Spotlight On: George Corfield, Chief Engineer for Test and Development

10/21/2025 6:22:00 AM
Our people are the essential foundation upon which our success is built. Everyone contributes to our commitment to delivering excellence in their own way, a responsibility well understood by the members of our Test and Development team. From validating all our new products to conducting vital research into future technologies, George Corfield explores how his role as Chief Engineer for Test and Development helps make a difference to our customers.

image7t4xd.png

George Corfield, Chief Engineer for Test and Development at Dennis Eagle

 

1. Hi George, great to speak with you and thanks for taking the time today. Could you tell us how long you’ve been at Dennis Eagle and what your role is?

 

I’ve now been with Dennis Eagle for just over three years after having started out as a Test and Development Team Leader. At the top of 2025, I was promoted to Chief Engineer for Test and Development.

 

2. How would you describe your role in three words? 

 

I would say my role is technical, fast paced, and varied.

 

3. What are some of your key responsibilities? 

 

As the Chief Engineer for Test and Development, I'm responsible for the validation of all vehicle updates and new products prior to their release into production and the customer environment. Mine is hugely varied role that ranges from mechanical modification all the way through to embedded software releases. I’m also the designated engineer overseeing our High Voltage Safety Rules and lead our A-Phase development projects, so am constantly thinking about the safety and future direction of our products.   

 

4. Describe a typical day in the life of a Chief Engineer for Test and Development.

 

As I’m involved in the final phases of most engineering projects, my day tends to be a juggling act between many project meetings to scope out and plan for future projects or validation activities, as well as managing the day-to-day running of our Innovation Centre and proving ground workshops. There’s never a dull moment.

 

5. What did you do before joining Dennis Eagle? 

 

I’ve been incredibly fortunate throughout my career to work in motorsport, automotive passenger car, and now commercial heavy goods, so I’ve always been involved in vehicle development in some capacity. I started out life in World Rally before progressing to Senior Powertrain Development Engineer. While it was great fun, after the best part of a decade and one too many back-to-back flights I decided I needed to take on a “regular” job. This led me to a large Chinese passenger car original equipment manufacturer (OEM) where I spent seven years as an Engine Technology Senior Manager. This consisted of assessing and selecting future technologies to improve vehicle efficiency and reduce carbon emissions; invaluable knowledge I’ve carried over into my current role at Dennis Eagle. When the OEM’s UK office closed, I had a brief spell as Senior Customer and Trackside Engineer for Aston Martin Racing before spending a year at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) testing lithium-ion battery cells. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

6. Why did you decide to join Dennis Eagle and what makes you want to stay?  

 

Before joining the business, I’d recently started a family so was looking for a local, well-respected engineering company to settle down with. When this position became available on my doorstep, I jumped at the chance. The variety of work, fast pace, and ability to make a difference at Dennis Eagle really appealed to me. Since joining, I’ve really come to admire the family values inherent across the company and the camaraderie of everyone working together to get the job done. Although the product is vastly different, in many ways we operate similarly to a motorsport company - just with less flights!

 

7. What is your favourite thing about working at Dennis Eagle?  

 

My favourite thing about working here has to be the wide variety of work. I like a challenge, and there are plenty of opportunities to get stuck into something new and exciting, so it keeps the job interesting. It’s also very satisfying to be involved in product improvements, particularly when this results in a positive outcome for the customer.

 

8. What is your proudest achievement so far?  

 

I’m very proud of the Development team we’ve built up. Since I joined the business, the team has more than doubled in size and our capabilities have vastly improved. More importantly, everyone looks after each other and really pulls together as one team. It’s great to see and be a part of.

 

9. Do you have any specific goals or ambitions for the future of your role? 

 

I would love to see us keep pushing the boundaries of what our products are capable of, conduct more research into the benefits of new systems, and ensure we remain the first-to-market with future RCV technologies. That’s definitely my ambition.

 

10. Final question: who are you outside of work?  

 

I’m very outgoing and love spending time outdoors, which I guess comes from my farming roots. While my surfing, skiing, rock climbing, and winter mountaineering days have taken a backseat (at least whilst the kids are young), I’m still regularly out on the road bike with friends. I’m a big family man, so my wife and two kids – soon to be three! - bring me the biggest pleasure these days. Spending time with them and watching our family grow is delightful.