R&D Prototype & Test Technician

Standard Thermal; Woodinville, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Standard Thermal is a dynamic team building the world’s lowest-cost thermal energy storage technology. You will construct prototype systems, run experiments in the lab, troubleshoot hardware, collect data and help turn concepts into field-ready systems.

You will work closely with design engineers, enjoy substantial autonomy, and travel to field sites as needed to support deployments. This role emphasizes hands-on fabrication and rapid iteration in both lab and field settings.

Qualifications

• Strong mechanical and electrical intuition with hands-on build experience.
• Experience assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical and electrical systems in industrial environments.
• Ability to carefully follow drawings and documentation while operating with limited existing docs.
• Bias toward action and prioritization to move critical work forward.
• Low ego, high ownership; adapt paths based on evidence and seek input when needed.
• Comfortable working in lab and dirty field environments.
• Background through technical school, associate degree, military training, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Assemble mechanical, electrical, and thermal systems from drawings and guidance.
• Run and monitor experiments; set up tests, collect data, and document results.
• Create assembly instructions, design docs, test procedures, and reusable drawings.
• Identify ways to speed up recurring builds and testing for reliability and efficiency.
• Support field deployments; fabricate, test, document, and ship equipment to site; travel as needed.

Skills

Mechanical intuition

Electrical intuition

Hands-on building

Follow drawings/documentation

Bias towards action

Ownership mindset

Field and lab versatility

Education

Technical school / Associate degree

Military technical training

Tools

CAD

PLC/MCU

Pumps/Blowers/Heaters

Job description

Standard Thermal is developing and deploying the world’s lowest-cost thermal energy storage technology, using earth as a thermal battery. We deliver a year-round steady supply of thermal energy to industrial consumers by buffering solar PV energy through a large thermal battery. To do this, we are building and field-testing thermal systems that combine mechanical hardware, heat transfer, electrical power, instrumentation, controls, and standard heavy construction methods.

We are a small and fast-moving team, which means everyone has significant responsibility. In this role you will build prototype systems, run experiments, troubleshoot hardware, collect and interpret data, and help turn concepts into field-ready systems. You will work closely with design engineers, but will have substantial autonomy in completing day-to-day work.

What you will do

• Build prototype systems: Assemble mechanical, electrical, and thermal systems from drawings, sketches, and direction from engineers.
• Run and monitor experiments: Set up and execute tests in the lab, operate equipment, collect data, and document and interpret results.
• Document what matters: Create assembly instructions, design documentation, test procedures, drawings, and other documentation necessary for another competent person to reproduce the work.
• Improve and accelerate how we work: Identify simple ways to make recurring builds and tests faster and more reliable.
• Use the right amount of rigor: Some activities demand precision and careful planning and documentation. Other times, a quick test with off-the-shelf parts can answer important questions in a few hours.
• Support field deployments: Fabricate, test, document, and ship equipment destined for field sites and installations. Travel as needed to support field installations.

What we are looking for

• Strong mechanical and electrical intuition and background, and evidence that you enjoy building and fixing things.
• Experience assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical and electrical systems, with a preference for expertise in industrial process environments.
• Ability to carefully follow drawings and documentation but also operate where there is minimal existing documentation.
• Bias towards action and prioritization. You keep important work moving and focus your effort on what advances the team’s objectives.
• Low ego, high ownership. Comfortable rapidly changing paths when evidence and test results indicate, and asking for help or input when needed.
• Comfortable working hands-on in both lab and outdoor field environments, and getting dirty when the job requires.
• Technical school, associate degree, military technical training, industry experience, or demonstrated capability are all appropriate backgrounds. We care substantially more about what you can do than what credentials you hold.

Experience with the following is highly useful but not required

• Instrumentation and data acquisition using thermocouples, pressure transducers, flow meters, and other industrial sensors and controllers.
• CAD and reading engineering drawings.
• PLCs or microcontrollers.
• Pumps, blowers, heaters, piping/ducting.
• 3D printing.

Details: Competitive salary, equity, and benefits.