About the role

We’re hiring a Senior Test Engineer to build, run, and evolve the experimental systems that help Aalo develop reactors faster, safer, and with better engineering confidence.

At Aalo, testing is not a downstream verification step. It is a core part of how we learn, reduce risk, mature designs, and make engineering decisions. This role focuses on physical prototyping and experimental development: the fixtures, rigs, loops, setups, instrumentation, procedures, and test campaigns that turn engineering questions into real-world data.

You will work closely with mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, thermal-fluid systems engineers, nuclear engineers, manufacturing, and operations to design and execute tests that matter. Your job is to understand what must be proven, build practical hardware and experimental setups to prove it, and generate data that informs design, safety, operability, manufacturability, and deployment.

This is a hands-on engineering role with strong prototyping, experimental design, hardware integration, troubleshooting, and cross-functional execution responsibilities. It is especially well suited to someone who likes moving between concept, bench, rig, test stand, and design review — and who is comfortable turning incomplete test objectives into functioning physical systems and credible results.

Examples of the systems and workflows this role may touch include:

• Mechanical prototype assemblies, test fixtures, pressure systems, fluid loops, thermal systems, and integrated development rigs
• Chemical handling systems, compatibility tests, corrosion tests, contamination control approaches, and process validation setups
• Instrumentation and diagnostics for temperature, pressure, flow, strain, vibration, leak detection, mass change, chemistry, and other relevant parameters
• One-off experiments to answer urgent design questions, as well as repeatable development rigs used across multiple design iterations
• Environmental, endurance, abuse, transient, and failure-mode testing of components, subsystems, and supporting equipment
• Prototype assembly, integration, shakedown, troubleshooting, teardown, and redesign based on observed behavior
• Test procedures, hazard reviews, operating envelopes, controls, interlocks, data logging, and safe execution practices
• Experimental data collection that feeds design decisions, system models, qualification strategies, manufacturing methods, and long-term product learning
• Cross-functional workflows connecting design engineering, analysis, procurement, fabrication, lab operations, and manufacturing support
• Long-term evolution of Aalo’s internal test capability from ad hoc setups toward a disciplined, high-throughput prototyping and validation function
• Common technical areas and engineering patterns in the work include:
• Mechanical design for testability, serviceability, assembly, and instrumentation access
• Fluid, thermal, pressure, vacuum, and chemical system prototyping
• Sensors, DAQ systems, controls integration, PLCs, embedded instrumentation, and automated logging
• Experimental design, test planning, uncertainty awareness, and data interpretation
• Hardware troubleshooting under real operating conditions
• Design of fixtures, test stands, plumbing layouts, enclosures, mounts, and safety systems
• Rapid iteration using machining, fabrication, vendor parts, custom assemblies, and in-house modification
• Documentation, revision control, calibration awareness, and configuration tracking for prototypes and test assets
• Safe operation in environments involving pressure, heat, reactive materials, hazardous chemicals, or other development risks
• Collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, EHS, and operations to move quickly without compromising rigor

What you'll do

• Spend time with design engineers and technical teams to understand the real engineering questions behind prototype and test needs before building the hardware or procedure around them
• Design, assemble, and iterate physical test setups ranging from simple benchtop experiments to more complex integrated mechanical and chemical development systems
• Own test execution from first concept through fixture design, procurement, assembly, instrumentation, shakedown, debugging, operation, data capture, and post-test analysis
• Build practical, r