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

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