Test Infrastructure Engineer

About Avalanche EnergyAvalanche 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 like designing practical hardware, but you do not want to stop at the drawing. You are equally comfortable in CAD, at a workbench, and in a test cell. You may be laying out a fixture in the morning, fabricating it in the afternoon, and commissioning it alongside the experiment. You think like a tooling engineer: you care about interfaces, access, tolerances, safety, serviceability, and repeatability. You take pride in building robust systems, maintaining them, and improving them when reality exposes a better solution.About the RoleAvalanche Energy is seeking a Test Infrastructure Engineer to design, build, commission, and maintain infrastructure that makes our fusion experiments possible. This role sits between mechanical design, electrical systems, facilities, manufacturing, and test operations. You will turn experimental needs into fixtures, test stands, utility systems, equipment layouts, and reliable hardware that can be safely operated and quickly changed.This is not a desk-only design role. You will own work from initial concept and requirements through CAD, drawings, procurement, fabrication, assembly, installation, checkout, documentation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Some designs will be built by outside vendors or other team members; many will be built or modified by you.ResponsibilitiesDesign, build, commission, modify, and maintain test cells, fixtures, tooling, equipment supports, utility systems, and experimental infrastructureTranslate experimental needs into practical requirements, concepts, layouts, CAD models, drawings, bills of material, and build plansPerform hands-on fabrication and assembly using common shop tools and processes. Coordinate outside fabrication when appropriateDesign and integrate mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls, water, gas, pneumatic, hydraulic, vacuum, and thermal-management systemsOwn test infrastructure through its full lifecycle, including installation, checkout, documentation, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and retirementDevelop safe, serviceable, and repeatable solutions with thoughtful access, routing, labeling, guarding, lifting, and human factorsSupport fusion test cells from floor to ceiling, including equipment layouts, foundations and supports, utilities, cable and hose routing, work access, and facility interfacesWork directly with engineers, scientists, technicians, and operators to prepare experiments and resolve problems during build and test campaignsParticipate directly in rapid design-build-test cycles, balancing speed with sound engineering judgment and workmanshipCreate and maintain drawings, schematics, assembly instructions, operating procedures, maintenance records, and configuration documentationEstablish practical standards and reusable approaches for test infrastructure, tooling, utility distribution, and lab workmanshipIdentify fragile setups, recurring failures, safety risks, and maintenance burdens, then design and implement durable improvementsPlan and coordinate equipment moves, installations, vendor work, and facility modifications associated with test infrastructureKeep shared tools, spares, work areas, and infrastructure organized, functional, and ready for the next build or testRequired QualificationsBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experienceStrong mechanical design skills, including 3D CAD, detailed drawings, tolerancing, material selection, and design for fabrication and assemblyDemonstrated hands-on experience building, installing, commissioning, maintaining, or repairing equipment you designedExperience designing fixtures, tooling, test stands, prototype equipment, or industrial machineryWorking knowledge of electrical systems, instrumentation, sensors, controls, and basic electrical troubleshootingExperience integrating fluid, pneumatic, vacuum, thermal, or other facility-supported systemsAbility to safely use common hand tools, power tools, measurement equipment, and shop equipmentAbility to take ambiguous needs from concept through working hardware with limited oversightStrong ownership, practical judgment, communication skills, and attention to detail in a fast-moving R&D environmentThree or more years of experience in tooling, test, manufacturing, or R&D engineeringDesired QualificationsExperience with SolidWorks or a comparable mechanical CAD and drawing systemExperience designing welded structures, machined parts, sheet-metal assemblies, guards, platforms, or equipment framesExperience designing or building radiation shielding systemsFamiliarity with vacuum or ultra-high-vacuum systems and vacuum-compatible design practicesExperience with chillers, pumps, heat exchangers, cryogenic systems, gas handling, or process plumbingExperience working around high-voltage, high-current, stored-energy, radiation, or other hazardous-energy systemsExperience with PLCs, automation, machine safety, interlocks, data acquisition, or control panelsExperience with rigging, lifting fixtures, equipment installation, and industrial safety practicesExperience managing vendors, fabrication quotes, procurement, schedules, and installation workPrior work in fast-paced, hardware-driven R&D, aerospace, energy, or advanced manufacturing environmentsAdditional ConsiderationsLocation: Onsite to support hands-on design, fabrication, installation, testing, and close integration with mechanical, manufacturing, electrical, facilities, and experimental teamsSite: Tukwila, Washington and Richland, WashingtonTravel: Occasional travel for vendor visits, equipment procurement, integration, or collaboration as neededBenefitsExcellent medical, dental, and vision benefits10 paid holidays and a company-wide December holiday breakGenerous paid vacation and sick timeSmall, tight-knit team with low barriers to actionExposure to a wide range of challenging design, fabrication, integration, and test problemsMeaningful equity in the form of stock optionsWe value people of all races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, and sexual orientations. We are an equal opportunity employer, and you do not need to match every listed qualification to apply. If you like owning designs from the screen to the test cell and making difficult hardware work in the real world, we encourage you to apply.