Software Test Architect

Nearfield Instruments; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Nearfield Instruments in the Netherlands is seeking a Software Test Architect to shape the testing strategy for high‑precision metrology software behind QUADRA machines. You will ensure testability from design through deployment, balancing unit, simulation, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop approaches.

You will work with software, systems and hardware architects to guarantee reliable performance, partnering with experts across AFM, physics, mechatronics and precision robotics in a dynamic scale‑up

Qualifications

• 7+ years in senior software test roles for high‑tech machines.
• Experience building test strategies that connect requirements, code and risk coverage.
• Ability to design tests across unit, integration, system and hardware‑in‑the‑loop levels.
• Proficiency with C# and Python-based automation tools.
• Familiarity with ISTQB testing principles and practical application.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the overall test strategy, optimizing requirements coverage and efficiency.
• Define, document, and maintain test plans, specifications and validation strategies.
• Identify test coverage risks and required assets early in design and development.
• Translate system requirements into structured test cases, both manual and automated.
• Conduct root cause analysis of issues in production and field.
• Contribute to sprint planning, backlog refinement and Definition of Done discussions to embed testability.

Skills

Test architecture

Automation testing

Test strategy

System-level testing

C# & Python

ISTQB

Jira (X-Ray/Zephyr)

Hardware-in-the-Loop

Tools

Jira

X-Ray

Zephyr

Job description

From smartphones to electric vehicles, semiconductor chips power the devices that shape modern life. As these chips continue to shrink, traditional inspection and measurement methods can no longer meet the extreme precision required to test the quality of these chips. This is where Nearfield Instruments (NFI) makes a difference.

We are a leading provider of advanced metrology solutions, utilizing cutting‑edge technologies to deliver the highest accuracy in semiconductor manufacturing. As a Software Test Architect in our dynamic Software Group, you will play a crucial role in defining how the software behind these state‑of‑the‑art tools is tested, validated, and guaranteed to perform. Your work ensures our systems meet the demanding reliability and precision that the industry requires.

What will you be doing?

As a Software Test Architect, you shape the testing strategy and architecture for high‑precision metrology and configuration‑management software for our QUADRA machine.

You will be responsible for developing the test roadmap, defining test architecture, and working closely with software, systems, and hardware architects to ensure every feature and subsystem is testable by design. This role combines deep technical testing expertise, system‑level architectural thinking with a hands‑on approach. Meaning you combine a helicopter view with a getting things done mentality.

Your main responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and maintain the overall test strategy, while optimizing for requirements coverage and efficiency.

• Define, document, and maintain test plans, test specifications, and validation strategies.

• Identify test coverage, risks, and required test assets early in the design and development phases.

• Translate system requirements and specifications into structured test cases, both manual and automated.

• Root cause analysis of issues in production and field.

• Proactively contribute to sprint planning, backlog refinement, and Definition of Done discussions to embed testability early.

What makes this role interesting?

• You work directly with high‑tech semiconductor applications on the edge of hardware and software performance.

• You enjoy testing and validating complex machines and translating this complexity into reliable, easy‑to‑maintain software.

• You will be working with an amazing team working across the software stack: from semiconductor process logic and UI to control systems and precision measurement software down to IO and safety logic.

• You collaborate with highly skilled experts in AFM, physics, mechatronics, system engineering, and precision robotics.

• You thrive in a dynamic, scale‑up environment where continuous learning, experimentation, and improvement are part of daily life.

What makes you a fit?

Mindset & Environment Fit

You enjoy fast‑paced, high‑tech environments where innovation and iteration happen quickly. You are comfortable with ambiguity, continuous change, and taking ownership beyond your primary scope to help deliver high‑quality products. You proactively introduce improvements and embrace modern testing practices.

Experience & Skills

You have 7+ years of experience as senior software test engineer or software test architect testing for high‑tech, complex machine control systems, preferably in the semiconductor or advanced robotics domain.

You bring experience in:

• Creating broad and deep understanding of a complex product.

• Using this understanding to keep overview of test vs requirement and test vs code coverage and mapping out risks where there are gaps.

• Creating and maintaining a test strategy on the best choices between unit and component testing, simulation and mocking to system level and Hardware in the Loop testing.

• Work effectively across mixed technology stacks, integrating C# and Python‑based tools for automation or simulation.

• Certification doesn’t equate qualification, but you are able to apply structured testing principles from frameworks such as ISTQB.

• Preferably experience with using Jira test management plugins (e.g., X-Ray, Zephyr)

Recruitment, consultancy and/or other agency?

We appreciate the interest, but we source all our candidates directly. We understand that you as an intermediary want to present candidates to our interesting positions. This is not how we have structured our recruitment.

This means that all profiles offered to Nearfield Instruments will be treated as direct applications unless we have explicitly agreed otherwise.