Test Engineer

Valar Atomics•Torrance, CA

10h•$112,000 - $137,000

About The Position

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level. As part of the Engineering organization, Mechanical Engineering designs and develops the mechanical systems, components, and equipment that power Valar's advanced nuclear technologies. The team ensures designs are robust, manufacturable, and optimized for long-term performance. We are looking for a Test Engineer to design and build test stands, execute test campaigns, and turn raw test data into actionable insight. This role sits at the intersection of hardware, data, and compliance. You'll be hands on with test hardware and instrumentation while also owning the data pipeline that feeds our SCADA and historian systems. You'll work closely with engineering to troubleshoot issues, diagnose root causes from test data, and represent test results to government regulators.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, or related field, or equivalent hands on experience
2+ years of Test Engineering Experience
Experience designing and building test stands or test fixtures
Familiarity with data acquisition systems and sensor instrumentation
Experience with SCADA and historian systems
Working knowledge of scripting or data processing tools such as Python, MATLAB, or SQL for data handling and analysis
Strong troubleshooting mindset with the ability to diagnose issues from data, not just observation
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting technical results to non technical or regulatory audiences

Nice To Haves

Experience preparing documentation for regulatory review or compliance audits is a plus
Bachelors of Science in engineering or related discipline.
Test stand Design experience
Data acquisition experience

Responsibilities

Design, build, and maintain test stands for evaluating hardware performance, reliability, and compliance
Develop test profiles and procedures tailored to specific test objectives such as performance validation, endurance, environmental, and failure analysis
Run tests, monitor live data, and adjust test parameters as needed to capture meaningful results
Set up and maintain data acquisition systems for tests, including remote and unattended data acquisition capability
Integrate test stand data streams with existing SCADA and historian infrastructure
Process and structure raw test data into clean, usable formats for engineering analysis and reporting
Troubleshoot issues arising during test execution, including instrumentation, test stand hardware, and data acquisition faults
Analyze test data to diagnose root causes of issues in existing product designs
Collaborate with design engineers to translate test findings into actionable design recommendations
Prepare clear, accurate test reports and supporting documentation
Maintain organized records of test procedures, configurations, and results for traceability
Present and explain test results and methodology to government regulators and auditors as needed

Benefits

Competitive base salary
Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
Comprehensive medical benefits
Unlimited PTO
Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
Generous PPE stipend
High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement
Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders
The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up