Test & Instrumentation Engineer

About Hades

Hades is a modern resource extraction company on a mission to transform how the world accesses critical resources and energy. Founded in 2025, we’re developing ultra-deep laser drilling technologies that push the limits of what’s possible underground. Based in Munich, we’ve raised over €20M in funding from leading European resilience investors including HV Capital, Headline, Project A and Visionaries Tomorrow. We’re now building a world-class team to bring this vision to life.

The Role

As Test & Instrumentation Engineer, you will design, build and operate the test benches that develop, characterise and qualify the Hades sensor suite. You decide whether a sensor is good enough to go into the drilling system, and you prove it with data.

You will take each sensor from datasheet to qualified component: bench characterisation, calibration against traceable references, and environmental testing under the temperature, pressure, vibration and laser-light conditions it will see in the field. The data your benches produce defines what the drilling system can see.

This is a foundational role with significant ownership. You will work closely with our electronics, optics, mechanical and software engineers, and you will set the bar for measurement quality across the company.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and operate test benches for the sensor suite: characterisation, calibration and environmental qualification of sensors for temperature, pressure, flow, strain, vibration, displacement and optical power
• Define sensor test specifications with the engineering team and turn requirements into test plans, acceptance criteria and pass/fail evidence
• Characterise sensor performance: accuracy, linearity, hysteresis, noise, drift, bandwidth and response time, including behaviour under laser exposure, high temperature and high pressure
• Run environmental and lifetime testing (thermal cycling, pressure, shock and vibration, ageing) to qualify sensors and their electronics for downhole and surface use
• Own calibration: build reference setups, define procedures, ensure traceability to accredited standards and quantify measurement uncertainty for every sensor we qualify
• Design the bench electronics: signal conditioning, grounding and shielding, data acquisition and safety interlocks for pressure, thermal and laser testing
• Automate test sequences and build the pipeline from sensor to dataset (logging, processing and reporting) so results are reproducible, traceable and quick to access
• Evaluate sensor suppliers and new sensing technologies, and feed results straight back into sensor selection and system design
• Support validation of the sensor suite on drilling rigs and in the field

Qualifications

• BSc or MSc in Electrical Engineering, Measurement Engineering, Physics, Mechatronics or a related field (recent graduates welcome)
• Hands-on experience building test benches or measurement setups, gained in industry, internships, working-student positions, a thesis or student teams
• Deep understanding of sensor technology, signal conditioning and noise: you know why a thermocouple reading drifts, how to ground a bench and how to keep EMI out of a measurement
• Working knowledge of measurement uncertainty and calibration (GUM, traceability, reference standards)
• Experience with data acquisition hardware and software, e.g. NI hardware/LabVIEW, or comparable DAQ systems
• Proficiency in Python for test automation and data analysis, including statistics on test data; Git and clean, documented code
• Confidence in the lab: reading and drawing schematics, wiring, soldering, and working with oscilloscopes, DAQs, power supplies and reference instruments
• Rigour in documentation: test plans, procedures and reports others can reproduce
• Evidence of exceptional ability, such as top-of-class academics, ambitious side projects, competition or hackathon wins, startup experience or equivalent
• Excellent written and spoken English; German is a plus
• Willing to live in the greater Munich area

Nice to have

• Experience with harsh-environment or downhole sensing (high pressure, high temperature, vibration), e.g. from oil and gas, geothermal, aerospace or automotive
• Optical and photonic sensing: photodiodes, pyrometers, thermal cameras or fibre-optic sensors (FBG, distributed temperature sensing)
• Environmental and qualification testing to standards such as IEC 60068, and working with pressure equipment safely
• Calibration lab practice (ISO/IEC 17025, DAkkS)
• Embedded systems or C/C++ for sensor electronics and firmware
• Laser safety (EN 60825-1) and electrical safety for test equipment (EN 61010-1)

Why Hades?

At Hades, you'll be part of a high-growth, high-impact deep-tech startup making a tangible difference. Our mission is critical: to secure sovereignty for Europe through the responsible and efficient extraction of vital materials and energy. We offer:

• Impactful Work: Contribute directly to solving global challenges related to resource scarcity and energy independence.
• Cutting-Edge Technology: Work at the forefront of ultra-deep drilling, leveraging advanced engineering and innovative approaches.
• Growth Potential: Join a rapidly expanding company with significant opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Dynamic Environment: Thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and entrepreneurial setting in the heart of Munich.
• Purpose-Driven Mission: Be part of a team dedicated to a sustainable and secure future for Europe.

What we offer

• An opportunity to make a huge impact on the future of Europe by increasing resilience and providing a path to resource and energy sovereignty
• A human-centered company culture with super nice and supportive colleagues
• A great sense of community through team events and fun in and outside the office
• Highly competitive compensation and benefits package

If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and contributing to a more sustainable future, we encourage you to apply now.