Integration & Test Systems Engineer

Avalanche Energy is a Washington-based startup building compact, deployable fusion systems through rapid hardware iteration. Rather than pursuing fusion as a single grid-scale outcome, Avalanche develops transportable fusion machines designed to be built, tested, and operated on short cycles, turning real hardware into steady progress. This approach enables near-term applications that demand extreme energy density and endurance—starting with fusion neutron production for radioisotope power and other defense and space uses—while advancing the underlying fusion platform.

Backed by U.S. government programs and a team experienced in delivering complex systems, Avalanche is focused on building fusion that runs in the real world, not just on paper.

Avalanche might be a fit for you if:

You are drawn to the boundary between design and execution—where systems, teams, and hardware have to come together into something that actually runs. You have strong technical judgment and the hands-on instincts to know when something is not ready, even if the paperwork says it is. You are energized by owning a test cell end-to-end: its configuration, its readiness, its safety, and its daily rhythm during campaigns.

You are comfortable making real-time decisions under uncertainty, coordinating across engineering and science teams, and holding the line on safety and rigor in a fast-paced environment. You care about execution discipline because you understand that credible experimental results depend on it.

Avalanche Energy is hiring an Integration & Test Systems Engineer to serve as the technical owner of one of our Orbitron test cells. As we scale the number and complexity of experimental campaigns, we need dedicated technical owners who can ensure test cells operate as stable, safe, and well-integrated execution platforms.

This role owns the technical execution, readiness, and day-to-day operation of an assigned test cell. You will be the primary technical authority for the test cell’s configuration, integration, and operation, and the first point of contact for any technical or execution question related to that cell. You will work closely with scientists, engineering functions, and test operators to ensure experiments are executed safely, repeatably, and in alignment with approved test plans.

This role sits within the Integration & Test team and reports to the Integration & Test Manager.

Test Cell Ownership & Execution

• Own the safe, effective execution of experiments from campaign preparation through closeout. Serve as the primary technical authority for the test cell’s configuration, integration, and operation.
• Own configuration management for the test cell, ensuring that changes are tracked, documentation is current, and procedures and limits remain consistent.
• Serve as the primary test conductor for the test cell, with significant time expected at the console during active campaigns. Select and qualify additional test conductors as needed, ensuring they are current on safety training and knowledgeable about hazards and test cell configuration.
• Coordinate daily test cell activities—hosting stand-ups, managing the test cell calendar, and working with scientists, the Integration & Test Manager, and Program Management on availability and progress.
• Work with engineering and scientists to identify data acquisition (DAQ), controls, instrumentation, and mechanical requirements, and verify that the test cell is ready to support stated objectives.
• Prepare and run test readiness reviews to ensure all prerequisite work has owners and a path to closure. Ensure all safety procedures are current and that personnel are trained on relevant hazards.
• Troubleshoot hardware, instrumentation, and control system issues at the component and system level.
• Perform hands-on integration, assembly, and checkout of mechanical, electrical, and fluid systems as needed to support the engineering teams.

Technical Reviews & Live Testing

• Attend design reviews, integration readiness reviews, and campaign reviews as the test cell technical expert, providing feedback on testability, operability, and integration risks before they…