Test & Quality Engineer (f/m/d)

Startdate

From 01.11.2026 onwards.

What you will be doing here

MAGNOTHERM builds refrigerant-free magnetocaloric cooling systems, and quality in a thermal machine is not an inspection sticker — it’s a measured number per unit.

Your role has two deliberate phases. First, you build the quality backbone of our first series production: the end-of-line calorimetric test station that measures every unit’s real performance, and the quality plan behind it — then you run both through the full production run, per-unit, with a results database that catches drift before it becomes a batch problem. Second, once the fleet is built, you roll forward into product qualification: the acoustic, vibration, electrical, environmental, and reliability test campaigns that turn our full-scale machine into equipment a customer can deploy. One role, two phases by design — first you assure every unit, then you qualify the whole machine.

What you'll own:

Phase 1 — Series QA (the production run)

1. End-of-line test station. Specify, design, build, and commission the per-unit calorimetric test station: thermal measurement, hydraulic interfaces, automated test sequence, and correlation against the lab reference — ready before the first production batch needs it.
2. Quality plan. The production quality system, built with the industrialization lead: process FMEA, inspection plan, acceptance criteria, and per-unit traceability from serial number to test record.
3. End-of-line execution & data management. Run the end-of-line test through the full production run: per-unit performance measurement, a results database, statistical trend monitoring, and the pass/fail calls — plus root-cause support on units that fail and verification after rework.

Phase 2 — Product qualification (the full-scale machine)

1. Qualification planning. Translate customer and standards requirements into an executable type-test program for the full-scale machine: acoustic, vibration and structural-dynamics, power-quality and electrical, environmental and reliability testing.
2. Campaign execution. Plan, instrument, and run the qualification campaigns — partly in-house, partly at external test labs you select and manage — and author the reports that carry the machine through customer acceptance.
3. Factory witness testing. Prepare and run the factory acceptance and witness tests with the customer in the room: procedures, dry runs, execution, and the documentation trail that follows.

What you would ideally bring to the table

Must-have skills & experience

• Degree in mechanical, process, or electrical engineering (or equivalent); 3+ years in testing, QA, or validation of physical products — ideally thermal, fluid, or electromechanical machinery.
• Test-bench engineering: you’ve specified or built a functional test station — measurement chain, fixtures, automated sequence — not just operated one.
• Thermal/hydraulic measurement competence: temperature, flow, pressure, power; calorimetric or performance testing experience is a strong plus.
• Test automation and data handling: scripted test sequences, structured results storage, and the analysis to spot a trend before it becomes scrap (Python or similar).
• Quality-method literacy: FMEA, inspection planning, acceptance criteria, traceability, non-conformance handling — applied, not just certified.
• Documentation strength: test procedures, reports, and records that survive a customer audit.
• Working style: methodical and incorruptible on pass/fail, hands-on at the bench, comfortable being the person who says “this unit doesn’t ship.”
• English language skills (C1+), German language skills (C1+).

Nice to have

• End-of-line testing at production rate — testing to cycle time (takt), station uptime, operator handoff.
• Type-testing or qualification experience against standards: acoustics, vibration/seismic, EMC/power quality, environmental (corrosion, temperature/humidity), or reliability demonstration.
• External test-lab management: selecting, contracting, and supervising accredited labs.
• Factory-acceptance-test experience with customers present.
• HVAC, chiller, or heat-pump performance-testing background (performance-metric standards literacy).
• Statistical process control and measurement-system analysis (MSA/Gage R&R).

What makes this role unusual

• Two careers in one role, by design: series QA engineer during the production run, qualification engineer for the flagship machine after — both phases are budgeted and scheduled from the start, so the growth path is committed, not hoped for.
• Every unit crosses your bench: the performance number you measure per unit is the product’s claim in miniature — you are the last honest check between production and the machine.
• Qualification with a real customer waiting: the type-test program you run isn’t a paper exercise — a committed lead customer’s deployment depends on the reports you author.
• Greenfield test infrastructure: the EOL station, the results database, the quality plan — none of it exists yet; you build the company’s testing culture along with its stations.

What you will get from the job

• Flexible hours and 30 days of vacation.
• Compensation aligned with startup standards, with room to grow as the company scales.
• A team that's sharp, interdisciplinary, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
• The chance to pioneer technology that actually helps the planet.
• Ownership, responsibility, and a culture where learning from mistakes is expected.
• A front-row seat as a deep-tech company scales.
• Memes. Good ones. And lots of them.

PS: We are a big fan of cover letters. They don't need to be long, but getting the general idea of who you are and what motivates you helps in the application selection. A portfolio of work you can share externally is also welcome.

About us

We believe in science; we believe in facts. Climate change is speeding up more than ever and we need to do something about it. We are convinced that we need better technologies to overcome this tremendous challenge – or more precisely: this tremendous threat to humanity. We are on a mission to decarbonize the refrigeration industry and reduce its contribution of 7% to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Support us in making our vision a reality – join us!

We are material scientists, chemists, physicists, a lot of engineers as well as product and graphic designers. We are an agile team of bright minds with diverse and international backgrounds. We love hanging out together, we argue about new technologies, politics, the best sport, and food trends. Basically, we are human.

MAGNOTHERM is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are open to all groups of people without regard to age, color, national origin, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

Do I need to meet all the requirements to apply?

Studies by several different sources have shown that, on average, men will apply for a job if they meet 60% of the application requirements. In contrast, women/non-binary people will seek to match a much higher percentage of the requirements before applying.

We encourage everyone to apply and give us a chance to evaluate your skills and experience. We are all learning on the job, and although the listing above has been carefully compiled, we are also open-minded and interested to hear about the value you can bring to the role and MAGNOTHERM.

How can I demonstrate that I have particular needs in the application process?

For people living with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or neurodiversity, adjustments and support can make a decisive difference in the application process. If you need any specific accommodations (tools, time, etc.) and feel comfortable disclosing this, please let us know.