Sr. Manufacturing Systems Engineer

Base Power
Austin, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have hands-on experience designing electrical test systems and a background in power-related manufacturing.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on test system design experience and a passion for power grid innovation
    — “rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization–electricity–by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries”
  • Individuals who thrive in cross-functional, startup-style environments with shifting priorities
    — “priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time”
  • Engineers with a systems-level understanding of manufacturing and test equipment operations
    — “Understand engineering first principles of test equipment and have a system level grasp of operations”

Things to consider

  • This role demands in-person work and may involve long hours beyond a traditional schedule
    — “We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in.”
  • Candidates must be adaptable to evolving responsibilities and not limited to a fixed set of tasks
    — “Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with end-of-line test systems and production machinery in your resume
    — “Hands-on experience designing and building end-of-line and functional test systems”
  • Demonstrate familiarity with power system controls and grid simulators during interviews
    — “Understanding of grid simulators, RLC power manipulation, inverter operations, and power system controls”
  • Showcase your ability to interpret CAN bus traces and troubleshoot PLC systems
    — “Experience with CAN bus communications and ability to interpret traces”
  • Emphasize your capability to translate complex data into clear presentations for diverse audiences
    — “Effective at summarizing/presenting data in a manner that is easily digestible to various technical and non-technical audiences”
  • Demonstrate your ability to work with multiple programming languages like LabVIEW and Python
    — “Ability to read and understand software code (e.g., TestStand, LabVIEW, Python, Golang, C, C++)”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Leading uptime improvements on manufacturing test equipment
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturing test equipment meets expectations
  • Providing ongoing troubleshooting support for testers after deployment
Typical background
5+ years of experience in electrical test systems design

Skills & requirements

Required

Electrical Test Systems DesignTest Equipment DeploymentData AnalysisAutomation SystemsIndustrial SensorsPLC ProgrammingLinux And Windows Operating SystemsGrid SimulatorsInverter OperationsPower System ControlsCAN Bus Communications

Preferred

TeststandLabviewPythonGoCC++

Stack & domain

Electrical Test Systems DesignLinuxWindowsGrid SimulatorsRLC Power ManipulationInverter OperationsPower System ControlsCAN Bus CommunicationsPLC ProgrammingProblem SolvingData AnalysisCommunicationTeamworkManufacturingEngineeringAutomation

About the role

Original posting from Base Power via Ashby

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.

Source: Base Power careers (Ashby)

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