Senior Test Engineer

Aalo Atomics•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re hiring a Senior Test Engineer to build, run, and evolve the experimental systems that help Aalo develop reactors faster, safer, and with better engineering confidence. At Aalo, testing is not a downstream verification step. It is a core part of how we learn, reduce risk, mature designs, and make engineering decisions. This role focuses on physical prototyping and experimental development: the fixtures, rigs, loops, setups, instrumentation, procedures, and test campaigns that turn engineering questions into real-world data. You will work closely with mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, thermal-fluid systems engineers, nuclear engineers, manufacturing, and operations to design and execute tests that matter. Your job is to understand what must be proven, build practical hardware and experimental setups to prove it, and generate data that informs design, safety, operability, manufacturability, and deployment. This is a hands-on engineering role with strong prototyping, experimental design, hardware integration, troubleshooting, and cross-functional execution responsibilities. It is especially well suited to someone who likes moving between concept, bench, rig, test stand, and design review — and who is comfortable turning incomplete test objectives into functioning physical systems and credible results. Examples of the systems and workflows this role may touch include: Mechanical prototype assemblies, test fixtures, pressure systems, fluid loops, thermal systems, and integrated development rigs Chemical handling systems, compatibility tests, corrosion tests, contamination control approaches, and process validation setups Instrumentation and diagnostics for temperature, pressure, flow, strain, vibration, leak detection, mass change, chemistry, and other relevant parameters One-off experiments to answer urgent design questions, as well as repeatable development rigs used across multiple design iterations Environmental, endurance, abuse, transient, and failure-mode testing of components, subsystems, and supporting equipment Prototype assembly, integration, shakedown, troubleshooting, teardown, and redesign based on observed behavior Test procedures, hazard reviews, operating envelopes, controls, interlocks, data logging, and safe execution practices Experimental data collection that feeds design decisions, system models, qualification strategies, manufacturing methods, and long-term product learning Cross-functional workflows connecting design engineering, analysis, procurement, fabrication, lab operations, and manufacturing support Long-term evolution of Aalo’s internal test capability from ad hoc setups toward a disciplined, high-throughput prototyping and validation function Common technical areas and engineering patterns in the work include: Mechanical design for testability, serviceability, assembly, and instrumentation access Fluid, thermal, pressure, vacuum, and chemical system prototyping Sensors, DAQ systems, controls integration, PLCs, embedded instrumentation, and automated logging Experimental design, test planning, uncertainty awareness, and data interpretation Hardware troubleshooting under real operating conditions Design of fixtures, test stands, plumbing layouts, enclosures, mounts, and safety systems Rapid iteration using machining, fabrication, vendor parts, custom assemblies, and in-house modification Documentation, revision control, calibration awareness, and configuration tracking for prototypes and test assets Safe operation in environments involving pressure, heat, reactive materials, hazardous chemicals, or other development risks Collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, EHS, and operations to move quickly without compromising rigor

Requirements

Strong engineering fundamentals
You can reason clearly about physical systems and understand how to turn a technical question into a credible experiment
You are comfortable designing test setups involving mechanical hardware, thermal systems, fluid systems, pressure systems, and chemically relevant processes or environments
You understand how instrumentation, operating conditions, boundary conditions, failure modes, and measurement quality affect what a test result actually means
You can distinguish between a quick prototype used to answer a directional question and a more controlled setup used to support major design decisions
You write clear technical documentation and can communicate test intent, setup details, observed behavior, conclusions, and limitations
Physical prototyping and hands-on execution mindset
You like building real things, not only analyzing them
You are comfortable working with tools, fixtures, tubing, fittings, valves, pumps, heaters, chillers, sensors, enclosures, mechanical assemblies, and improvised development hardware when needed
You can move from CAD, sketches, and engineering discussions into assembled hardware that actually runs
You are motivated by learning from real systems, not just clean theoretical models
You are willing to work through leaks, fit-up issues, instrument problems, unstable conditions, failed parts, and messy physical realities to get to useful answers
Mechanical and chemical system intuition
You have practical experience with physical systems where mechanical behavior and chemical behavior both matter
You are comfortable thinking about material compatibility, corrosion, cleanliness, contamination, thermal effects, fluid behavior, sealing, pressure integrity, and operating hazards
You understand that many important engineering failures happen at interfaces: between materials, environments, operating conditions, and real-world use
You can help design tests that expose those issues early rather than discovering them late
High output and follow-through
You are comfortable taking incomplete requirements, partially defined concepts, or urgent technical questions and turning them into useful hardware and data
You handle procurement constraints, fabrication delays, setup revisions, test failures, and changing engineering priorities without losing ownership
You care about getting to trustworthy answers, not just getting through a test plan
You can balance rapid iteration with disciplined execution and documentation
Team-first mindset
You work well with design engineers, analysts, technicians, machinists, manufacturing teams, and operations partners
You communicate clearly with both deeply technical and more execution-focused stakeholders
You are willing to ask practical questions, challenge assumptions, and improve experimental plans based on what the hardware is actually telling the team
You optimize for company learning and engineering progress, not narrow ownership boundaries
Interest in where this is going
You are excited by the idea that fast, disciplined physical prototyping can materially accelerate reactor development
You want to help build the internal test infrastructure and engineering habits that allow Aalo to learn quickly and scale responsibly
You are comfortable working in a role that will evolve as Aalo’s hardware programs, test systems, facilities, and organizational needs become more capable
Degree in an engineering discipline (chemical, mechanical, electrical, etc.)
Based in the United States
Willing to work on-site in Austin, TX
Willing to work hands-on with prototype hardware, test rigs, lab systems, and development equipment in person
Able to work safely and effectively in environments involving mechanical systems, pressure systems, thermal systems, and chemical processes, with appropriate procedures and controls

Nice To Haves

Experience in nuclear, aerospace, energy, industrial systems, chemical process systems, thermal-fluid systems, or other high-reliability hardware domains
Experience with prototype development rigs, pressure systems, pumped loops, thermal test setups, vacuum systems, or chemical handling systems
Familiarity with corrosion testing, materials compatibility testing, contamination control, leak testing, or failure analysis
Experience with DAQ systems, controls integration, LabVIEW, PLCs, Python-based test automation, or custom instrumentation software
Experience building fixtures, test stands, plumbing systems, enclosures, or benchtop and pilot-scale hardware
Experience working in regulated, hazardous, or high-consequence development environments
Background in design of experiments, root-cause analysis, uncertainty analysis, or reliability-focused testing
Experience supporting the transition from prototype testing to validation, qualification, or production-support test systems

Responsibilities

Spend time with design engineers and technical teams to understand the real engineering questions behind prototype and test needs before building the hardware or procedure around them
Design, assemble, and iterate physical test setups ranging from simple benchtop experiments to more complex integrated mechanical and chemical development systems
Own test execution from first concept through fixture design, procurement, assembly, instrumentation, shakedown, debugging, operation, data capture, and post-test analysis
Build practical, reliable prototyping infrastructure that helps engineering teams learn quickly while maintaining appropriate safety, traceability, and technical rigor
Develop and run tests for mechanical, thermal, fluid, and chemical systems, including experiments that involve temperature, pressure, flow, materials compatibility, corrosion, contamination, cycling, or failure investigation
Create test procedures, operating instructions, safety controls, and execution plans that allow experiments to be run consistently and interpreted credibly
Instrument prototypes and test rigs with the sensors, controls, and data logging needed to generate useful engineering evidence rather than anecdotal observations
Troubleshoot hardware, plumbing, controls, leaks, contamination issues, assembly errors, unexpected behaviors, and test anomalies without losing momentum
Work closely with design engineers to translate test results into design changes, prototype improvements, follow-on experiments, and updated engineering priorities
Support rapid prototyping by identifying where speed matters most, where rigor matters most, and how to move development work forward efficiently in both cases
Help define how Aalo builds an internal testing capability that supports fast hardware iteration, disciplined engineering learning, and eventual qualification-grade evidence