Robotics Systems Test & Validation Operator

Nextpower•Folsom, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Nextpower is a global leader in intelligent solar tracker and software solutions, optimizing solar power plant performance worldwide. Within Nextpower, we develop and deploy robotic and AI-driven systems that operate in real solar environments. These systems combine robotics, perception, embedded compute, autonomy, and cloud infrastructure to increase inspection capacity, improve safety, and scale operations. We are seeking a Robotics Systems Test & Validation Operator to help ensure that what we build actually works reliably, safely, and effectively before it reaches the field. This role sits at the intersection of Operations, Engineering, and Quality. While we do not have a formal Quality function today, this role is a key step toward raising that bar. This role is based in Folsom, California. Travel to Fremont may be required, approximately 10 percent, typically a few days per month. Why This Role Exists We ship quickly. That is a strength. As we scale the system, we are investing in a more structured and disciplined approach to testing, validation, and release quality. The goal is to ensure that every change we make, across hardware, software, and user experience, works reliably in real-world conditions before it reaches the field. This role is a key part of that evolution and you will help us move faster while raising the bar by building a high-signal, engineering-driven testing function, representing the end user within the development and release process, ensuring hardware and software changes are validated before deployment, and helping create a release system where quality, reliability, and usability scale with the pace of development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree in a technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience in robotics, operations, or system testing
2+ years of experience in a technical or operational role such as robotics, manufacturing, field operations, or testing
Experience operating robotic systems, vehicles, or similar technical systems
Strong attention to detail and problem-solving mindset
Ability to follow structured processes while thinking critically when systems behave unexpectedly
Comfortable working hands-on with physical systems

Nice To Haves

Experience as a robot operator, technician, production, or test operator
Experience working with engineering teams on system validation or troubleshooting
Familiarity with robotics, sensors, or teleoperation interfaces
Experience identifying and reporting system bugs or issues
Interest in user experience and workflow design
Familiarity with Linux or command-line tools

Responsibilities

Lead daily testing of release candidates on real systems
Validate system behavior across navigation, inspection, teleoperation, and edge cases
Go beyond smoke testing by running repeated scenarios, exploring edge cases, and attempting to break the system
Help determine what is ready to ship and what is not
Support the release process by validating integrated system behavior
Test full releases, not just individual components or repos
Identify regressions and unintended interactions across systems
Provide clear, actionable feedback to engineering teams
Evaluate how new features impact real operator workflows
Identify friction, confusion, and usability issues
Suggest improvements based on real usage and testing
Support testing of different operator setups such as controls, displays, and workflows
Participate in structured UX and operator testing efforts
Set up robots, systems, and environments for repeatable testing
Build and modify simple test setups or fixtures as needed
Support testing across hardware and software configurations
Run extended and stress tests to validate reliability
Capture logs, videos, and test results during testing
Clearly communicate findings and issues
Help identify patterns in failures and system behavior
Support basic analysis of performance and reliability
Work closely with Engineering, Integration, and Operations teams
Help reproduce field issues in controlled environments
Support validation of both robotics and AI system releases