Senior Instrument Designer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Location: Onsite — Austin, TX

Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full‑Time

Job Title: R&D Test Engineer, Senior

About 9 Mothers

The modern battlefield has changed. Cheap, autonomous suicide drones have turned the tactical advantage upside down, and the world is looking for a solution. At 9 Mothers, we aren’t just "innovating"—we are building the shield.

Backed by top-tier investors, we develop AI powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real-time. Our flagship product is a low-power, counter-drone system built for the edge—on vehicles, at bases, or in a soldier's pack.

Why 9 Mothers?

While others build for "awareness" or "long-term research," we build for the immediate survival of those in harm’s way. We are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders who value field-ready capability over polished slide decks. If you want to see your code or hardware in the field next month—not next year—this is your playground.

Position Summary

We are seeking an R&D Test Engineer to own our high-speed imaging capability end-to-end. Testing is central to how we work—we iterate fast and make decisions from data. This is not a camera operator role; it is a test engineering position where high-speed imaging is the primary diagnostic instrument used to deliver quantitative kinematic data that engineers can act on.

The right person understands the scientific limitations of imaging, designs test setups that yield clean data, and produces analysis that directly answers critical engineering questions regarding firearms and counter-drone systems.

Essential Duties Test Planning & Execution

• Plan and execute high-speed imaging campaigns for mechanism analysis (firearms cycling, feeding, extraction) and ballistic pattern capture (projectile trajectory relative to aerial targets)
• Design test setups including camera positioning, field of view, working distance, and trigger architecture
• Select operating parameters — frame rate, resolution, exposure time, pre-trigger buffer — appropriate to each test objective
• Configure and operate Photron Fastcam and Phantom high-speed camera systems
• Design and implement trigger circuits from TTL sources including pressure sensors, acoustic triggers, and hardware fire signals
• Set up and qualify lighting rigs for high-speed scientific imaging, including continuous LED systems at short exposures
• Perform on-the-spot data quality assessment immediately after capture — identify whether footage is scientifically usable before proceeding to next shot

Quantitative Analysis

• Extract kinematic data (displacement, velocity, acceleration vs. time) from high-speed footage using PFA, ProAnalyst, or equivalent motion analysis software
• Calibrate pixel-to-physical-unit conversions and apply appropriate lens distortion corrections
• Propagate measurement uncertainty through to reported kinematic quantities; characterize what the data can and cannot support
• Produce clear, actionable reports communicating findings to mechanical engineers and program leads — not footage, but data with stated confidence
• Maintain test records, data files, and calibration documentation consistent with a defensible engineering record

Instrumental & Data Acquisition

• Design and build test fixtures and instrumentation setups supporting high-speed imaging campaigns
• Integrate supplementary sensors (pressure, acoustic, accelerometers) with camera trigger and timing systems
• Own data acquisition hardware selection, setup, and operation for test programs
• Support broader test program infrastructure as the team and test scope grow

Test Program Ownership (Growth)

• Develop and maintain test plans, procedures, and data reduction protocols
• Drive test campaign planning from requirements to execution to results delivery
• Build out and maintain the team's high-speed camera infrastructure as equipment is procured
• Evaluate candidate cameras during rental evaluation sessions and provide procurement recommendations

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience operating scientific high-speed cameras (Photron Fastcam, Phantom, or equivalent) in a test or research environment
• Demonstrated experience extracting quantitative kinematic data from high-speed footage — velocity, acceleration, displacement — not just producing video
• Proficiency with motion analysis software: PFA (Photron FASTCAM Analysis), ProAnalyst (Xcitex), or equivalent
• Experience designing and implementing external trigger systems for ballistic or mechanical test events
• Practical understanding of lighting for high-speed scientific imaging — exposure times, continuous vs. pulsed sources, avoiding flicker artifacts
• Ability to assess data quality in the field and make real‑time setup adjustments to recover a test session
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems and multi‑channel sensor integration

Nice‑to‑Have

• Experience in a ballistics, weapons systems, or terminal effects test environment (government range, defense contractor, or national lab)
• Familiarity with firearms mechanics — action types, cycling dynamics, feed system behavior
• Experience with MIL-STD test documentation and defense program T&E workflows
• Background in test fixture design and fabrication
• Experience with Schlieren or shadowgraph imaging for ballistic diagnostics
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one
• M.S. in a relevant engineering or physics discipline
• Passion for building robots or engineering projects as a hobby.

What Success Looks Like

In the first 90 days, this person has completed at least one high-speed imaging campaign for mechanism analysis, delivered a kinematic data report that engineers used to make a design decision, and established a repeatable setup and trigger procedure for our primary test configurations.

On an ongoing basis, high-speed imaging does not slow down our test program. The camera is set up correctly the first time, footage is assessed for quality on the day of the test, and data is in engineers' hands within days of a test event — not weeks. When a test produces ambiguous or inconclusive footage, this person can articulate exactly what the data does and does not support and what would be needed to answer the question definitively.

Work Environment

This role involves regular work in an active test environment including indoor range and outdoor field testing with live fire. Comfort working around firearms, muzzle blast, and associated safety protocols is required. Outdoor test sessions in central Texas conditions — including direct sun and high temperatures — are a routine part of the job.

Benefits

• Meaningful Early Equity: You aren't just an employee; you are a foundational owner. Your contributions directly drive the value of your stake in the company.
• Direct Roadmap Influence: Forget the bureaucracy of big defense. You will have a seat at the table, directly shaping our product and technology trajectory from day one.
• Mission‑Critical Work: We don't build for "what if." We build systems the Department of War actively needs to counter immediate, real-world threats.
• The Builder's Playground: Work in a brand-new lab fully optimized for rapid prototyping, equipped with NVIDIA Jetsons, high‑end scopes, and 3‑D printers.
• 100% Employer‑Paid Premiums: We cover 100% of your medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums and cover 50% of healthcare premiums for your dependents.
• Unlimited PTO: We value results, not clock‑watching. Take the time you need to stay sharp and recharge.
• Zero Red Tape: You report to the founders. You have the autonomy to make technical decisions that would take months of committee approval at a larger firm.
• Austin‑Based Culture: Join an onsite team in Austin, TX, where we prioritize high‑bandwidth collaboration and rapid field‑testing.
• Relocation Assistance: We want the best talent in the room. If you aren't in Austin yet, we’ll help you get here, to make your transition to the Silicon Hills seamless.