Hands-On Thermal-Fluid Test Engineer

Ecotal; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Ecotal is seeking a Test Engineer to build, instrument, and operate high-temperature, high-pressure thermal-fluid test systems and supporting rigs. This hands-on role covers design, assembly, integration, and safe operation to support energy technology development.

The ideal candidate will own test rigs, test stands, and pressurized systems from concept through operation, with experience in thermal-fluid systems and instrumentation. Strong safety practices are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field is preferred.
• 3–7 years of directly relevant test or experimental engineering experience preferred.
• Hands-on experience building, instrumenting, commissioning, or operating test rigs or pressurized systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, assemble, commission, and operate thermal-hydraulic test loops and pressurized rigs.
• Select and integrate pumps, valves, sensors, and supporting hardware for campaigns.
• Develop and work from P&IDs, test plans, run sheets, and procedures.
• Wire, configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot instrumentation like thermocouples and pressure transducers.
• Build, maintain, and troubleshoot DAQ and automated control systems (LabVIEW, Python, PLCs, or similar).
• Operate high-temperature, high-pressure water, steam, gas, cryogenic, or hydraulic systems safely.
• Execute end-to-end test campaigns: shakedown, data collection, analysis, reporting.
• Support heat-transfer, exchangers, thermal-fluid, or two-phase flow testing.
• Apply stringent safety discipline around pressure systems and lab operations.
• Use experimental data to validate models and support engineering decisions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Test engineering

Experimental engineering

Troubleshooting

Systems integration

Hands-on fabrication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering or related

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

PLCs

HMI

VFDs

DAQ

MATLAB

Job description

Ecotal is seeking a Test Engineer to build, instrument, and operate high-temperature, high-pressure thermal-fluid test systems and supporting rigs. This hands-on role covers design, assembly, integration, and safe operation to support energy technology development.

The ideal candidate will own test rigs, test stands, and pressurized systems from concept through operation, with experience in thermal-fluid systems and instrumentation. Strong safety practices are essential.