We are looking for an experienced Senior Embedded Software SDET/QA Engineer with 7-10 years of experience to define and execute the quality strategy for embedded firmware platforms across microcontroller-based firmware and embedded Linux systems deployed in safety-critical fire safety and mass notification audio and alarm systems.

This role is deeply embedded within the firmware development lifecycle and requires strong system-level thinking across firmware, Linux applications, hardware, and connectivity layers. The engineer will drive validation strategy, automation architecture, and release quality for safety-critical, real-time, network-connected embedded devices.

The engineer will lead overall QA/SDET strategy, develop and implement test plans, build test automation and reporting, and manage test data required for traceability and audit trails in regulated environments.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Strategy & System-Level Validation

• Define and own QA/SDET strategy across firmware (MCU/RTOS) and embedded Linux platforms.
• Translate product/system requirements into comprehensive verification plans covering functional, integration, data integrity, performance, reliability, and safety behaviors.
• Validate end-to-end system workflows across firmware, Linux applications, networking stacks, and hardware subsystems.
• Establish quality gates, release readiness criteria, and risk-based validation strategy.

Embedded System & Real-Time Validation

• Validate real-time behaviors including interrupts, timing constraints, watchdogs, fault detection, safe-state transitions, and recovery mechanisms.
• Verify behavior under abnormal conditions such as power loss, network instability, and hardware faults.
• Ensure deterministic and predictable behavior in safety-critical environments.

Protocol & Connectivity Testing

• Design and execute validation for communication protocols including:
• TCP/IP, UDP/multicast
• RS485/RS232, Modbus
• SIP (basic), MQTT/TLS
• Validate OTA/update flows, provisioning, telemetry, diagnostics, and remote device management.
• Test system behavior under network latency, packet loss, reconnection, and failure scenarios.

Automation & Test Architecture

• Define scalable automation architecture for embedded systems including:
• Test harnesses and simulators
• Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL)
• Protocol simulators and log validation tools
• Build automated test frameworks using Python/C/C++.
• Integrate test execution into CI/CD pipelines with reporting dashboards.

Hardware Integration & Lab Validation

• Support board bring-up validation, peripheral testing, and system integration.
• Work with hardware teams to validate sensors, actuators, communication buses, and device interfaces.
• Use lab tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers for validation and debugging.

Debugging & Root Cause Analysis

• Perform deep debugging using logs, traces, packet captures, and lab instrumentation.
• Diagnose issues across firmware, OS, networking, and hardware layers.
• Collaborate with developers to resolve issues at root cause level.

Release, Compliance & Traceability

• Support firmware release validation including regression, stability, and manufacturing readiness.
• Maintain traceability between requirements, test cases, defects, and releases.
• Support compliance for UL/IEC/FCC/CE and safety-critical standards.

Observability & Diagnostics

• Validate logging, telemetry, diagnostics, and field-debug capabilities.
• Ensure systems are serviceable and diagnosable in production environments.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor junior SDET/QA engineers and define QA best practices.
• Collaborate with firmware, Linux, hardware, systems, and product teams.
• Lead quality reviews and communicate risks to leadership.

Qualifications

• Experience: 7-10 years in in embedded QA/SDET for enterprise level real-time and/or safety-critical systems (emergency notification, audio endpoints, or similar).
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or related.
• Advanced understanding of embedded systems (MCUs/MPUs), RTOS concepts, interrupts, timing constraints, device bring-up fundamentals, and Linux-based embedded systems.
• Strong hands-on experience building test automation in Python and/or C/C++; familiarity with unit/component test frameworks and test harness design.
• Experience wired and wireless communications testing (TCP/IP, UDP/multicast, SIP basics) and log/packet analysis.
• Strong debugging and root-cause skills using logs, traces, and lab equipment (oscilloscope, logic analyzer, protocol analyzer).
• Experience producing test documentation, evidence, and traceability suitable for audits and regulated releases.
• Ability to lead QA planning, communicate quality risks to leadership, and work effectively across Agile teams with independence.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers and establishing repeatable QA processes preferred.

Tech Stack & Tools

• Programming/Scripting: Python, C/C++, Bash
• Test Frameworks: PyTest / unittest, GoogleTest (or equivalent), custom test harnesses
• Embedded Targets: Microcontrollers (Renesas, Microchip, Cypress or similar), RTOS-based firmware (CMX / FreeRTOS / Zephyr or similar), Embedded Linux
• Interfaces/Protocols: TCP/IP, UDP/Multicast, SIP basics
• CI/CD & Build: Git/GitHub, Jenkins/GitHub Actions (or similar), artifact/version management
• Test Management & Tracking: Jira (or equivalent), test case management tools, requirements traceability matrices
• Debug/Lab Tools: Oscilloscope, logic analyzer, protocol analyzers, packet capture (Wireshark)

Core Competencies

• Quality Strategy | Test Architecture | Embedded Systems Verification | Automation Mindset | Safety-Critical Thinking | Traceability & Audit Readiness | Debugging Excellence | Cross-Functional Leadership | Ownership Mindset | Continuous Improvement