Senior Test Engineer, Mechanical and Fluid Systems

Panthalassa • Portland, OR

5d • $175,000 - $235,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Test Engineer, Mechanical and Fluid Systems will design, build, and operate large-scale test equipment for hydraulic turbines, electrical-generation powertrains, and high-power equipment. The role owns test systems end to end, from concept and structural and fluid design in Siemens NX through fabrication, assembly, commissioning, and operation. It is a hands-on builder role requiring experience taking large-scale systems from initial concept to operation, with practical knowledge of machining and additive manufacturing. The engineer will work with shop teams, tradespeople, and vendors to build structures and piping capable of safely handling pressurized water and air and heavy loads. The position involves owning designs through fabrication and deployment at sea and collaborating in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment.

The position is onsite at the company's offices, laboratory, and shop in Portland, Oregon. Travel to vendors and test sites may be needed. The role may intermittently require longer hours and weekends to support critical needs; the company also describes flexible working hours and flexible PTO.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and structural analysis, including hand calculations.
• At least 7 years designing, building, and testing large-scale mechanical, structural, or fluid systems.
• Track record of owning at least three large-scale systems from design through commissioning.
• Expert-level Siemens NX skills for structural design and fabrication drawings; Teamcenter or similar PLM experience.
• Hands-on machining experience with mills and lathes, and professional 3D printing experience for prototypes and fixtures.
• Experience with process piping design, specification, and installation.
• Experience designing custom machined and welded components for fixtures and structures.
• Understanding of ASME/ANSI piping and pressure vessel codes; familiarity with NFPA 79.
• Knowledge of industrial safety practices, including DFMEA, PFMEA, and HAZOP.
• Working knowledge of electrical power systems and connector selection.
• Experience directing skilled trades and subcontractors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering, or five years of additional experience in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Experience with finite element analysis.
• Commissioning and proof testing of fluid systems for pressurized, cryogenic, vacuum, or elevated-temperature service.
• Experience with pipe supports, tooling, and fixtures for test stands.
• Crane operations, lift planning, and moving large structures.
• Experience designing welded steel structures using American Welding Society D1.1 and ASME BPVC applied to novel hardware.
• Experience with both small-scale rapid R&D stands and large-scale systems.
• Ability to deliver on tight schedules with creative solutions.
• Background in power generation, renewable energy, or heavy industrial equipment.
• Experience with heat exchangers and fluid conditioning equipment.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, modify, and operate custom test rigs for hydraulic turbines, powertrains, and power electronics systems.
• Design load-bearing test structures, including frames, stands, weldments, tank supports, rigging, and lifting fixtures, in Siemens NX; produce fabrication drawings with weld callouts, GD&T, and machined interface features.
• Design fluid systems and piping networks, including flow and pressure-drop analysis and selection and sizing of pumps, valves, regulators, and piping.
• Design process piping and plant layouts for rapid deployment, and design tanks and vessels for large-volume fluid storage.
• Develop P&IDs, test methodologies, procedures, and safety protocols for test systems.
• Machine, 3D print, and assemble prototype parts and fixtures as needed, and decide what to make in-house versus outsource.
• Integrate mechanical systems with electrical, controls, and data acquisition systems in cross-functional teams.
• Direct technicians, tradespeople, and subcontractors through fabrication, integration, and test operations; manage vendor procurement.
• Perform hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and real-time and post-test data review.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and establish design and analysis standards for the team.

Benefits

• Equity in the company.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Health insurance, including 100% company payment of the gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents.
• Dental insurance, with 100% company payment for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents.
• Vision insurance, with 100% company payment for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents.
• Disability insurance, with 100% company payment for a policy providing long-term financial support if the employee becomes disabled.
• Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including a 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA.
• Relocation assistance to facilitate a move to Portland, if needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior