R&D Test Engineer

Location: Onsite — Austin, TX Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full‑Time Job Title: R&D Test Engineer 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