Hardware Test Engineer

base-power; Austin (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Base is seeking a hands-on hardware test engineer to design and run tests for electromechanical systems, ensuring reliable performance under real-world conditions. You will build and automate test setups, analyze results, and communicate findings clearly to drive improvements.

You will work across mechanical, electrical, and software domains, developing fixtures and PCBAs, sourcing test equipment, and automating DAQ systems. The role emphasizes rigorous documentation and data-driven storytelling.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on test engineering for electromechanical products with embedded firmware.
• Experience with DAQ systems, sensor selection and signal conditioning.
• Proven test design and execution across mechanical, electrical, and reliability domains.

Responsibilities

• Drive validation across electrical, mechanical, and reliability to meet requirements.
• Design and build tests by creating fixtures, PCBAs, power supplies, sensors and automating equipment.
• Lead root cause and failure analysis to produce actionable findings.
• Work with large amounts of test data and automate data analysis and anomaly detection.
• Distill complex results into high-signal reports guiding design decisions.

Skills

Test engineering

DAQ systems

Python

LabVIEW

Documentation

Tools

DAQ hardware

PCB fixtures

Job description

About Base

Base is America's next-generation power company. We’re rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization–electricity–by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries that is transforming today’s fragile, centralized grid into a resilient and abundant system. We are engineers, operators, and creatives solving some of the most complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time.

About the Role

We are looking for a hardware test engineer to design and run tests that ensure our hardware systems perform reliably under real-world conditions. You will be responsible for building and automating test setups, analyzing results, and sharing findings in a clear, useful way. This role is ideal for someone who’s hands-on, detail-oriented, and comfortable working across mechanical, electrical, and software domains.

What You'll Do

• Drive a wide spectrum of validation efforts—including electrical, mechanical, and reliability to ensure our hardware meets and exceeds engineering and reliability requirements

• Design and build tests by designing mechanical fixtures and PCBAs, sourcing power supplies, sensors, and other test equipment and automating test equipment, environmental chambers, and DAQ systems

• Lead root cause and failure analysis on hardware issues to produce actionable test findings

• Work with large amounts of test data and automate data analysis and anomaly detection

• Distill complex technical results into high-signal reports that drive critical design decisions across the engineering organization.

What You'll Bring

• Electrical Engineering and/or Mechanical Engineering work experience with 2+ years of hands-on experience in test engineering of electromechanical products which run embedded firmware

• Proficient with Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems, including sensor selection, signal conditioning, and troubleshooting.

• A proven track record of designing and executing tests that define the limits of mechanical, electrical, and reliability performance.

• Strong programming skills in Python and/or LabVIEW for instrument control, test sequencing, and data analysis.

• Uncompromising standards for documentation; you take pride in producing clear, actionable test reports that tell a story with data.

About the Team

The Hardware Reliability and Test team ensures our equipment exceeds engineering and reliability standards through rigorous mechanical, electrical, and environmental testing at the component, sub-assembly, and system levels. When we find failure points, we leverage data-driven insights to identify root causes and provide actionable improvements and mitigations. We act as a tight feedback loop for the design team, accelerating product maturity and ensuring we deliver a stellar experience for our members.

Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time, so the responsibilities listed may not be exhaustive.

Our Values

• First Principles Thinking: Question assumptions. Principles > rules.

• Operate at Base Pace: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing.

• Give & Get Feedback: Be direct, be humble, and maintain a growth mindset.

• Everyone’s an Owner: Follow through on commitments and own results.

• Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: Drive clarity and make calls with imperfect information.

• Committed to the Mission: Rebuilding the grid is a big challenge. We work hard because we care deeply about the impact we’re creating. We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in.

• Fun & Optimism Coexist with Grit: Collaboration and celebration coincide with the intensity of building real things.

Do the best work of your life at Base.