Software Quality Assurance Manager – IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee / OpenThread

Silabs India Private Limited; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity Rewards

ESPP

Insurance plans with Outpatient cover

National Pension Scheme (NPS)

Flexible work policy

Childcare support

Job summary

Silicon Labs in Hyderabad seeks a senior SQA lead to build and manage a high-performing QA team focused on IEEE 802.15.4, Zigbee, and Thread/OpenThread. You will own people management, validation strategy, and automation, collaborating with protocol-stack, firmware, and product teams to ensure quality across complex wireless stacks.

You will drive scalable test automation, mitigate risks, and contribute to certification readiness, with strong emphasis on CI/CD practices, debugging, and

Qualifications

• Hands-on testing, validating, debugging of IEEE 802.15.4 based solutions.
• Strong knowledge of Zigbee and/or OpenThread; exposure to the other.
• Experience validating embedded software/firmware on MCU/SoC with host/stack boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a high-performing SQA team in Hyderabad.
• Drive validation strategy, and automation for protocol and system validation.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure release readiness and quality metrics.
• Establish measurable QA processes and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

IEEE 802.15.4

Zigbee

OpenThread

Python

C/C++

embedded debugging

Git

Jira

CI/CD

test automation

Education

Bachelors in Electrical/Electronic/Computer Science

Tools

Wireshark

Jira

GIT

Job description

Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) is the leading innovator in low-power wireless connectivity, building embedded technology that connects devices and improves lives. Merging cutting-edge technology into the world’s most highly integrated SoCs, Silicon Labs provides device makers the solutions, support, and ecosystems needed to create advanced edge connectivity applications. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Silicon Labs has operations in over 16 countries and is the trusted partner for innovative solutions in the smart home, industrial IoT, and smart cities markets. Learn more at www.silabs.com.

What You Will Do

Lead, build, and manage a high-performing SQA team in Hyderabad focused on IEEE 802.15.4, Zigbee, and Thread/OpenThread technologies. Own people management responsibilities including hiring, onboarding, resource planning, mentoring, performance management, career development, and retention of a highly skilled QA organization. Drive validation strategy and execution for Silicon Labs EFR-based IEEE 802.15.4 solutions, with deep focus on Zigbee and OpenThread/Thread and relevant Matter over Thread use cases. Ensure comprehensive quality coverage across protocol functionality, network formation and operation, security, interoperability, system integration, negative and stress scenarios, performance, reliability, and regression testing. Guide validation of representative Zigbee behaviors and ecosystems, including commissioning/network formation, routing and mesh behavior, application-layer interactions, security, interoperability, and long-duration network stability. Guide validation of Thread/OpenThread networking, including commissioning/attachment, mesh formation and routing, IPv6/6LoWPAN behavior, security, border-router interactions, interoperability, and network robustness. Partner closely with protocol-stack development, firmware, embedded software, applications, program management, product teams, and global engineering organizations to align priorities, schedules, defect resolution, and release readiness. Establish measurable quality processes and metrics covering test effectiveness, automation, defect trends, regressions, release risk, and execution predictability. Drive scalable automation for protocol and system validation, reduce legacy/manual test backlog, and steer automation architecture toward reusable, maintainable frameworks and lab infrastructure. Drive interoperability and ecosystem validation with third‑party devices and implementations, and support readiness for relevant Zigbee, Thread, and Matter certification activities. Regularly communicate project status, quality metrics, risks, trade‑offs, and mitigation plans to local and global leadership. Champion continuous improvement in QA methodologies, tools, infrastructure, engineering productivity, and team effectiveness. Drive adoption of modern engineering productivity practices, including responsible use of Gen AI‑assisted development and QA tools, to improve automation velocity, debugging efficiency, and engineering effectiveness.

What We Are Looking For

Proven experience building and managing software quality assurance, software development in test, or embedded wireless validation teams, preferably in the semiconductor or wireless connectivity domain. Strong technical understanding of IEEE 802.15.4 and hands‑on experience testing, validating, debugging, or developing Zigbee and/or Thread/OpenThread solutions. Strong candidates should have depth in at least one of Zigbee or OpenThread and meaningful working knowledge of the other. Solid understanding of low‑power mesh networking concepts, including network formation, addressing, routing, security, commissioning, interoperability, and behavior under scale, interference, and long‑duration operation. Working knowledge of Zigbee architecture and ecosystem concepts such as Zigbee application profiles/device behavior, Zigbee Cluster Library (ZCL), commissioning, security, and mesh networking. Working knowledge of Thread/OpenThread architecture and ecosystem concepts such as IPv6, 6LoWPAN, mesh routing, device roles, commissioning, security, and Thread Border Router interactions. Experience validating embedded software and firmware on MCU‑ and wireless SoC‑based systems, including system‑level debugging across host, stack, radio, and application boundaries. Experience with interoperability, certification‑oriented validation, or ecosystem testing involving multiple vendors/devices. Strong understanding of data communications and networking concepts and the ability to translate protocol requirements and customer use cases into effective validation strategies. Experience working closely with cross‑functional global teams including development, program management, product, and field/application engineering, with the ability to work flexibly across time zones supporting teams in the USA and Europe. Strong track record of driving execution, prioritizing across concurrent deliverables, resolving project risks, and delivering to schedule commitments. Experience with CI/CD workflows, automated regression systems, test infrastructure, and quality practices. Proficiency in Python for test automation and debugging; working knowledge of C/C++ and embedded debugging is strongly preferred. Strong working knowledge of Git and issue/project tracking tools such as Jira. Strong communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills, with a creative, pragmatic, hands‑on, and problem‑solving leadership style.

Experience Required

12+ years of overall experience in embedded software, wireless connectivity, networking, or related engineering fields, with substantial experience in IEEE 802.15.4-based technologies. 2+ years of experience directly managing an engineering/SQA team of approximately 5–8 members, including hiring, performance management, mentoring, resource planning, and delivery ownership. Demonstrated ownership of quality or engineering deliverables for production software/firmware releases. Ability to operate independently, make sound technical and execution trade‑offs, and drive results with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Silicon Labs EFR platforms, Simplicity Studio, Gecko SDK, or comparable wireless SoC platforms and SDKs. Deep experience in either Zigbee or Thread/OpenThread protocol‑stack validation or development, with practical exposure to the other technology. Experience with Zigbee certification/interoperability programs, Thread certification, Matter certification, or related ecosystem test events. Experience validating Matter over Thread, including interactions among end devices, commissioners/controllers, and Thread Border Routers. Experience with protocol analyzers and packet sniffers such as Wireshark and IEEE 802.15.4 capture/debug tools, as well as embedded development/debug environments. Experience designing scalable automated test beds, RF/network test infrastructure, device farms, and long‑duration or large‑network validation environments. Familiarity with coexistence considerations involving IEEE 802.15.4 and other 2.4 GHz radios such as Bluetooth LE or Wi‑Fi. Demonstrated experience applying Generative AI tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar platforms to an engineering productivity or quality initiative.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics/Communication Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent relevant education and experience will also be considered.

Benefits & Perks

• Equity Rewards (RSUs)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Insurance plans with Outpatient cover
• National Pension Scheme (NPS)
• Flexible work policy
• Childcare support

Silicon Labs is an equal opportunity employer and values the diversity of our employees.

Employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and job‑related criteria without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

At Silicon Labs, we hire and empower great talent to achieve their full potential. By offering challenging projects, technical mentorship, and continuous learning opportunities, we ensure our employees thrive at every stage of their careers. Here, you’ll work alongside some of the industry’s brightest minds, tackling complex problems that deepen your expertise and expand your horizons. Whether you’re building new skills or shaping your career path, we’re dedicated to supporting your growth and celebrating your success every step of the way.

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