Test Engineer

Ecotal; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ecotal is seeking a Test Engineer to build, instrument, and operate high‑temperature, high‑pressure test systems and supporting rigs. You will own test rigs from concept to operation, integrating instrumentation and controls, and turning data into engineering decisions.

The ideal candidate will have hands‑on experience with thermal‑fluid systems, test campaigns, and instrumentation like LabVIEW, Python, PLCs, and HMI systems, with strong troubleshooting skills and a safety‑first mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related technical field is preferred.
• 3–7 years of directly relevant test engineering or hands-on systems experience.
• Experience building, instrumenting, commissioning, or operating physical test rigs or pressurized systems.
• Experience with thermal-fluid systems, heat transfer, and high‑pressure systems.
• Familiarity with DAQ, instrumentation, controls, LabVIEW, Python, PLCs, or automation platforms.
• Experience with high‑pressure gas, cryogenic systems, hydraulic or pneumatic testing is preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting across mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and controls interfaces.
• Hands-on fabrication, wiring, soldering, machining, welding is a plus.
• Experience with MATLAB, CFD, or data reduction is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, assemble, commission, and operate thermal‑hydraulic test loops and pressurized rigs.
• Select and integrate pumps, valves, sensors, and instrumentation for campaigns.
• Develop test plans, run sheets, and commissioning procedures.
• Wire, calibrate, and troubleshoot instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs, transducers).
• Build and troubleshoot DAQ and control systems using LabVIEW, Python, PLCs.
• Operate high‑temperature/high‑pressure fluid systems safely.
• Execute end‑to‑end test campaigns: shakedown, data collection, analysis, reporting.
• Support heat transfer and thermal-fluid testing with experimental data validation.

Skills

Hands-on fabrication

Troubleshooting

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related technical field

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

PLC

HMI

VFDs

Job description

Our client is seeking a Test Engineer to help build, instrument, and operate high-temperature, high-pressure thermal-fluid test systems and supporting test rigs. This is a hands‑on build‑and‑run role supporting advanced energy technology development, where the right person will design and assemble test apparatus, integrate instrumentation and controls, execute test campaigns safely, and turn experimental data into engineering decisions.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on builder/operator with direct experience owning test rigs, test stands, thermal‑fluid systems, pressurized flow systems, or similar experimental hardware from concept through operation.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Design, assemble, commission, and operate thermal‑hydraulic test loops, pressurized flow rigs, and supporting test systems
• Select and integrate pumps, valves, sensors, instrumentation, and supporting hardware for test campaigns
• Develop and work from P&IDs, test plans, run sheets, commissioning procedures, and test documentation
• Wire, configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot instrumentation including thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, and flow meters
• Build, maintain, and troubleshoot DAQ and automated control systems using tools such as LabVIEW, Python, PLCs, or similar platforms
• Operate high‑temperature, high‑pressure water, steam, gas, cryogenic, hydraulic, or pneumatic systems safely
• Execute test campaigns end‑to‑end, including shakedown testing, data collection, post‑test analysis, and reporting
• Support hands‑on heat‑transfer, heat‑exchanger, thermal‑fluid, or two‑phase flow testing
• Apply strong safety discipline around pressure systems, lab operations, lockout/tagout, and test procedures
• Use experimental data to validate models, compare against analysis, and support engineering decisions
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred
• Roughly 3–7 years of directly relevant test engineering, experimental engineering, or hands‑on systems experience is preferred
• Demonstrated experience building, instrumenting, commissioning, or operating physical test rigs, test stands, or pressurized systems
• Experience with thermal‑fluid systems, heat transfer, heat exchangers, fluid loops, high‑pressure systems, or related experimental hardware
• Familiarity with DAQ, instrumentation, controls, LabVIEW, Python, PLCs, HMI systems, VFDs, or industrial automation platforms
• Experience with high‑pressure gas, cryogenic systems, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, aerospace propulsion testing, defense testing, energy systems, or industrial R&D is highly preferred
• Strong troubleshooting skills across mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and controls interfaces
• Hands‑on fabrication, wiring, soldering, machining, welding, or technician‑level build experience is a plus
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, thermal imaging, high‑speed video, model validation, CFD comparison, or data reduction is preferred
• Experience supporting quality documentation, non‑conformance reporting, corrective actions, as‑built documentation, or regulated engineering environments is a plus
• Startup, high‑growth company, capital test‑facility, or technician/team coordination experience is preferred