Instrumentation & Automation Engineer
Base Power Company· startup· Energy· Oct 20, 2026 · 8d ago
Austin, TX
In office
Full-time
Senior
$160K–$220K est.
5+ years exp
Job description
ABOUT BASE
Base is America’s next-generation power company. We’re rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization–electricity–by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries that is transforming today’s fragile, centralized grid into a resilient and abundant system. We are engineers, operators, and creatives solving some of the most complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Base is seeking a Test Engineer to facilitate the deployment, sustaining, and improvement of automated manufacturing test systems developed in-house for the production of battery backup systems. As a member of our team, you will ensure the products developed by the team meet world-class expectations and ensure success of the overall project. You must have a genuine passion for engineering and thrive working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
What You’ll Do
- Lead uptime (HW reliability, software faults, maintenance schedules, etc.), cycle time and FPY improvements on manufacturing test equipment.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the manufacturing test equipment meets and exceeds expectations. Understand shortcomings when expectations are not met.
- Perform preemptive data analysis and voice of the customer (VOC) discussions to understand challenges with manufacturing test equipment post deployment, and advocate for solutions that align with both equipment and production goals.
- Understand engineering first principles of test equipment and have a system level grasp of operations to serve as a key contact for the design team and site operations.
- Build and validate test equipment, then deploy to production lines at contract. manufacturers and internally, while verifying tester documentation to ensure a seamless handoff to production.
- Provide ongoing troubleshooting support for these testers after deployment.
- Support equipment troubleshooting and qualification during development and ramp-up of manufacturing equipment.
What You’ll Bring
- 5+ years of experience in electrical test systems design.
- Exposure to a wide variety of test and automation systems, production machinery, industrial sensors, data acquisition, safety, and I/O devices (i.e., pogo-pins, pressure transducers, temperature controllers, current and power meters, PLCs, etc.)
- Hands-on experience designing and building end-of-line and functional test systems
- Experience with Linux and Windows operating systems.
- Understanding of grid simulators, RLC power manipulation, inverter operations, and power system controls.
- Ability to read and understand software code (e.g., TestStand, LabVIEW, Python, Golang, C, C++).
- Experience with CAN bus communications and ability to interpret traces.
- Basic proficiency in PLC programming and troubleshooting (e.g., Allen-Bradley/Siemens).
- Effective at summarizing/presenting data in a manner that is easily digestible to various technical and non-technical audiences.
- Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
About this Team
Makers of the machines that power tomorrow. The Manufacturing Engineering team owns the interface between a proof of concept and a scalable, profitable product. Our team focuses on how a product can be built, defining the process technology and equipment solutions along the way. We are the feedback loop with the product design team to ensure designs are manufacturable both at cost and scale. The Manufacturing Engineering team owns every aspect of bringing the physical mechanisms of manufacturing a product into the factory.
Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time, so the responsibilities listed may not be exhaustive.
OUR VALUES
- First Principles Thinking: Question assumptions. Principles > rules.
- Operate at Base Pace: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing.
- Give & Get Feedback: Be direct, be humble, and maintain a growth mindset.
- Everyone’s an Owner: Follow through on commitments and own results.
- Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: Drive clarity and make calls with imperfect information.
- Committed to the Mission: Rebuilding the grid is a big challenge. We work hard because we care deeply about the impact we’re creating. We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in.
- Fun & Optimism Coexist with Grit: Collaboration and celebration coincide with the intensity of building real things.
DO THE BEST WORK OF YOUR LIFE AT BASE.
Application prep
Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.
Keywords to mirror
pythongolang
- Platform
- ashby
- Effort
- quick