Senior Staff Software Test & Automation Engineer

Mainspring Energy•Menlo Park, CA

8d•$160,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

Mainspring Energy is seeking a Senior Staff Software Test & Automation Engineer to architect core validation and automation frameworks for its distributed energy assets. The role focuses on ensuring safety and utility-scale reliability by owning test strategy for the intersection of real-time embedded software, predictive control loops, and multi-fuel dynamics. The position supports Mainspring’s Linear Generator, a power-generation technology that converts straight-line motion into electricity through a low-temperature, non-combustion thermochemical reaction. Its control software manages thousands of high-frequency variables to enable dynamic load-following, sub-millisecond grid synchronization, and adaptive fuel mixing, including real-time fuel switching under load. This position is onsite at Mainspring’s Menlo Park headquarters. The stated base salary range is $160,000–$190,000 per year, adjusted for local market conditions and employee experience. Mainspring also offers pre-IPO stock options and benefits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field and 16 or more years of professional experience, or a Master’s degree and 15 or more years of experience in an SDET, Embedded Test, or Software Engineering role.
Proven record leading complex automation projects from design through implementation.
Ability to perform deep-dive manual exploratory testing and technical test-case design.
Strong hands-on software development experience in Python and C++, and ability to navigate, debug, and contribute to diverse codebases, including Bash scripting.
Proficiency in using AI coding assistants to improve productivity, with the judgment to challenge, validate, and expand AI-generated solutions for system integrity and maintainability.
Professional experience testing and validating systems in at least three of the following areas: cloud computing, embedded systems, networking, IoT with RTOS, controls, simulations (MIL/SIL/PIL), emulators, or complex algorithms.

Nice To Haves

Experience with containerization and orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes, and configuration management with Ansible.
High proficiency with common industry test and development workflows such as Jira, Xray, and GitLab, or equivalent tools.

Responsibilities

Design, scale, and maintain custom hardware test beds, reusable test automation frameworks, software tools, and CI/CD pipelines.
Develop test plans, test cases, technical test approaches, and traceability matrices to validate complex hardware/software integrations and resolve system-level bottlenecks.
Lead failure analysis; debug and diagnose issues found during testing; and champion risk-mitigation strategies to support test stability and environmental reliability.
Drive risk-based testing strategies and conduct risk analysis to ensure comprehensive coverage of critical-path functionalities.
Partner with development teams and support cross-functional engineering initiatives to diagnose system anomalies and vet new technologies.