Senior Firmware Validation Engineer
$180K - $200K + Bonus + Equity
Hybrid - Bay Area
We are looking for a Senior Firmware Validation Engineer who brings a builder’s mindset to the validation process. In this role, you’ll be responsible for ensuring the reliability and performance of advanced optical modules through rigorous testing and validation.
Beyond identifying issues, you’ll also have the opportunity to contribute directly to firmware development — collaborating with design teams to resolve bugs, refine functionality, and help shape product architecture. This position is ideal for a validation expert who enjoys hands-on debugging while continuing to develop and apply their coding skills.
Key Responsibilities
- Test Strategy & Planning: Review product requirements and functional specifications to create comprehensive validation plans and detailed firmware test cases.
- Firmware Development Support: Work alongside design engineers to write and optimize firmware, resolve defects, and contribute new features for optical control systems.
- Automation Frameworks: Design and implement advanced Python-based test automation frameworks to validate complex system requirements.
- Cross-Disciplinary Debugging: Lead root-cause investigations across firmware, hardware, and optical subsystems to identify and resolve issues.
Candidate Profile
- Experience: 5+ years in firmware validation, embedded software development, or related roles.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- Programming Expertise: Advanced Python scripting skills for automation and testing; working knowledge of C/C++ for firmware development contributions.
- Lab & Hardware Testing: Practical experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation and lab instrumentation including oscilloscopes, optical spectrum analyzers, and BERT equipment.
- Automation Experience: Proven ability to design and build automated test environments to validate hardware and firmware interactions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with Silicon Photonics or optical transceiver technologies.
- Experience working with STM32 microcontrollers or similar embedded platforms.
