Hardware Test Engineer

Mill is a waste prevention technology company reimagining what it means to eliminate waste, starting with food. We build smart systems and infrastructure for homes, businesses, and municipalities that transform food scraps from landfill-bound waste into valuable resources, including chicken feed. Tens of thousands of Mill’s residential food recyclers are already helping households divert millions of pounds of food scraps every year, paving the way for our upcoming launch of Mill Commercial—the industry’s first end-to-end solution for managing, understanding, and preventing food waste in commercial environments (e.g. grocery, restaurants, food services). At Mill, we are passionate about building easy-to-use, beautifully designed technologies that keep food in the food system and out of landfills.

About this Role:

As a Hardware Test Engineer at Mill, you will be responsible for creating and overseeing the tests used to verify and validate the next generation of Mill’s commercial dry and grind technology. We are a small team and you will work cross-functionally with Electrical/Mechanical Engineers, Algorithms and Systems Teams to design and operate tests that demonstrate functionality and reliability of products and features. Because of this, you’ll also have key insights into influencing the direction of design and implementation of features necessary for the success of our products! We’re looking for someone who not only uses a thorough approach to test design, but also has the ability to get hands-on in delivering robust test apparatuses with clear and consistent outputs, both in results and in documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct test apparatuses for characterizing, evaluating, and verifying product/system features and functionality
• Develop measurement methods from the ground up — selecting and integrating sensors and proving out fixture accuracy and repeatability 
• Partner with algorithms and firmware teams to verify operational intent of features and systems under test, and advise on parameter adjustments
• Advise mechanical engineers on design changes based on test results
• Work with systems engineers to validate requirements with either benchtop tests or quick prototypes that corroborate theoretical models
• Stand up data pipelines to seamlessly visualize collected test results
• Write documentation with clear processes and procedures on test operation
• Create test reports and slide decks that highlight key areas of improvement for features and mechanisms, and advise on risks for development
• Diagnose and triage issues in the field, using hands-on troubleshooting and problem-solving to recommend solutions

Qualifications

Required 

• BS and or MS degree in related engineering fields (Mechanical/Mechatronics, Electrical, etc.)
• 3-5 years experience working hands on in developing test fixtures and infrastructure
• Experience through at least one or more product development cycles
• Demonstrated experience with working and communicating cross functionally between various engineering disciplines
• Hands-on experience with electromechanical integration and part selection
• Experience with measurement and instrumentation — including force, vibration, and temperature sensing — and a strong grasp of accuracy, precision, and error sources 
• Strong communications skills through written, verbal and graphical presentation techniques
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across the entire company
• Experience with data acquisition systems and IO computing devices (Arduino, Raspberry Pi) to configure test operations and collect data
• Experience writing code (Python, etc) to script tests for automated operation

Preferred

• Solidworks/Fusion/NX CAD proficiency
• Prior startup experience preferred
• Experience working with accelerometers, strain gauges/load cells, fluid handling systems, and/or air flow characterization
• Working with high powered appliances 
• Experience with Jetson, Raspberry Pi CM, or other embedded compute platforms integrated into hardware systems

The estimated base salary range for this position is $130K-145K which does not include the value of benefits or a potential equity grant. A wide range of factors are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets, market conditions, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and business and organizational needs. At Mill, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role.