Systems Test Engineering

Test Systems EngineerTau is fixing the bottleneck in power conversion technology for data centers, EVs, and energy systems. We're a venture-backed hardtech company in Redwood City, building innovative solutions. We hire people who own problems end-to-end: power electronics, embedded software, controls, test and validation, mechanical design. Customers are buying, volume is coming, and the people who join now set the standard everyone builds on after.You'd rather ship the simplest reliable answer to an engineering question than the most sophisticated one. You default to structure without needing to be told to. You document because someone else needs to be able to run this without you in the room, not because you were asked to. You have real judgment about risk. You want ownership over a domain that's core to how the whole engineering org performs, and you want to be measured on the capability you build, not just the hours you put in.Our Engineering ApproachSolve customer problems, not engineering puzzles. Great technical work becomes exceptional when it creates reliable products, enables meaningful new capability, and solves real customer problems. Apply the engineering rigor the risk requires. Deliver quality work on time, improve how the team works, and leave the products, systems, tools, and people around you better than you found them.About the RoleThe lab is where every engineering claim gets checked against reality. If the data's untrustworthy, every downstream decision, design, program timeline, and customer commitment inherits that risk without anyone noticing until it's expensive. You'll work across Mechanical, Power Electronics, Controls, Embedded Software, Manufacturing, and Program Management, and you'll have real authority to say a system isn't ready, a result isn't credible, or a process needs to change, and make that stick. Areas of OwnershipOwn the dynamometers, inverter test systems, environmental support systems, and lab infrastructure end to endSet the standards for what counts as commissioned, calibrated, and trustworthy, and hold the org to themPlan and execute capability upgrades with minimal disruption to active programsTranslate engineering objectives into safe, repeatable test capabilityIntegrate mechanical, electrical, controls, instrumentation, cooling, automation, and safety systemsOwn the safety philosophy: interlocks, e-stop logic, fault handling, operator protectionCommission and validate systems before engineering release. Nothing goes live on your say alone until it's earned itSpecify sensors, instrumentation, DAQ architectureBuild measurement strategies that answer the actual engineering question, not just collect numbersValidate accuracy through calibration, uncertainty analysis, correlation, repeatabilityBe the person who can say, credibly, "trust this data" or "don't"Run preventive maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, repairOwn lab organization, documentation, safety, and operating procedure as an operating system, not a set of one-off fixesEliminate recurring issues through durable corrective action, not repeated patchingSupport procurement and lab upkeep where it affects test capabilityPartner with Mechanical, Power Electronics, Embedded Software, Controls, Manufacturing, Program Management, suppliers, and customersPush back on requirements, timelines, or designs when the lab side can't safely or credibly support themTranslate cross-functional input into test capability that actually answers the question being askedMentor engineers and technicians in measurement method, safe operation, and lab standardsBuild capability that scales. The goal is a lab that runs at this standard whether or not you're in the room that dayOperationalize Tau's engineering principles into how the lab actually runs day to day, not just how it's describedTechnical FoundationYou'll likely have depth in some of these and working knowledge across most:Electrical, mechatronic, mechanical, or controls system designInstrumentation, sensors, signal conditioning, DAQ architectureControls integration and lab automationHigh-voltage safety, interlocks, e-stops, fault handlingCalibration, uncertainty analysis, correlation, repeatabilityCommissioning and troubleshooting complex systemsRoot-cause analysis and structured problem solvingPython, LabVIEW, PLCs, or comparable automation toolsExperienceThree years developing, commissioning, or improving complex test systems. A bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Controls Engineering, or a closely related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience. Relevant backgrounds: electric powertrains, dynamometers, aerospace test, automotive test, industrial automation, robotics, energy systems. Anywhere measurement quality and equipment reliability were treated as non-negotiable.What Success Looks Like in Year OneThe lab runs on standards you set, and people follow them because they trust your judgment, not because they were told toEngineers make faster, better decisions because the data underneath them is credibleYou've caught and fixed at least one recurring failure mode at the root, not just patched the symptomLeadership relies on you to own the lab side of operations without needing to check inYou're still hands-on: in the room for commissioning, debugging, and the hard calls, not managing from a distanceCompensation and BenefitsUS Salary Information$91,000 - $239,000Tau is committed to paying competitive compensation that is fair and equitable. Your experience, qualifications, training, critical skills, and/or business considerations determine your compensation. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include an annual performance bonus, equity, and other incentive compensation plans considered part of Tau's total compensation package. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in their respective fields and possess the ability to learn quickly within a fast-paced environment.PerksBecome part of an emerging company during a rapid growth phase—within an industry undergoing dramatic transformation for a global imperative.Work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields to: (1) attack some of the most pressing issues of today while (2) contributing to technically demanding and deeply innovative solutions.Competitive compensation based upon experience level, including stock options—we believe in capturing value in the future we create together.Flexible time off and paid holidays.Centrally located in the Bay Area on the Peninsula in vibrant downtown Redwood City Blocks from the CaltrainWalking distance to food and entertainmentEasy access to both the 101 and 280Excellent medical, dental, vision & life insuranceComprehensive benefits