Heat-to-Power System Test Technician
San Jose, CA, USA
USD 40-49 / hour + Equity
Antora builds and deploys thermal energy storage to power always-on industrial operations and data centers with low-cost energy. Factory-built in California, Antora’s thermal batteries deliver reliable and cost-effective heat and power for industrial loads of any size. Antora is electrifying global industry while supporting U.S. manufacturing jobs, lowering costs for energy consumers, and enhancing the competitiveness of American industry.
We are growing our company with people who put team and mission first, value connection through laughter and joy, and build with humility and openness. We are committed to continue building a diverse, passionate, and creative team dedicated to a future where every industrial facility, everywhere on earth, is powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.
Position Summary
Operate and maintain Heat-to-Power's high-temperature test platforms at Antora's R&D facility. The primary function of this role is test technician: hands-on setup, maintenance, and instrumentation of electrical discharge prototypes that generate the data driving Heat-to-Power development. A secondary function is test operator, running and monitoring campaigns (including unattended and overnight runs within defined limits), with an engineer on call for decisions outside those limits.
Roles & Responsibilities
- After training, independently set up, operate, monitor, shut down, and disassemble high-temperature test campaigns, including unattended and overnight operation within defined limits.
- Maintain and prepare the test rigs: mechanical assembly and disassembly, instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs, pyrometers), gas and cooling systems, and DAQ and controls hardware.
- Keep tools test-ready and track maintenance. Track and manage consumables, spare parts, and instrumentation inventory; flag reorder needs proactively and maintain accurate records to avoid test delays.
- Collect, validate, and deliver post-test datasets used in design iteration, performance evaluation, and reliability analysis.
- Troubleshoot issues across sensors, thermal systems, mechanical assemblies, controls, and data acquisition. Know when to handle it and when to escalate to the on-call engineer.
- Recognize off-nominal or non-physical behavior during operation and respond within defined safety and operating limits.
- Produce and update test procedures, run logs, safety documentation, and post-test summaries.
- Communicate clearly through documentation, plots, and technical discussion with engineers across disciplines.
- Operate complex experimental systems safely and with discipline, given elevated temperatures and electrical power.
- Support implementation of hardware, instrumentation, or procedural improvements that increases test reliability, repeatability, or usability.
Key Qualifications
- 5+ years of hands-on experience operating and maintaining experimental or production hardware, test rigs, or complex equipment (research, industrial, military, or similar).
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in an engineering or technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
- Thermal, mechanical, electrical, or related engineering or technical background sufficient to make operating judgment calls.
- Strong hands-on skills with fixtures, sensors, and test equipment; demonstrated attention to data quality, repeatability, and rigor.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot mechanical, thermal, electrical, or instrumentation issues independently.
- Strong safety awareness around physical systems, electricity, and elevated temperatures.
- Clear written and verbal communication; experience documenting procedures and results.
- Ability to work onsite and independently manage test tasks with guidance from senior engineers.
- Comfortable using AI tools to accelerate documentation, data analysis, troubleshooting, and procedure writing; able to critically evaluate AI-generated output.
Additional Qualifications Desired
- Experience with high-temperature systems, thermal testing, furnaces, heaters, or vacuum environments.
- Familiarity with data acquisition systems (Python-based DAQ, PLCs, or similar) and controls or automation scripting.
- Experience with instrumentation such as thermocouples, pyrometers, RTDs, pressure sensors, current/voltage measurement, or optical diagnostics.
- Prior work with photovoltaics, power electronics, energy conversion, or other experimental energy systems.
- Experience producing clean, reusable test procedures and lab documentation.
Work Location: Onsite - San Jose, CA
Salary Range: $40/hr - $49/hr
Salary Basis: Hourly
Please note that the salary range listed above reflects Antora Energy's estimated pay for this position. The actual salary offered will be within the posted range and determined based on several factors including but not limited to a candidate's experiences, credentials and expertise, as they pertain to the position's requirements.
In addition to a competitive base salary, Antora Energy’s Total Rewards program includes equity compensation in the form of stock options, a premium health benefits package with life and disability insurance, a 401K plan with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and an industry leading paid-time-off policy that features flexible and inclusive holiday observance, as well as paid volunteer time off.
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