Validation Engineer

Job Title: Firmware Validation Engineer Job Duration: 06+ Months contract with possible extension. Location Foster City, CA 94404 Pay Range $105.00–110.00/hour on W2. Work Type Onsite

Job Description: Role Overview: Our team is seeking a hands‑on Firmware Validation Engineer to join the Firmware –Connectivity and Audio team. This is a validation-first role focused on manual feature testing, expanding test coverage, closing coverage gaps, root‑causing defects, and triaging field issues across in‑cabin connected experiences. You will own day‑to‑day test execution and defect quality for assigned feature areas, partnering closely with firmware, product, integration, diagnostics, and fleet teams to ensure features are thoroughly validated and release‑ready.

Key Responsibilities

• Manual Feature Validation: Execute functional, integration, regression, and exploratory testing for audio and streaming features on test benches and in vehicles.
• Test Content Development: Author new test cases, expand existing test suites, and maintain test documentation as features evolve.
• Coverage Gap Closure: Identify untested or under‑tested paths within existing suites, systematically add coverage, and track coverage health across assigned feature areas.
• Root Cause Analysis: Reproduce defects, capture and analyze logs and traces using tools such as Wireshark, DLT, ADB, HCI/Bluetooth traces, and vehicle logs, and isolate root causes before handing issues to firmware owners.
• Field Issue Triage: Own first‑line triage for audio and streaming issues reported from the fleet. Reproduce issues in the lab, narrow the scope, and drive issues toward resolution in partnership with fleet support, diagnostics, and firmware teams.
• Defect Lifecycle Management: Manage defects end‑to‑end in JIRA, including clear reproduction steps, supporting logs, severity rationale, fix verification, and regression follow‑up.
• Test Infrastructure: Maintain test benches, in‑vehicle rigs, and diagnostic setups to ensure they remain reliable and release‑ready.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with firmware leads, product managers, integration teams, and other stakeholders to align on feature readiness, defect priority, and release quality.

Required Qualifications

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, with 8+ years of hands‑on validation or QA engineering experience working with firmware or embedded products.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing test plans and test cases, identifying and closing coverage gaps, and managing defects through the full lifecycle.
• Hands‑on validation experience in at least one connectivity domain, such as Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, cellular (LTE/5G), GNSS, or vehicle networking.
• Strong debugging and root‑cause analysis skills, with experience triaging logs and traces using tools such as Wireshark, DLT, ADB, or similar diagnostic tooling.
• Experience reproducing and isolating defects originating from production or field environments.
• Python scripting skills sufficient to automate repetitive validation tasks and parse or analyze logs.
• Comfortable working in Linux/Ubuntu environments.
• Strong defect‑tracking and documentation discipline, with experience using JIRA/Confluence within agile development and release processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with in‑cabin entertainment, infotainment, media, or casting frameworks.
• Hands‑on experience validating Bluetooth stacks, including pairing, A2DP, HFP, AVRCP, and interoperability scenarios.
• Broader experience with wireless connectivity technologies and protocols.
• Experience working in autonomous vehicle, robotics, or robotaxi fleet environments.