Test Engineer II

Location

Los Angeles, Torrance, CA

Full time

Manufacturing & Quality Test

• $112K – $150K
  • Offers Equity

At Antares, our long-term mission is to make clean energy abundant from Earth to the Asteroid Belt. We are building mass‑producible, inherently safe, deployable microreactors for terrestrial, underwater, and space use. Formed in 2023, our team draws from Space

X, MIT, The White House, and national labs, and we have raised over $130M in venture capital and $13M in government funding.

As a Test Engineer on Antares’ Test Engineering team, you will design, build, and own test infrastructure for our R1 microreactor. You will develop end‑to‑end test plans – from concept to data analysis – for components and subsystems spanning heat rejection, power distribution, thermal management, and mechanical systems. You will document best practices, collaborate with cross‑functional teams to align prototypes with test plans, and maintain precision in test setups.

• Architect, build, and employ bespoke test stands and rigs for heat pipe components and assemblies
• Develop comprehensive test plans and protocols: instrumentation, execution steps, pass/fail criteria, and data analysis workflows
• Build test schedules and ensure alignment with development and business needs
• Lead test design and readiness reviews and communicate approach and results with stakeholders
• Validate measurement precision and accuracy; procure or design specialized fixtures and sensors as needed
• Create schematics and CAD models of test setups and facilities
• Define standard processes and workflows for prototype, qualification, and production‑grade testing
• Provide subject matter expertise on test methods, including mentoring teammates
• Participate in root cause investigations and implement corrective actions to prevent repeat failure

• Bachelor’s degree in physics or an engineering discipline
• 2+ years of hands‑on test engineering experience
• Experience designing assemblies and test fixtures using CAD
• Experience integrating and using test instrumentation (pressure transducers, thermocouples, strain gauges, relays, solenoid valves, etc.)

• Master’s degree or higher in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• Experience designing and building test rigs and executing thermal and mechanical tests
• Experience with LabVIEW, Simulink, or similar test software
• Experience testing thermal management or heat‑rejection systems, or vacuum‑relevant components
• Experience in mechanical, durability, or materials testing
• Leadership experience on a project or research team
• Strong project management and cross‑disciplinary communication skills
• Demonstrated track record of high‑impact technical contributions
• Experience with part inspection technologies (micrometers, CMM, white‑light scanning, etc.)
• Knowledge of PLM, ERP, and related manufacturing systems
• Strong Python or general programming experience

• Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones
• Ability to lift 25 lbs; role may require standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying

• Think in Systems – Use first principles and probabilistic thinking without over‑optimizing components.
• Obsess over the End User – Maintain focus on customers and end users across the product lifecycle.
• Be Unconstrained by Convention – Pursue ambitious solutions and challenge conventional limits.
• Go Where the Work Is – Engage stakeholders directly and prioritize in‑person collaboration.
• Operate in the Grey – Embrace nuance and question fundamental assumptions.

Antares is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident, (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

$112K - $150K