Helix Earth is a rapidly growing startup on a mission to improve conditions in the built environment and beyond. Born from innovations originally designed for NASA’s space exploration, our groundbreaking solutions are now being adapted to revolutionize air conditioning and pioneer new carbon capture technologies. If you’re eager to contribute to a greener future and be part of a team shaping the forefront of sustainable technology, Helix Earth is the perfect place for you to make a difference. Join us in creating a cooler, cleaner planet for generations to come. Join us in creating a cooler, cleaner planet for generations to come.
Helix Earth is seeking an HVAC Test & Validation Engineer. This position is primarily onsite at our Houston, TX office and will include periodic visits to local customer sites to support testing, commissioning, and performance evaluations.
About You
You are a hands-on engineer who enjoys building, testing, troubleshooting, and validating HVAC systems in both laboratory and real-world environments.
You have a strong understanding of psychrometrics, refrigeration systems, airflow measurement, and HVAC controls. You know how to turn test data into engineering insight and can confidently identify the root cause of performance issues.
You thrive in fast-paced development environments where products evolve rapidly and testing plays a critical role in guiding engineering decisions.
You enjoy spending time both in the lab and in the field, instrumenting systems, collecting high-quality data, and ensuring products meet performance requirements.
Job Responsibilities
- Lead performance testing of HVAC and dehumidification systems throughout EVT, DVT, and production validation phases.
- Develop and execute detailed test plans to validate product requirements and performance targets.
- Verify airflow, moisture removal capacity, energy consumption, refrigeration performance, and overall system efficiency.
- Design and maintain test setups, instrumentation systems, and data acquisition platforms.
- Select, install, and calibrate sensors for temperature, humidity, dew point, airflow, pressure, refrigerant measurements, and electrical power.
- Perform root-cause analysis of performance issues identified during laboratory or field testing.
- Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers to implement and validate corrective actions.
- Support installation and commissioning of pilot and commercial systems.
- Conduct field performance audits and building evaluations.
- Analyze HVAC operating data and generate actionable engineering recommendations.
- Generate technical reports summarizing system performance, reliability, and product improvements.
- Support certification efforts including ASHRAE, AHRI, UL, and ETL testing programs.
Qualifications
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
- 2–5 years of experience in HVAC, refrigeration, thermal systems, or product testing.
- Understanding of psychrometrics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and airflow systems.
- Experience with HVAC instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
- Ability to work in laboratory and field environments.
- Experience with HVAC commissioning, ASHRAE/AHRI test methods, or building automation systems is preferred.
- Experience with heat pumps, dehumidification systems, or liquid desiccant technologies is a plus.
Benefits
- Equity in the company
- Health, dental and vision insurance for employees
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching
- Flexible time off
- Growth potential
NO RECRUITERS
