Test Engineer - Hardware

About Aalo Atomics Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting-edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors. Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future. About the role: As a Test Engineer on the Fuel Handling System (FHS) team, you will help build and operate the test infrastructure used to validate complex mechanical systems operating in challenging environments—mechanisms, sealing systems, sodium-compatible components, and fluid systems used in fuel handling, cleaning, and storage. Working closely with senior test and design engineers, you will own day-to-day execution of component test campaigns: building rigs, instrumenting hardware, running cycle tests, capturing data, and chasing down failure modes. You will spend most of your time in the lab with hands on hardware. This role is a great fit for an engineer who wants to learn quickly, take ownership of real test programs, and grow into a senior test role in a fast-moving hardware environment. Responsibilities: Build, instrument, and operate test rigs for mechanical, thermal, and fluid system validation Execute test plans on components such as valves, seals, hoists, grapples, and handling mechanisms Wire and configure sensors (pressure, temperature, force, position, gas composition) and data acquisition systems Run cycle tests, characterize failure modes, and feed findings back to design engineers for rapid iteration Perform hands-on fabrication, assembly, and modification of test hardware Support sodium exposure testing, cleaning cask development, and mechanism qualification campaigns Maintain clean, organized test setups and accurate, traceable test records Help write and refine test procedures, checklists, and as-run logs Support system integration, full-scale prototype operation, and on-site commissioning as needed Travel occasionally to test sites or the reactor installation Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field 1–3 years of hands-on engineering experience (industry, internship, co-op, or strong project equivalent) Experience with mechanical fabrication, assembly, or electro-mechanical testing Comfortable wiring up instrumentation and reading basic schematics Strong mechanical intuition and willingness to learn by doing Comfortable working with ambiguity and high ownership Preferred Experience: Experience with fluid systems (valves, seals, gas, vacuum, hydraulics) Built custom test rigs or experimental setups in school, prior jobs, or personal projects Familiarity with instrumentation and data acquisition systems Exposure to high-temperature, hazardous, or chemically aggressive environments Hands-on project experience (e.g., Formula SAE, robotics, rocketry, hardware startups, machine shop work) Welding, machining, or fabrication skills Physical Requirements: Comfortable working in a hands-on lab and factory environment Ability to lift up to 25 lbs and stand for extended periods Willingness to perform hands-on work including assembly, plumbing, wiring, and troubleshooting Requirements Must be based in the United States Must be willing to work on-site at our headquarters in Austin, Texas What It Takes to Succeed at Aalo We're building technology that will help reshape the future of energy. The pace is fast, the problems are difficult, and the expectations are high. Successful team members consistently demonstrate: Extreme Ownership — You take responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks. You proactively identify problems, drive solutions, and follow through. A Passion for Solving Hard Problems — You are energized by challenges that others avo