Test and Process Engineering Manager

Company Overview

Zeno Power is the leading developer of nuclear batteries – compact power systems that provide reliable, clean energy in frontier environments. By harnessing the heat from radioisotopes, Zeno’s batteries power critical missions on Earth, in space, and  bring this technology to market by 2027, Zeno is seeking out purpose-driven and innovative professionals who are comfortable working in a startup environment. Team members will have a direct impact in enabling commercial and national security missions from the depths of our oceans, to the surface of the moon, and in austere environments here on Earth.

Zeno is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Zeno is seeking a highly motivated Test and Process Engineering Manager to support the mission-oriented efforts of developing and bringing to market Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) technologies.

In this role you will:

• Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary team that includes electrical, test, and chemistry process engineering.
• Establish team culture, workflows, and expectations for high-quality engineering execution.
• Develop staffing plans and lead onboarding, career development guidelines, and performance expectations for the team.
• Ensure clear scope boundaries, prioritization, and alignment with project needs.
• Provide technical oversight across electrical engineering, test engineering, and chemistry process engineering.
• Lead process development, implementation, and continuous improvement of new and existing discipline processes.
• Drive test strategies for hardware systems: functional tests, environmental tests, integration tests, and performance validation.
• Oversee the development of chemistry processes related to our hardware (e.g., isotope handling steps, material treatments, chemistry system workflows) and ensure they are documented, repeatable, and controlled.
• Partner with Mechanical Design, Analysis, and Systems Engineering to ensure hardware design requirements are testable and process compatible.
• Review and sign off on test plans, test reports, procedures, and process documentation.
• Ensure adherence to engineering procedures and standards for test execution and process development.
• Drive test readiness: equipment availability, staffing, safety reviews, and configuration control.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering to ensure verification & validation activities are planned and executed.
• Interface with safety, quality, and regulatory stakeholders.

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, or similar with a strong focus on hardware and experiment
• 8+ years of engineering experience, including significant experience in hardware development, testing and process development.
• 3+ years of engineering management experience or technical leadership with supervisory responsibilities; experience leading multidisciplinary teams preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing test plans, procedures, and hardware validation.
• Familiarity with process development (hardware, chemical, or manufacturing).
• Strong understanding of engineering rigor, configuration control, and documentation quality.
• Experience in multidisciplinary environments and comfort leading teams with varied engineering specialties.
• Excellent communication, prioritization, and decision-making skills.

• Position requires in-office presence in Seattle (South Lake Union) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, remote work is optional on Mondays and Fridays.
• Travel:
  Travel is required, 8 hrs./day

The anticipated salary band for this position is $,000
. The final job level and compensation will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, years of relevant experience, skills,…