Test Infrastructure Engineer

Avalanche • Seattle, WA

1d • $120,000 - $180,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Avalanche Energy is seeking a Test Infrastructure Engineer to design, build, commission, and maintain infrastructure that enables its fusion experiments. The role bridges mechanical design, electrical systems, facilities, manufacturing, and test operations. The engineer will translate experimental needs into fixtures, test stands, utility systems, equipment layouts, and reliable hardware that can be safely operated and rapidly changed.

This is a hands-on role spanning the full lifecycle of infrastructure work: concept development and requirements, CAD and drawings, procurement, fabrication, assembly, installation, checkout, documentation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Some work will be fabricated by vendors or other team members, while other equipment will be built or modified directly by the engineer. The position is onsite in Tukwila, Washington, and Richland, Washington, with occasional travel for vendor visits, equipment procurement, integration, or collaboration.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong mechanical design skills, including 3D CAD, detailed drawings, tolerancing, material selection, and design for fabrication and assembly.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience building, installing, commissioning, maintaining, or repairing equipment you designed.
• Experience designing fixtures, tooling, test stands, prototype equipment, or industrial machinery.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems, instrumentation, sensors, controls, and basic electrical troubleshooting.
• Experience integrating fluid, pneumatic, vacuum, thermal, or other facility-supported systems.
• Ability to safely use common hand tools, power tools, measurement equipment, and shop equipment.
• Ability to take ambiguous needs from concept through working hardware with limited oversight.
• Strong ownership, practical judgment, communication skills, and attention to detail in a fast-moving R&D environment.
• Three or more years of experience in tooling, test, manufacturing, or R&D engineering.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with SolidWorks or a comparable mechanical CAD and drawing system.
• Experience designing welded structures, machined parts, sheet-metal assemblies, guards, platforms, or equipment frames.
• Experience designing or building radiation shielding systems.
• Familiarity with vacuum or ultra-high-vacuum systems and vacuum-compatible design practices.
• Experience with chillers, pumps, heat exchangers, cryogenic systems, gas handling, or process plumbing.
• Experience working around high-voltage, high-current, stored-energy, radiation, or other hazardous-energy systems.
• Experience with PLCs, automation, machine safety, interlocks, data acquisition, or control panels.
• Experience with rigging, lifting fixtures, equipment installation, and industrial safety practices.
• Experience managing vendors, fabrication quotes, procurement, schedules, and installation work.
• Prior work in fast-paced, hardware-driven R&D, aerospace, energy, or advanced manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, commission, modify, and maintain test cells, fixtures, tooling, equipment supports, utility systems, and experimental infrastructure.
• Translate experimental needs into practical requirements, concepts, layouts, CAD models, drawings, bills of material, and build plans.
• Perform hands-on fabrication and assembly using common shop tools and processes, and coordinate outside fabrication when appropriate.
• Design and integrate mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls, water, gas, pneumatic, hydraulic, vacuum, and thermal-management systems.
• Manage test infrastructure through its lifecycle, including installation, checkout, documentation, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and retirement.
• Develop safe, serviceable, and repeatable solutions that account for access, routing, labeling, guarding, lifting, and human factors.
• Support fusion test cells with equipment layouts, foundations and supports, utilities, cable and hose routing, work access, and facility interfaces.
• Work directly with engineers, scientists, technicians, and operators to prepare experiments and resolve problems during build and test campaigns.
• Participate in rapid design-build-test cycles while balancing speed with sound engineering judgment and workmanship.
• Create and maintain drawings, schematics, assembly instructions, operating procedures, maintenance records, and configuration documentation.
• Establish practical standards and reusable approaches for test infrastructure, tooling, utility distribution, and lab workmanship.
• Identify fragile setups, recurring failures, safety risks, and maintenance burdens, then design and implement durable improvements.
• Plan and coordinate equipment moves, installations, vendor work, and facility modifications related to test infrastructure.
• Keep shared tools, spares, work areas, and infrastructure organized, functional, and ready for the next build or test.

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits, with 100% of premiums paid by the company.
• 10 paid holidays and a company-wide December holiday break.
• Generous paid vacation and sick time.
• Small, tight-knit team with low barriers to action.
• Exposure to a wide variety of problems for hands-on professional growth.
• Weekly employer-provided team meals, a well-stocked kitchen, and employee events on and off-site.
• Opportunity for equity.

What This Job Offers

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