Test Engineer - Reactivity Control System (RCS)

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 Reactivity Control System (RCS) team, you will design, build, and operate the test infrastructure required to validate critical reactor control systems and mechanical assemblies. You will take ownership of translating system and performance requirements into verification strategies, designing test setups, executing validation campaigns, and ensuring systems meet functional and regulatory expectations. This role is highly hands-on and ideal for an engineer who enjoys building, troubleshooting, and operating custom test equipment in a fast-paced development environment. You will work closely with design, analysis, fabrication, and manufacturing teams to rapidly iterate on testing approaches and hardware solutions. You will play a key role in verifying the reliability and performance of systems operating in demanding environments, including dynamic and seismic conditions. Success in this role requires strong engineering judgment, ownership, and the ability to make practical decisions with a high degree of autonomy. Responsibilities: Collect and interpret system and performance requirements and verify how requirements are satisfied by the design Develop verification and validation strategies for reactor reactivity control systems Design and build custom mechanical test rigs, fixtures, and infrastructure for system verification Execute mechanical and environmental testing, including vibration and seismic-style testing for dry systems Develop test procedures, acceptance criteria, and validation methodologies aligned with engineering and regulatory requirements Collaborate with analysis engineers to correlate test data with analytical predictions and system models Perform hands-on fabrication, assembly, modification, and troubleshooting of test hardware Instrument systems and collect high-quality test data Diagnose failures and support rapid iteration with design and manufacturing teams Write detailed test reports documenting procedures, results, findings, and recommendations Support system integration, commissioning, and verification activities Travel occasionally to test facilities or deployment sites Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field 3+ years of mechanical design, testing, or hands-on engineering experience Strong mechanical intuition and troubleshooting ability Experience working with mechanical systems, fixtures, fabrication, or test hardware Comfortable working independently with evolving requirements and high ownership Strong written and verbal technical communication skills Preferred Qualifications: Experience designing and executing mechanical verification or validation testing 1+ year of direct fabrication, shop, or hands-on build experience Experience designing and building custom test rigs or experimental setups Familiarity with vibration, seismic, or dynamic testing methods Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition systems Experience performing root cause analysis and failure investigations Exposure to highly regulated or high-reliability industries such as nuclear, aerospace, energy, or defense Hands-on project experience (e.g., Formula SAE, robotics, hardware startups, lab systems) Requirements: Based in the United States Willing to work on-site in Austin, TX What We Offer: Competitive salary starting at $95,000 Health, Dental, Vision Insurance Paid Time Off Corporate Gym Membership Additional Information: A