Staff Validation & Tools Engineer - Embedded Firmware

What You'll Do

• Define the technical vision, architecture, and roadmap for embedded firmware and software validation across product programs
• Design, scale, and maintain SIL and HIL validation infrastructure to support automated system-level testing, regression coverage, release readiness, and issue reproduction
• Build and evolve validation frameworks that improve test coverage, execution speed, reliability, traceability, and quality reporting across firmware and software releases
• Establish clear validation metrics, including test coverage, pass/fail trends, defect escape rate, regression health, and release readiness indicators
• Lead end-to-end validation planning for new features, firmware releases, connectivity workflows, and system-level product behavior
• Partner with Hardware, Firmware, Systems, Mobile, Cloud, and Product teams to ensure requirements are testable, risks are understood, and validation plans are aligned before implementation
• Lead technical root-cause analysis for complex system issues across hardware, firmware, embedded software, connectivity, and test infrastructure
• Develop and improve automated test tooling using Python-based frameworks such as Robot Framework or Pytest, and integrate validation workflows into CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar)
• Use SIL/HIL environments, embedded debug tools, logs, sniffers, and hardware interfaces to reproduce, isolate, and resolve defects
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers on validation strategy, debugging methods, test design, and quality ownership, and communicate validation status and release readiness to engineering and product leadership

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
• 8+ years in embedded software validation, firmware testing, software quality engineering, or validation tools development, with a track record leading validation strategy or test architecture for complex embedded, connected, automotive, or IoT platforms
• Experience building or scaling automated validation frameworks for firmware, embedded software, system-level testing, or hardware-in-the-loop environments, with hands-on testing of RTOS-based or Linux-based systems
• Strong understanding of embedded architectures, microcontrollers, bootloaders, firmware update flows, hardware/software interfaces, and board-level debug workflows, using tools like JTAG, serial consoles, SWD, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes
• Experience validating connectivity, location services, or wireless technologies such as cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE, or GNSS
• Strong programming and scripting skills, especially in Python, with experience using automation frameworks such as Robot Framework or Pytest
• Working knowledge of CI/CD systems and automated validation workflows (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or similar)
• Experience with SIL and HIL validation environments, including test execution, automation, reporting, defect reproduction, and regression analysis
• Familiarity with test management, requirements management, and bug tracking tools for release reporting and quality metrics, plus hands-on experience with automotive protocols (UDS, XCP, CAN, CAN-FD, I2C, SPI, UART, USB, USB-PD) and network analysis tools like Vector CANoe or CANalyzer
• Ability to lead root-cause analysis across hardware, firmware, software, and connectivity, with strong communication skills to explain validation strategy and release readiness to stakeholders

Additional information

The salary for this position ranges from $170,000 - $210,000 per year, depending on experience, qualifications, and location.

Perks & Benefits

• Robust health coverage - excellent health, dental and vision insurance covered up to 100% by ALSO with FSA & HSA options
• One Medical membership and dedicated insurance advocates
• Rich fertility and family building benefits with Progyny
• Flexible time off
• 401(k) match

• #LI-MH1
• Why ALSO.
• We’re passionate about helping the world find a better way to get there-wherever it is you’re headed.
• We’re located in the heart of Silicon Valley and have brought together a world-class team from some of the biggest brands in the technology, automotive, cycling, outdoor recreation and retail spaces.
• Together we’re working hands-on to imagine, design and build an entirely new solution to a global set of transportation challenges.