Senior Test Engineer in Austin, Texas at Aalo Atomics

About Aalo Atomics

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.

About the role

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. It is especially well suited to someone who likes moving between concept, bench, rig, test stand, and design review — and who is comfortable turning incomplete test objectives into functioning physical systems and credible results.

Examples of the systems and workflows this role may touch include:

Mechanical prototype assemblies, test fixtures, pressure systems, fluid loops, thermal systems, and integrated development rigsChemical handling systems, compatibility tests, corrosion tests, contamination control approaches, and process validation setupsInstrumentation and diagnostics for temperature, pressure, flow, strain, vibration, leak detection, mass change, chemistry, and other relevant parametersOne-off experiments to answer urgent design questions, as well as repeatable development rigs used across multiple design iterationsEnvironmental, endurance, abuse, transient, and failure-mode testing of components, subsystems, and supporting equipmentPrototype assembly, integration, shakedown, troubleshooting, teardown, and redesign based on observed behaviorTest procedures, hazard reviews, operating envelopes, controls, interlocks, data logging, and safe execution practicesExperimental data collection that feeds design decisions, system models, qualification strategies, manufacturing methods, and long-term product learningCross-functional workflows connecting design engineering, analysis, procurement, fabrication, lab operations, and manufacturing supportLong-term evolution of Aalo’s internal test capability from ad hoc setups toward a disciplined, high-throughput prototyping and validation functionCommon technical areas and engineering patterns in the work include:Mechanical design for testability, serviceability, assembly, and instrumentation accessFluid, thermal, pressure, vacuum, and chemical system prototypingSensors, DAQ systems, controls integration, PLCs, embedded instrumentation, and automated loggingExperimental design, test planning, uncertainty awareness, and data interpretationHardware troubleshooting under real operating conditionsDesign of fixtures, test stands, plumbing layouts, enclosures, mounts, and safety systemsRapid iteration using machining, fabrication, vendor parts, custom assemblies, and in-house modificationDocumentation, revision control, calibration awareness, and configuration tracking for prototypes and test assetsSafe operation in environments involving pressure, heat, reactive materials, hazardous chemicals, or other development risksCollaboration across engineering, manufacturing, EHS, and operations to move quickly without compromising rigorWhat you'll doSpend 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 themDesign, assemble, and iterate physical test setups ranging from simple benchtop experiments to more complex integrated mechanical and chemical development systemsOwn test execution from first concept through fixture design, procurement, assembly, instrumentation, shakedown, debugging, operation, data capture, and post-test analysisBuild 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 investigationCreate test procedures, operating instructions, safety controls, and execution plans that allow experiments to be run consistently and interpreted crediblyInstrument prototypes and test rigs with the sensors, controls, and data logging needed to generate useful engineering evidence rather than anecdotal observationsTroubleshoot hardware, plumbing, controls, leaks, contamination issues, assembly errors, unexpected behaviors, and test anomalies without losing momentumWork closely with design engineers to translate test results into design changes, prototype improvements, follow-on experiments, and updated engineering prioritiesSupport rapid prototyping by identifying where speed matters most, where rigor matters most, and how to move development work forward efficiently in both casesHelp define how Aalo builds an internal testing capability that supports fast hardware iteration, disciplined engineering learning, and eventual qualification-grade evidenceQualificationsStrong engineering fundamentalsYou can reason clearly about physical systems and understand how to turn a technical question into a credible experimentYou are comfortable designing test setups involving mechanical hardware, thermal systems, fluid systems, pressure systems, and chemically relevant processes or environmentsYou understand how instrumentation, operating conditions, boundary conditions, failure modes, and measurement quality affect what a test result actually means You can distinguish between a quick prototype used to answer a directional question and a more controlled setup used to support major design decisions You write clear technical documentation and can communicate test intent, setup details, observed behavior, conclusions, and limitationsPhysical prototyping and hands-on execution mindsetYou like building real things, not only analyzing themYou are comfortable working with tools, fixtures, tubing, fittings, valves, pumps, heaters, chillers, sensors, enclosures, mechanical assemblies, and improvised development hardware when neededYou can move from CAD, sketches, and engineering discussions into assembled hardware that actually runsYou are motivated by learning from real systems, not just clean theoretical modelsYou 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 matterYou 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 useYou can help design tests that expose those issues early rather than discovering them lateHigh output and follow-throughYou are comfortable taking incomplete requirements, partially defined concepts, or urgent technical questions and turning them into useful hardware and dataYou handle procurement constraints, fabrication delays, setup revisions, test failures, and changing engineering priorities without losing ownershipYou care about getting to trustworthy answers, not just getting through a test planYou can balance rapid iteration with disciplined execution and documentationTeam-first mindsetYou work well with design engineers, analysts, technicians, machinists, manufacturing teams, and operations partnersYou communicate clearly with both deeply technical and more execution-focused stakeholders You are willing to ask practical questions, challenge assumptions, and improve experimental plans based on what the hardware is actually telling the teamYou optimize for company learning and engineering progress, not narrow ownership boundaries

Interest in where this is going

You are excited by the idea that fast, disciplined physical prototyping can materially accelerate reactor development You want to help build the internal test infrastructure and engineering habits that allow Aalo to learn quickly and scale responsiblyYou are comfortable working in a role that will evolve as Aalo’s hardware programs, test systems, facilities, and organizational needs become more capableNice to HaveExperience in nuclear, aerospace, energy, industrial systems, chemical process systems, thermal-fluid systems, or other high-reliability hardware domainsExperience with prototype development rigs, pressure systems, pumped loops, thermal test setups, vacuum systems, or chemical handling systemsFamiliarity 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 softwareExperience building fixtures, test stands, plumbing systems, enclosures, or benchtop and pilot-scale hardwareExperience working in regulated, hazardous, or high-consequence development environmentsBackground in design of experiments, root-cause analysis, uncertainty analysis, or reliability-focused testingExperience supporting the transition from prototype testing to validation, qualification, or production-support test systemsRequirementsDegree in an engineering discipline (chemical, mechanical, electrical, etc.)Based in the United States Willing to work on-site in Austin, TXWilling to work hands-on with prototype hardware, test rigs, lab systems, and development equipment in personAble to work safely and effectively in environments involving mechanical systems, pressure systems, thermal systems, and chemical processes, with appropriate procedures and controlsSalary starting at $100,000+Candidates only, no recruiters or agencies please.