Systems Engineer, Hardware

Gradient is a climate technology company developing high-efficiency, low-carbon heat pumps to improve home comfort and reduce building emissions. The Systems Engineer will plan, execute, and coordinate testing of heat pump design changes, analyze test data, verify requirements, and document results across internal and external testing environments.

What you'll do:

• Read system and engineering requirements and support translating them into test plans with clear, measurable pass/fail criteria
• Set up and run tests in our lab, including instrumenting units with thermocouples, pressure transducers, power meters, and other sensors; configuring data acquisition; and operating environmental test equipment
• Analyze test data and write concise reports explaining whether requirements were met, supporting conclusions with evidence, and recommending next steps
• Validate firmware features, hardware changes, supplier component changes, and fixes for issues identified in testing or in the field
• Review supplier change requests and alternate components by comparing specifications and identifying potential impacts to performance, reliability, and safety/certification
• Coordinate third-party testing from scope through completion, including communicating requirements, requesting quotes, shipping samples, coordinating schedules, and reviewing results
• Maintain traceability among requirements, test plans, results, part numbers, and engineering changes
• Document work in Gradient's shared engineering systems, including Confluence, Jira, and Arena
• Help build and maintain test fixtures and laboratory equipment
• Learn across engineering disciplines and take on increasingly broad technical ownership as your knowledge of Gradient's products and systems grows

What they're looking for:

• Shared commitment to building businesses and products focused on climate-change mitigation and human well-being
• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, Physics, or another related technical field
• 0–2 years of experience in hardware testing, validation, product development, or related technical work. Internships, co-ops, research labs, capstone projects, robotics/student engineering teams, and other substantial hands-on project experience count
• Experience with LabVIEW for test execution or data acquisition
• Hands-on experience building, testing, instrumenting, debugging, or analyzing physical systems
• Experience collecting and analyzing data using instrumentation, sensors, data-acquisition tools, multimeters, or similar equipment
• Ability to approach a technical problem systematically, moving from requirements and hypotheses to testing, evidence, and conclusions
• Ability to analyze test data and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with people from different technical backgrounds
• Curiosity and willingness to learn unfamiliar technical areas
• Initiative and demonstrated ownership through academic, extracurricular, internship, research, or professional experiences
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to keep multiple focused projects moving

Benefits:

• Equity
• Medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance
• 401k
• Paid parental leave
• Professional Development Stipend
• Commuter benefits
• Flexible PTO