Staff Software Test and Automation Engineer

Mainspring Energy•Menlo Park, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Mainspring Energy has fundamentally redefined onsite power generation. Our breakthrough product—the Mainspring Linear Generator (LGen)—is a completely new category of energy technology. Distinct from an engine, turbine, or fuel cell, the LGen directly converts straight-line motion into electricity using a low-temperature, non-combustion thermochemical reaction. With only two moving parts per core, a frictionless air-bearing system, and zero-flame chemical conversions, we deliver over 46% net AC electrical efficiency. More importantly, it is the world’s only commercially available technology capable of real-time fuel-switching under load, seamlessly transitioning between natural gas, biogas/RNG, propane, hydrogen, and ammonia. Behind this mechanical simplicity lies an incredibly complex software abstraction layer. To achieve dynamic load-following, sub-millisecond grid synchronization, and real-time thermochemical adaptive fuel mixing, our proprietary controls manage thousands of high-frequency variables simultaneously. As a Senior Staff Software Test & Automation Engineer, you will architect the core validation and automation frameworks that ensure this distributed energy asset operates with 100% safety and utility-scale reliability. You will own the strategy for testing the intersection of real-time embedded software, predictive control loops, and multi-fuel dynamics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field with 10+ years of professional experience, or a Master’s degree with 9+ years in an SDET, Embedded Test, or Software Engineering role
A proven track record of leading complex automation projects from design to implementation, combined with the foundational ability to perform deep-dive manual exploratory testing and technical test case design
Strong hands-on software development experience in Python and C++, with the flexibility to navigate, debug, and contribute to diverse codebases (including Bash scripting) as the project requires
Demonstrated proficiency in leveraging AI coding assistants as a force multiplier for productivity, combined with the professional judgment to challenge, validate, and expand upon AI-generated solutions to ensure system integrity and long-term 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 working with containerization and orchestration tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and configuration management via Ansible
High proficiency with common industry test and development workflows like Jira, Xray, GitLab, or equivalent tools

Responsibilities

Architect Automation & Test Infrastructure: Design, scale, and maintain custom hardware test beds alongside robust, reusable test automation frameworks, software tools, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
System Validation & Integration: Develop comprehensive test plans, test cases, technical test approaches, and traceability matrices to validate complex hardware/software integrations and resolve system-level bottlenecks
Root Cause & Failure Analysis: Lead deep-dive failure analysis, debug and diagnose issues found during testing, and champion risk mitigation strategies to ensure test stability and environmental reliability
Strategic Coverage: Drive risk-based testing strategies, performing risk analysis to ensure 100% comprehensive test coverage of all critical-path functionalities
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with development teams and support cross-functional engineering initiatives to diagnose system anomalies and vet new technologies