Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Software/Firmware Engineer

About the role

Waabi, founded by AI visionary Raquel Urtasun, is the leader in Physical AI. With a world-class team, we're unlocking the next era of autonomous transportation with technology that's powering commercial autonomous trucks and robotaxis. Waabi is backed by and partners with world leaders in AI, automotive, logistics, and deep tech.

• With offices in Toronto, San Francisco, Dallas, and Pittsburgh, Waabi is growing quickly and looking for diverse, innovative and collaborative candidates who want to impact the world in a positive way.
• You will...
• Develop the software and firmware that powers Waabi's HIL benches - test runners, simulation/stimulation interfaces, fault-injection tooling, and bench control software.
• Build simulation interfaces that feed synthetic vehicle dynamics (pose, speed, sensor data) to embedded modules under test, and stimulation tooling that injects CAN/Ethernet messages to trigger logical state changes.
• Implement automated test frameworks and scripts to run requirement-based tests (timing, fault handling, mode transitions, disengagements) on real hardware.
• Integrate HIL test execution into CI so firmware and software releases are automatically validated on benches before reaching the vehicle, including test-modality tracking and result reporting.
• Develop instrumentation and data acquisition software for hardware timestamping, analog measurement triggers, and endurance-run analysis.
• Work hands-on at the bench: bring up new bench configurations, debug hardware/software interactions, and support engineers across Embedded, Autonomy, and V&V running tests on HIL.
• Analyze and document test data for hardware, autonomy, and systems engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent industry experience.
• 4+ years of experience developing software for HIL, embedded test automation, or real-time test systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python; working proficiency in C/C++/Rust for embedded or real-time contexts.
• Hands-on experience with automotive communication interfaces - CAN, automotive Ethernet - including message injection, logging, and debugging (e.g., CANalyzer, python-can, SocketCAN).
• Experience building test automation frameworks and integrating hardware tests into CI pipelines.
• Comfortable working with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, DAQs, power supplies, E-loads) and debugging at the hardware/software boundary.
• Strong Linux proficiency for command-line workflows, system utilities, and bench infrastructure.
• Excellent technical writing skills for effective communication and documentation.
• Passionate about self-driving technologies, solving hard problems, and creating innovative solutions.

Bonus

• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and real-time Linux.
• Experience with plant modeling and vehicle dynamics simulation (MATLAB/Simulink, dSPACE ASM, CarSim, or custom).
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (ISO 26262) and safety MCU architectures.
• Experience with GUI or dashboard development for test operators (PyQt, web-based tooling).
• Firmware development experience on automotive microcontrollers.