Systems Test Engineering, Senior

Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory‑fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting‑edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors. Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.

We’re hiring a Senior Test Engineer to build, run, and evolve the experimental systems that help Aalo develop reactors faster, safer, and with better engineering confidence.

At Aalo, testing is not a downstream verification step. It is a core part of how we learn, reduce risk, mature designs, and make engineering decisions. This role focuses on physical prototyping and experimental development: the fixtures, rigs, loops, setups, instrumentation, procedures, and test campaigns that turn engineering questions into real‑world data.

You will work closely with mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, thermal‑fluid systems engineers, nuclear engineers, manufacturing, and operations to design and execute tests that matter. Your job is to understand what must be proven, build practical hardware and experimental setups to prove it, and generate data that informs design, safety, operability, manufacturability, and deployment.

This is a hands‑on engineering role with strong prototyping, experimental design, hardware integration, troubleshooting, and cross‑functional execution responsibilities. Mechanical prototype assemblies, test fixtures, pressure systems, fluid loops, thermal systems, and integrated development rigs

Chemical handling systems, compatibility tests, corrosion tests, contamination control approaches, and process validation setups

One‑off experiments to answer urgent design questions, as well as repeatable development rigs used across multiple design iterations

Environmental, endurance, abuse, transient, and failure‑mode testing of components, subsystems, and supporting equipment

Prototype assembly, integration, shakedown, troubleshooting, teardown, and redesign based on observed behavior

Test procedures, hazard reviews, operating envelopes, controls, interlocks, data logging, and safe execution practices

Experimental data collection that feeds design decisions, system models, qualification strategies, manufacturing methods, and long‑term product learning

Cross‑functional workflows connecting design engineering, analysis, procurement, fabrication, lab operations, and manufacturing support

Common technical areas and engineering patterns in the work include:

Mechanical design for testability, serviceability, assembly, and instrumentation access

Fluid, thermal, pressure, vacuum, and chemical system prototyping

Sensors, DAQ systems, controls integration, PLCs, embedded instrumentation, and automated logging

Experimental design, test planning, uncertainty awareness, and data interpretation

Rapid iteration using machining, fabrication, vendor parts, custom assemblies, and in‑house modification

Documentation, revision control, calibration awareness, and configuration tracking for prototypes and test assets

Safe operation in environments involving pressure, heat, reactive materials, hazardous chemicals, or other development risks

Collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, EHS, and operations to move quickly without compromising rigor

Spend time with design engineers and technical teams to understand the real engineering questions behind prototype and test needs before building the hardware or procedure around them

Design, assemble, and iterate physical test setups ranging from simple benchtop experiments to more complex integrated mechanical and chemical development systems

Own test execution from first concept through fixture design, procurement, assembly, instrumentation, shakedown, debugging, operation, data capture, and post‑test analysis

Build practical, reliable prototyping infrastructure that helps engineering teams learn quickly while maintaining appropriate safety, traceability, and technical rigor

Develop and run tests for mechanical, thermal, fluid, and chemical systems, including experiments that involve temperature, pressure, flow, materials compatibility, corrosion, contamination, cycling, or failure investigation

Instrument prototypes and test rigs with the sensors, controls, and data logging needed to generate useful engineering evidence rather than anecdotal observations

Troubleshoot hardware, plumbing, controls, leaks, contamination issues, assembly errors, unexpected behaviors, and test anomalies without losing momentum

Work closely with design engineers to translate test results into design changes, prototype improvements, follow‑on experiments, and updated engineering priorities

Help define how Aalo builds an internal testing capability that supports fast hardware iteration, disciplined engineering learning, and eventual qualification‑grade evidence

You are comfortable designing test setups involving mechanical hardware, thermal systems, fluid systems, pressure systems, and chemically relevant processes or environments

You understand how instrumentation, operating conditions, boundary conditions, failure modes, and measurement quality affect what a test result actually means

You like building real things, not only analyzing them

You are comfortable working with tools, fixtures, tubing, fittings, valves, pumps, heaters, chillers, sensors, enclosures, mechanical assemblies, and improvised development hardware when needed

You can move from CAD, sketches, and engineering discussions into assembled hardware that actually runs

You are willing to work through leaks, fit‑up issues, instrument problems, unstable conditions, failed parts, and messy physical realities to get to useful answers

Mechanical and chemical system intuition

You have practical experience with physical systems where mechanical behavior and chemical behavior both matter

You are comfortable thinking about material compatibility, corrosion, cleanliness, contamination, thermal effects, fluid behavior, sealing, pressure integrity, and operating hazards

You understand that many important engineering failures happen at interfaces: between materials, environments, operating conditions, and real‑world use

You can help design tests that expose those issues early rather than discovering them late

You are comfortable taking incomplete requirements, partially defined concepts, or urgent technical questions and turning them into useful hardware and data

You handle procurement constraints, fabrication delays, setup revisions, test failures, and changing engineering priorities without losing ownership

You work well with design engineers, analysts, technicians, machinists, manufacturing teams, and operations partners

You optimize for company learning and engineering progress, not narrow ownership boundaries

You want to help build the internal test infrastructure and engineering habits that allow Aalo to learn quickly and scale responsibly

You are comfortable working in a role that will evolve as Aalo’s hardware programs, test systems, facilities, and organizational needs become more capable

Experience in nuclear, aerospace, energy, industrial systems, chemical process systems, thermal‑fluid systems, or other high‑reliability hardware domains

Experience with prototype development rigs, pressure systems, pumped loops, thermal test setups, vacuum systems, or chemical handling systems

Familiarity with corrosion testing, materials compatibility testing, contamination control, leak testing, or failure analysis

Experience with DAQ systems, controls integration, LabVIEW, PLCs, Python‑based test automation, or custom instrumentation software

Experience building fixtures, test stands, plumbing systems, enclosures, or benchtop and pilot‑scale hardware

Background in design of experiments, root‑cause analysis, uncertainty analysis, or reliability‑focused testing

Experience supporting the transition from prototype testing to validation, qualification, or production‑support test systems

Degree in an engineering discipline (chemical, mechanical, electrical, etc.)

Willing to work hands‑on with prototype hardware, test rigs, lab systems, and development equipment in person

Able to work safely and effectively in environments involving mechanical systems, pressure systems, thermal systems, and chemical processes, with appropriate procedures and controls

Willing to work on‑site in Austin, TX

Aalo Atomics is an equal‑opportunity employer and considers all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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