Test Engineer, Hardware and Systems

Chariot Defense•San Bruno, CA

2d•$120,000 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

Chariot Defense is seeking a Test Engineer to oversee hardware validation for their power systems, encompassing mechanical, electrical, thermal, power electronics, and controls. This role involves component-level to full system integration testing under various environmental and operational conditions. The Test Engineer will work at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and systems engineering, responsible for building test infrastructure and executing validation strategies to bring products from prototype to field deployment. The team is composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Tesla, Anduril, Apple, Archer, and the U.S. military, emphasizing a high-ownership, high-impact, hands-on approach to validating hardware where lives may depend on its reliability. The company, which emerged from stealth in 2025, is already utilized in DoD exercises and is backed by prominent investors.

Requirements

BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related field
Experience in an immersive system design project or research study/ thesis, in collegiate project teams (e.g.: FSAE, BAJA, Hyper-mileage/ Solar Vehicles), other extracurricular participation, or professional settings.
3+ years of hands-on hardware test and validation experience — electronics/ ECUs, power electronics and power systems, Lithium-ion based batteries, or high-density embedded hardware
Proficiency with electrical test equipment: oscilloscopes, power supplies, DAQs, multimeters, function generators, electronic loads
Experience designing or contributing to automated test equipment (ATE) or test station development
Proficiency in Python, LabVIEW or other automated test platforms for test automation, data acquisition, and post-processing
Solid understanding of mechanical, thermal, electrical, and controls first principles and fundamentals
Familiarity with CAN, SPI, I2C, LIN, UART, or other embedded communication protocols and the ability to use them for test and debug
Experience working safely with high-voltage systems
BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent work experience.
Experience in an immersive system design project or research study/ thesis, in collegiate project teams (e.g.: SAE, FSAE, BAJA, others), other extracurricular participation, or professional settings.
A minimum of 2+ years of experience in a technical engineering, design, or product role in a professional setting.
Proven 3D CAD skills (any platform, but SOLIDWORKS preferred), as well as CAE/ FEA experience, and the ability to produce high-quality engineering 2D drawings that comply with common industry standards (e.g.: GD&T, ASME standards etc.)
Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals in structures, materials, fluids and aero, thermal, controls, mechanics/ dynamics, system modeling, and fundamentals of physics.
Manufacturing knowledge & experience with machine shops (sheet metal, CNC, lathe, sand casting, forging, die-casting etc.).
Rapid prototyping background (structures/electronics/software) & 3D printing knowledge.
Proficient in hands-on prototyping (machining, shop tools, welding, soldering), and demonstrated hands-on fabrication skills.
Familiarity with MIL-STD, DO-160, or other automotive, defense, and aerospace standards.

Nice To Haves

Top-notch engineering intuition and first principles thinking toward designing complex products
Able to independently identify critical information or priority gaps and apply effort toward closing those gaps. Undaunted by imperfect, incomplete or absent datasets or information, and capable of making sound, comprehensive, and swift first-principled decisions.
Not satisfied by superficial explanations of a problem or “band-aid engineering”; seeks persistently to find the specific root cause
Gratified by helping your peers succeed, building a robust team culture, and propagating deep camaraderie amongst your peers.
Seeks to break down information silos by collaborating rigorously with others to solve problems, share knowledge, and provide input
Owns your test from requirements to execution — you don't wait for someone else to define the problem
Effectively communicates across hardware, firmware, and systems teams without needing a translator
You understand that in defense hardware, "good enough" isn't a concept — and you build your test coverage accordingly

Responsibilities

Design, build, instrument, and automate test equipment for electrical, mechanical, thermal and environmental validation of hardware — batteries, inverters, DC-DC converters, controllers/ ECUs, distribution units, and integrated Amphora systems
Own hardware unit-level test station development: design specialized automated test equipment (ATE), write test scripts, and maintain test coverage as hardware evolves
Execute component, subsystem, and system-level validation across electrical, thermal, and mechanical dimensions — including high-voltage characterization and fault injection
Develop and run environmental test programs per MIL, energy, and automotive specs: temperature cycling, vibration, shock, ingress, corrosion etc.
Collaborate with firmware engineers to validate embedded control logic, power management algorithms, and system behavior under real and edge-case conditions
Interface with design engineers to identify failure modes early, generate DVP&R entries, and drive design changes based on test findings
Build and maintain DAQ systems; automate data collection and post-processing pipelines in Python, LabVIEW, Matlab/ Simulink or similar tools.
Support HIL/SIL validation setups; correlate bench test data with simulation models to close the loop on design confidence
Help establish Chariot's test lab infrastructure — equipment selection, calibration processes, safety protocols, and documentation standards