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.

The Antares team hails from SpaceX, the White House, the Pentagon, the Department of Energy, MIT, Rigetti Computing, General Atomics, Relativity Space, Ursa Major, and National Laboratories like Idaho, Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, and Savannah River. Antares has raised over $600M in venture capital from top-tier investors and has hundreds of million-dollars on contract with the military services, NASA, and the Department of Energy.

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: $115,000-$150,000

Senior Test Engineer: $140,000-$190,000