Test Engineer II-Senior

About Us At Antares, our long-term mission is to make clean energy abundant from Earth to the Asteroid Belt. We’re fueled by the belief that advanced nuclear energy can strengthen our military, solve the climate crisis, elevate global living standards, and expand humanity's presence in outer space. To achieve our mission, we’re building mass-producible, inherently safe, deployable microreactors that can be used terrestrially, underwater, and in space. Formed in 2023, the Antares team hails from SpaceX, The White House, MIT, Rigetti Computing, The Air Force, General Atomics, Relativity Space, Ursa Major, and National Laboratories like Los Alamos, Idaho, and Oak Ridge. Antares has raised over $600M in venture capital from top-tier investors and has over $13M in government funding. About the Team As a Test Engineer in 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 help develop and document our testing best practices, requirements, and workflows to enable rapid iteration and high-quality data. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that prototype, development, and qualification hardware is designed with respect to a test plan that validates critical features and performance parameters. You will design, validate, and maintain test setups to ensure the required precision and accuracy. Roles and Responsibilities: - 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 Basic Qualifications: - 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.) Preferred Skills & Experience: - Master’s degree or higher in mechanical or aerospace engineering - 5+ years of hands-on test engineering experience - 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 Additional Requirements: - 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 Compensation: - Test Engineer II: $112,000-$150,000 - Senior TestEngineer: $14…