QA Engineer - Hardware Compatibility & Integration

QA Engineer – Hardware Compatibility & Integration (Hybrid – Tampa Centric) Metrc is the most trusted and experienced provider of cannabis regulatory systems in the United States and is growing extremely rapidly to expand globally. We provide a solution that combines advanced software, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, a dedicated customer-support team, and a secure database to track and trace cannabis from growth, harvest, and processing to testing, transport, and sale. As a QA Engineer, you will have the opportunity to thrive in a fast-moving, fluid environment and be passionate about implementing change, great processes and procedures in a commercial setting at a fast-growing technology company. General Overview Metrc is seeking a QA Engineer with a specialization in hardware compatibility and integration to join our Quality team. This role is responsible for building and owning the frameworks, standards, and processes that ensure Metrc’s platform works reliably across a wide and continuously expanding ecosystem of hardware devices and third‑party software applications — spanning industrial print systems, RFID and scanning devices, automated packaging equipment, mobile platforms, and the software integrations that connect them. This is not primarily a bench-testing role. While direct hardware testing will occur when possible, a significant portion of compatibility validation will be conducted through vendor specification review, remote and virtual testing sessions, and structured feedback loops from customer environments. The right candidate is skilled at building rigorous, scalable processes that others can execute against — and confident making informed compatibility assessments even when hands‑on access to a device is limited. You will serve as the internal authority on hardware and integration compatibility standards, producing documentation and process guides that the Configuration team, Support, and other teams rely on when working with new or evolving hardware. A genuine interest in how complex hardware and software ecosystems interact, combined with the discipline to create structure around that complexity, is essential. Key Responsibilities Core duties and responsibilities include the following. Compatibility Framework Development Design and maintain Metrc’s hardware and software compatibility framework, establishing the standards, criteria, and processes used to evaluate whether a device or third‑party application is compatible with Metrc’s platform. Develop structured compatibility assessment methodologies that can be applied consistently across device categories — including print systems, RFID readers, scanning peripherals, mobile devices, and automated packaging equipment — regardless of whether direct testing is possible. Define and document minimum compatibility requirements, acceptance criteria, and certification thresholds for hardware and software entering Metrc’s supported ecosystem. Build and maintain a hardware and software compatibility matrix that reflects current support status, known limitations, tested configurations, and recommended setups across Metrc’s product portfolio. Continuously refine compatibility standards as Metrc’s platform evolves, proactively identifying gaps and updating criteria to reflect new features, integrations, or regulatory requirements. Vendor & Third‑Party Integration Assessment Lead compatibility evaluations for new hardware vendors and third‑party software applications, drawing on vendor specifications, technical documentation, and remote or virtual testing sessions when direct access is unavailable. Establish and manage structured vendor engagement processes for compatibility validation, including technical questionnaires, specification review workflows, and remote testing coordination protocols. Evaluate hardware and software integration points — including connectivity protocols, data formats, command languages, and API behaviors — to assess compatibility risk and identify configuration requirements. Maintain relationships with hardware vendors and third‑party software partners to stay current on firmware updates, product changes, and new releases that may affect compatibility with Metrc’s platform. Provide documented compatibility assessments and integration guidance to Product, Engineering, and the Configuration Specialist when new devices or applications are under consideration. Process & Standards Documentation Own the development and ongoing maintenance of hardware and integration compatibility documentation, including compatibility guides, configuration standards, qualification checklists, and integration runbooks. Produce clear, actionable process documentation that the Configuration team, Support, and other customer‑facing teams can follow when deploying, troubleshooting, or validating hardware in customer environments. Develop and maintain device‑specific integration guides for supported print systems (CIJ, TIJ, laser), RFID and scanning hardware, mobile platforms, and third‑party software applications. Establish and document escalation paths and known‑issue references that teams can draw on when encountering compatibility issues in the field without direct QA involvement. Ensure all compatibility documentation is version‑controlled, accurately reflects current platform behaviour, and is accessible to relevant teams through Confluence. Customer Environment Feedback & Field Validation Design and manage structured feedback collection processes that capture compatibility findings from customer environments, turning real‑world deployment data into actionable updates to compatibility standards and documentation. Collaborate with the Configuration team and Support to identify recurring hardware or integration issues in the field, using those patterns to refine compatibility criteria and improve pre‑deployment guidance. Analyze customer‑reported compatibility issues to distinguish between device defects, configuration errors, unsupported use cases, and platform limitations, and route findings appropriately. Use field feedback to validate or challenge compatibility assessments made without direct hardware access, updating documentation and standards where customer environment data reveals new information. Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Release Support Partner with Product and Engineering teams during feature development and platform updates to assess hardware and integration compatibility implications and communicate requirements early in the development cycle. Contribute hardware and integration compatibility perspectives to release readiness reviews, identifying risks and ensuring that compatibility documentation is updated ahead of releases that affect supported devices or integrations. Support the Configuration team with technical guidance on complex hardware or integration scenarios, serving as the internal subject‑matter expert for compatibility‑related questions. Collaborate with the Head of Quality and Release Manager to ensure compatibility standards and readiness assessments are reflected in QA criteria and contribute to cross‑functional release decisions. Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required 3+ years of experience in hardware QA, systems integration, technical compatibility engineering, or a closely related role involving diverse hardware and software ecosystems. Demonstrated experience developing or owning compatibility standards, integration frameworks, or technical qualification processes — not solely executing tests against existing criteria. Familiarity with industrial print technologies (CIJ, TIJ, or laser coding systems) and/or RFID, barcode, and scanning hardware at a level sufficient to evaluate vendor specifications and assess integration risk. Ability to conduct rigorous compatibility assessments using vendor documentation, technical specifications, and structured remote evaluation methods when direct hardware testing is not possible. Strong process design and documentation skills, with a track record of producing technical standards and guides that non‑specialist teams can understand and follow. Experience working with third‑party software integrations and evaluating compatibility at the API, data format, or protocol level. Proficiency with Confluence and Jira for documentation management, standards governance, and issue tracking. Motivated to develop expertise in new hardware categories and integration types as Metrc’s ecosystem expands — this role will regularly encounter technologies that require rapid self‑directed learning. Preferred Experience with hardware from manufacturers such as Keyence, Videojet, Domino, Markem‑Imaje, or Leibinger, or with RFID vendors operating in track‑and‑trace or supply‑chain environments. Familiarity with hardware‑software integration protocols including USB/serial/network connectivity, Bluetooth pairing, print command languages (ZPL, EPL, or similar), or EPC Gen2 RFID standards. Experience evaluating mobile platform compatibility (iOS and/or Android) for hardware‑integrated applications. Background in regulated industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical, or cannabis where hardware compatibility directly affects compliance outcomes. Exposure to automated packaging or labeling line environments, including multi‑function systems that integrate print, apply, and seal operations. Experience designing or contributing to vendor qualification or hardware certification programs. Background in field service, systems integration, or manufacturing QA environments where hardware diversity is high and direct access to every device configuration is not always practical. Why This Role Metrc’s hardware ecosystem is broad, technically complex, and actively growing. As the QA Engineer for Hardware Compatibility and Integration, you will have the opportunity to build something that matters — a scalable, well‑documented compatibility function that other teams across the organization depend on. Your work will directly shape how confidently Metrc can onboard new devices, support third‑party integrations, and serve operators working with diverse and specialized equipment in the field. If you find satisfaction in creating structure, think rigorously about system interactions, and are energized by a constantly evolving technical landscape, we encourage you to apply. Travel This position requires occasional travel, including periodic visits to headquarters. Physical Demands and Work Environment In‑office and remote position Frequently required to sit Frequently required to talk or hear Continually utilize visual acuity to operate equipment, read technical information, and/or use a keyboard and mouse. The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Metrc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants and team members will be considered for employment and advancement without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. #J-18808-Ljbffr Metrc