Validation Engineer, Body Controls, Vehicle Software

About the role

Validation Engineer, Body Controls, Vehicle Software | Tesla (Vehicle Software)

Location: PALO ALTO, California | Req ID: 250942 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

The Body Controls Validation team ensures the quality and reliability of firmware, sensing, and control systems that bring Tesla vehicles to life. From powered doors and seats to liftgates, windows, wipers, mirrors, and sophisticated interior and exterior lighting systems, we validate the embedded software that powers every tactile interaction customers have with their vehicles.

You'll be at the forefront of self-driving technology, validating user behaviors and interactions for our next-generation fully autonomous vehicle platform. Your work ensures computer vision systems continuously see the world through clean lenses, doors respond seamlessly and safely to user interactions, and interior lighting creates customizable ambiance. You'll also contribute to scaling our Semi truck program, tackling unique validation challenges in pneumatic systems, driver comfort, high-volume manufacturing, and more.

This is a small, passionate, fast-moving team where your validation work directly protects customer safety and experience. Join a group of deeply knowledgeable Engineers who build some of the most comprehensive test infrastructure in the industry, using cutting-edge automation tools and practices to deliver exceptional reliability and performance.

What You'll Do

• Design exhaustive automated test suites that validate safety-critical systems across SIL, PIL, and HIL environments
• Build test infrastructure that scales across hundreds of hardware configurations while maintaining rapid feedback cycles
• Collaborate with Firmware Developers, Integration Engineers, and hardware teams to define testability requirements early in the design process
• Create and maintain regression suites that ensure no regressions for each vehicle software delivery
• Develop Python-based test frameworks, result analysis pipelines, and automated failure triage tools
• Design and assist in building FPGA-based test fixtures that emulate real vehicle electrical environments
• Drive test coverage strategies that map requirements to evidence across all validation layers

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience and evidence of exceptional ability
• Fluency in Python with experience writing self-documenting, reusable, and maintainable test automation code
• Ability to design comprehensive test cases from specifications that go beyond happy path to edge cases and failure modes
• Strong understanding of embedded systems, communication protocols, and real-time constraints
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and use lab equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, electronic loads, multimeters)
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop systems, FPGA-based test platforms, or processor-in-the-loop testing preferred
• Ability to collaborate on and communicate complex technical concepts across multidisciplinary teams
• Bias toward automation, scalable infrastructure, and systematic problem-solving

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program
• Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)

Expected Compensation$140,000 - $360,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefitsPay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.