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Test Engineer, Hardware and Systems

Chariotdefense

San Bruno, California, US$120k – $160konsite

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About this role

About Us

Chariot Defense is a defense technology company that designs and manufactures a family of power products for the U.S. military and its allies. We believe that credible deterrence of armed conflict and winning if deterrence fails, requires more than just the best drones, sensors, weapons, electronic warfare systems, and command & control capabilities. Those critical components will require sustained electric power in austere and resource-constrained environments. Moreover, military units must be able to turn off the trucks and generators that generate this power to hide and survive. In other words, power generation must be decoupled from power consumption. Chariot Defense’s products enable exactly this capability, allowing U.S. and allied militaries to be more lethal and survivable. We hope you will join us on this mission.

About the Role

Chariot Defense is looking for a Test Engineer to own hardware validation across our power systems across mechanical, electrical, thermal, power electronics and controls, performing component-level all the way to full system integration testing in environmental and operational conditions. You'll sit at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and systems engineering, building the test infrastructure and executing the validation strategy that gets Amphora and future cutting-edge products in energy and power storage, and mobility, from prototype to fielded.

Our team comes from Tesla, Anduril, Apple, Archer, and the U.S. military. We build hardware that operators depend on in the field — and we validate it like lives depend on it, because they do. We emerged from stealth in 2025, are already fielded across DoD exercises, and are backed by General Catalyst, a16z, and DCVC. This is a high-ownership, high-impact, hands-on role. You'll write the test plan, build the fixture, develop the electronics, controls, and firmware, run the test, triage the failure, and close the loop with design.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, instrument, and automate test equipment for electrical, mechanical, thermal and environmental validation of hardware — batteries, inverters, DC-DC converters, controllers/ ECUs, distribution units, and integrated Amphora systems

• Own hardware unit-level test station development: design specialized automated test equipment (ATE), write test scripts, and maintain test coverage as hardware evolves

• Execute component, subsystem, and system-level validation across electrical, thermal, and mechanical dimensions — including high-voltage characterization and fault injection

• Develop and run environmental test programs per MIL, energy, and automotive specs: temperature cycling, vibration, shock, ingress, corrosion etc.

• Collaborate with firmware engineers to validate embedded control logic, power management algorithms, and system behavior under real and edge-case conditions

• Interface with design engineers to identify failure modes early, generate DVP&R entries, and drive design changes based on test findings

• Build and maintain DAQ systems; automate data collection and post-processing pipelines in Python, LabVIEW, Matlab/ Simulink or similar tools.

• Support HIL/SIL validation setups; correlate bench test data with simulation models to close the loop on design confidence

• Help establish Chariot's test lab infrastructure — equipment selection, calibration processes, safety protocols, and documentation standards

What We’re Looking For

Required:

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related field

• Experience in an immersive system design project or research study/ thesis, in collegiate project teams (e.g.: FSAE, BAJA, Hyper-mileage/ Solar Vehicles), other extracurricular participation, or professional settings.

• 3+ years of hands-on hardware test and validation experience — electronics/ ECUs, power electronics and power systems, Lithium-ion based batteries, or high-density embedded hardware

• Proficiency with electrical test equipment: oscilloscopes, power supplies, DAQs, multimeters, function generators, electronic loads

• Experience designing or contributing to automated test equipment (ATE) or test station development

• Proficiency in Python, LabVIEW or other automated test platforms for test automation, data acquisition, and post-processing

• Solid understanding of mechanical, thermal, electrical, and controls first principles and fundamentals

• Familiarity with CAN, SPI, I2C, LIN, UART, or other embedded communication protocols and the ability to use them for test and debug

• Experience working safely with high-voltage systems

Qualifications

Required :

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent work experience.

• Experience in an immersive system design project or research study/ thesis, in collegiate project teams (e.g.: SAE, FSAE, BAJA, others), other extracurricular participation, or professional settings.

• A minimum of 2+ years of experience in a technical engineering, design, or product role in a professional setting.

• Proven 3D CAD skills (any platform, but SOLIDWORKS preferred), as well as CAE/ FEA experience, and the ability to produce high-quality engineering 2D drawings that comply with common industry standards (e.g.: GD&T, ASME standards etc.)

• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals in structures, materials, fluids and aero, thermal, controls, mechanics/ dynamics, system modeling, and fundamentals of physics.

• Manufacturing knowledge & experience with machine shops (sheet metal, CNC, lathe, sand casting, forging, die-casting etc.).

• Rapid prototyping background (structures/electronics/software) & 3D printing knowledge.

• Proficient in hands-on prototyping (machining, shop tools, welding, soldering), and demonstrated hands-on fabrication skills.

• Familiarity with MIL-STD, DO-160, or other automotive, defense, and aerospace standards.

Preferred :

• Top-notch engineering intuition and first principles thinkin

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