 - We will deliver a fit for purpose, flexible and available fleet
The complex needs of modern policing requires a wide range of vehicle types. We operate a fleet of over 5,200 assets on the road and river, as well as over 1,000 pedal cycles. London is the most complex and diverse city in the UK, and our fleet is reflective of that. We currently have over 220 different types of vehicles supporting all operational commands including armed response vehicles, HGVs, patrol cars, motorbikes and pedal cycles.
Customers can be broadly grouped into three strategic pillars – Frontline Policing, Met Ops & Performance, and Counter Terrorism / Specialist Operations. Collectively this covers pan London requirements as well as national CT responsibilities.
The overall fleet requirements and volumes are owned and governed by operational leaders at the Strategic Fleet Board. Operational teams are accountable for the volume of fleet required to undertake their roles, and Fleet Services support and enable effective decision making through provision of information and technical / industry knowledge.
Role Purpose
The Vehicle Test & Evaluation Engineer ensures MPS vehicles are safe and fit for operational use through technical assessment and conducting structured testing. This unique role requires a combination of hands on dynamic vehicle evaluation to MPS standards and structured risk governance, with both aspects being equally important. Training will be provided, but applicants must be comfortable developing these skills, as they are essential to the role.
Regular travel to Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire (around two days per week), and Marlowe House, Sidcup, is mandatory.
Alongside testing, much of the role involves analysis, documentation, risk based decision making, and collaboration with suppliers and internal teams. Experience of dynamic vehicle testing or working in an OEM or proving ground environment, including exposure to type approval, validation, or compliance processes would be advantageous.
Role Description
You will analyse technical data, identify risks, and provide clear, evidence based recommendations to support operational decision making. You will plan, execute and report on structured vehicle tests across a range of platforms, following established methodologies and contributing to continuous development of test procedures.
The role involves working with internal teams, suppliers and manufacturers to verify safety, performance and compliance with operational and legislative requirements. It requires strong technical judgement, problem solving ability and the confidence to work independently as part of a safety focused team.
Key responsibilities
Vehicle Evaluation & Testing
- Test and evaluate cars and vans against MPS standards
- Develop test plans for post‑conversion vehicle dynamics validation
- Conduct vehicle dynamics acceptance testing post‑conversion
- Maintenance and calibration of data acquisition and test equipment
- Produce clear, evidence‑based technical reports
- Conduct engineering assessments using FMEA principles
- Support evaluation of new automotive technologies
Base Vehicle Selection
- Support vehicle selection, including base vehicle requirements and market research
- Evaluate vehicle ergonomics, dynamics and systems suitability for operational roles
Technical Standards & Risk Management
- Contribute to the development and monitoring of MPS Technical Standards relating to Car and Van Evaluation
- Identify risks and issues associated with testing and act as a point of contact for technical queries
- Provide input into national base vehicle test programmes with manufacturers and policing partners
Market Research & Continuous Improvement
- Collaborate with the Specification team as a technical SME for base vehicles
- Identify changes in technology or legislation that may impact fleet requirements
- Support the transition from ICE to EV through appropriate evaluation activities
- Assist with continuous improvement initiatives and process updates
Planning, Scheduling & Stakeholder Engagement
- Liaise with manufacturers and stakeholders to ensure vehicle and facility availability
- Support administrative tasks related to test activity (quotations, invoicing, records)
- Build positive working relationships with colleagues, suppliers and end users
- Manage technicians supporting test activity at the facility workshop, ensuring safe operation and data collection.
How to apply
To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply button “. The application process requires a comprehensive CV, a Personal Statement, and an online application form. In your Personal Statement, you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should not submit two copies of your CV, and ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled as CV and Personal Statement.
Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence 1-2 weeks after the vacancy has closed.
If successful at the application stage, you will be required to undertake an assessment which will either be in person, or via Microsoft Teams. The session will last approximately 60 mins using a monitored, staged process that will test the candidates ability to analyse, reason and take risk based decisions in real time. Assessment date will commence within 1-2 weeks after successful application review.
Subject to a positive outcome in your assessment, you will then be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence 1-2 weeks after the hiring manager review
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 24th April 2026.
