---
title: 'R&D Test Operator at Antora Energy'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/r-d-test-operator-antora-energy-san-jose-fqnyc37xfgne'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# R&D Test Operator at Antora Energy

- **Company:** Antora Energy
- **Location:** San Jose, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-09-08
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/antora/jobs/6183587004

## Job description

Antora Energy delivers affordable, reliable energy to industry, data centers, and the grid. Our thermal batteries turn low-cost electricity into always-on heat and power, without supply-constrained critical minerals or multi-year construction timelines.

We are growing our company with people who put team and mission first, value connection through laughter and joy, and work with humility and openness. We are committed to building a diverse, passionate, and creative team dedicated to a future powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.

Position Summary

Antora has developed a first-of-its-kind solid-state thermal battery to deliver zero-carbon industrial heat and power at scale. We are looking for a self-driven, safety-minded R&D Test Operator to support round-the-clock testing of full-scale and subscale experiments as we move rapidly from development to commercialization on novel thermal battery products.

You will join the R&D Test Engineering Team, working hands-on with engineers, operators, and technicians at our R&D hub in San Jose, CA. You will master SCADA and HMI controls to operate high-power, high-temperature test systems during in-person and remote operator shifts, perform physical install and uninstall of test hardware, execute pre- and post-flight checklists, and contribute to preventative maintenance and continuous improvement of the team's test infrastructure.

This is a full-time, site-based role. Primary shifts may include nights, weekends, remote on-call coverage, and overtime to support 24/7 testing.

Roles & Responsibilities

- Operate high-power, high-temperature (>2000 °C) full-scale and subscale test systems via SCADA/HMI interfaces during in-person and remote operator shifts.
- Monitor system health, respond to alarms, recognize unsafe conditions, and execute safe shutdowns when required.
- Perform physical install and uninstall of test articles and execute pre- and post-flight checklists to ensure clean execution of experiments.
- Support commissioning of full-scale thermal energy storage (TES) modules, subscale test rigs, and new or upgraded balance of plant systems.
- Perform preventative maintenance and basic troubleshooting across mechanical, electrical, controls/instrumentation, and network systems.
- Identify and implement continuous improvements to test infrastructure, checklists, and operating procedures.
- Take detailed operational logs and document anomalies for clear communication with test engineering and product development teams.
- Read mechanical and electrical schematics and assist with building, installing, troubleshooting, and repairing balance of plant systems.
- Act as the primary point of contact for the R&D team during off-hours operator shifts.
- Provide on-call and emergency response support for the site during designated shifts.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safety-focused work environment.
- Occasional travel to support commissioning, operation, and troubleshooting at other Antora sites as needed.

## Key Qualifications

- High school diploma or GED (AA/AS in a technical field preferred).
- Experience operating industrial plants or test equipment via SCADA, HMI, or similar control systems, with the ability to build deep proficiency quickly.
- Demonstrated discipline in following and improving structured procedures, checklists, and SOPs.
- Hands-on experience installing, removing, troubleshooting, and repairing industrial equipment (e.g., motors, VFDs, pumps, valves, sensors).
- Familiarity with instrumentation such as RTDs, thermocouples, and transmitters.
- Comfortable using hand tools and basic diagnostic equipment (e.g., multimeters, gas sensors).
- Ability to work independently and make sound judgment calls during remote and off-hours shifts.
- Strong attention to detail and clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Comfortable with basic computer tools and collaboration software (e.g., Slack, Google Suite, Notion).
- Comfortable with leveraging AI-based tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Notion, etc.) to boost productivity and automate processes.
- Willingness to work flexible schedules, including nights, weekends, remote on-call shifts, and overtime to support 24/7 testing

Additional Qualifications Desired

- Technical training or degree in mechanical, electrical, automotive, or related disciplines (or equivalent experience).
- Experience with preventative maintenance programs (planning, tracking, and executing PM schedules).
- Experience with high-temperature, high-power industrial systems (e.g., energy, thermal processing, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, or similar environments).
- Exposure to a wide range of subsystems (thermal, fluids, electrical, controls) and instrumentation (TCs, RTDs, optical sensors, flow meters, load cells, etc.).
- Familiarity with industrial communication protocols and networking (EtherNet/IP, Modbus, Profinet, HART, CAN) and PLC systems.
- Lift operations experience (forklift, rigging, crane operation).
- Strong troubleshooting instincts and ability to develop quick, safe solutions in real time.
- Experience with basic data analysis and reporting

Work Location:  Onsite - San Jose, CA

Salary Range:  $35-41/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.

#LI-Onsite https://diversityjobs.com/employer/top-diversity-employers?utm_campaign=TopEmployer&utm_medium=badge  When it comes to stopping climate change, we need everyone. We believe that having a diversity of backgrounds and experiences strengthens all of us, and we strive to create an environment where every one of us is empowered to create meaningful change.

## About Antora Energy

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Antora Energy manufactures and deploys modular thermal batteries that convert low-cost, intermittent clean electricity into reliable, always-on heat and power for global industrial facilities and data centers.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B)
- **Headquarters**: San Jose, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2018
- **Founders**: Justin Briggs, Andrew Ponec, David Bierman

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Renewable Energy Power Generation, Thermal Energy Storage, Industrial Decarbonization
- **Target customers**: Large-scale industrial energy users (biofuels, refining, pulp & paper, steel & iron, chemicals, mining, concrete & lime, food & beverage) and data center operators (B2B, Enterprise).
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “We are here to power global industry with clean energy.” The company aims to make cheap, clean energy the standard that powers global industry.

## Products & Services
- **Thermal Battery System**: A modular, factory-built energy storage system that uses solid carbon (one of the safest, most stable materials on earth) to store surplus clean electricity as heat. It delivers always-on heat and power for industrial operations, scales from megawatts to gigawatts, and is designed for low cost, rapid deployment, and massive scale.
- **Project Big Stone**: One of the largest battery storage systems in the world, deployed in under 12 months for POET, the world’s largest biofuels producer. It delivers affordable, reliable energy and serves as a proof-of-concept for the company’s giga-scale deployment model.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available.
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of **$220.0M** across 10 rounds, including a $150M Series B led by Decarbonization Partners (Feb 2024). Annual revenue estimated at **$7.7M**.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Decarbonization Partners, National Science Foundation, California Energy Commission. Key partner: POET (biofuels).
- **Growth Signals**: 197 employees (+36.6% YoY), 31,700 LinkedIn followers (+42.9% YoY), active job postings up 140% YoY. The company is building gigawatt-hours of thermal batteries annually at its U.S. factory and has a presence in Spain.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary Technology**: Uses solid carbon thermal storage—a simple, safe, and low-cost material—to provide both heat and power, differentiating from chemical battery or molten salt solutions.
- **Modular & Factory-Built**: Modules are manufactured in a U.S. factory, enabling rapid deployment, seamless integration, and operational redundancy at any scale.
- **Speed to Market**: Project Big Stone advanced from an empty lot to energy delivery in under 12 months, demonstrating a fast deployment model that can be replicated globally.
- **Multi-day Storage**: Provides reliable energy for industrial operations where downtime is not an option, solving the intermittency problem of renewables.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale and Replicate**: Replicating the Project Big Stone model at factories and data centers across the U.S. and globally.
- **Giga-scale Manufacturing**: Expanding factory capacity to produce gigawatt-hours of thermal batteries each year, with a focus on American manufacturing.
- **Market Expansion**: Targeting hard-to-abate industrial sectors (steel, cement, chemicals) and data centers, while expanding internationally (e.g., Spain).
- **Cost Leadership**: Driving down costs to make cheap, clean energy the standard for global industry.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven Work**: The company’s north star is to power global industry with clean energy, offering employees a chance to work on one of the most urgent climate challenges.
- **Culture**: Values include “Build with Humility & Openness,” “Team & Mission First,” and “Joy & Laughter Connect Us.” The company emphasizes kindness, collaboration, and learning from setbacks.
- **Work Environment**: Hybrid/remote-friendly with “Home Week” each quarter to bring in-person and remote team members together. Offices in San Jose, CA; Big Stone City, SD; and remote roles in the U.S.
- **Benefits**: Competitive salary, stock options, 401k match, 16 weeks paid parental leave, comprehensive medical/vision/dental, HSA with employer contribution, subsidized backup childcare/senior care/petcare, mental health support, on-site gym, healthy snacks, and volunteer time off.
- **Engineering & Impact**: Teams work on cutting-edge thermal storage, manufacturing, and field engineering. The company is growing fast (36% headcount growth) and offers the chance to shape a new industry.

## Sources
1. [antora.com](https://www.antora.com/)
2. [antora.com/company](https://www.antora.com/company)
3. [antora.com/careers](https://www.antora.com/careers)
4. [linkedin.com/company/antora-energy](https://www.linkedin.com/company/antora-energy)
5. [cbinsights.com/company/antora-energy](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/antora-energy)

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