Autonomous Vehicle Validation Technician – Field Testing

Kett Engineering Corporation; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Kett Engineering Corporation is hiring Autonomous Systems Validation Operators for South San Francisco, CA. You will drive prototype autonomous vehicles, perform on‑road and closed‑track tests, and collect data for engineering analysis.

The role requires experience in automotive or AV testing, strong communication, and the ability to travel up to 50% for field testing. Hazardous environments and long shifts may occur, with OTA updates and data management as part of daily duties.

Qualifications

• Valid driver's license in the state of residence.
• Clean driving record: no suspensions within the last 3–5 years.
• No drug or alcohol‑related driving incidents within the last 3 years.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% for off‑site field testing.
• Experience in automotive driving or autonomous vehicle testing.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate prototype test vehicles in autonomous, semi‑autonomous, and manual modes across diverse traffic, road, and weather conditions for up to 8 hours daily.
• Maintain vigilance and safety protocols; intervene or disengage when necessary to ensure vehicle safety.
• Perform predefined autonomous test cases and edge‑case evaluations on public roads and closed‑course facilities.
• Identify, isolate, and debug hardware, software, and sensor anomalies using system diagnostic tools.
• Collaborate with hardware and software engineering teams to communicate system behavior and report critical issues via tickets.
• Manage onboard logging equipment, verify data transfer for engineering analysis.
• Perform and verify OTA software updates and system flashes across vehicle ECUs.
• Conduct vehicle pre‑trip inspections, basic system checks, and sensor calibration/setup.
• Compose clear post‑drive reports and safety feedback for stakeholders.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Proficiency with laptops and shared协作。

Tools

Jira

Job description

Kett Engineering Corporation is hiring Autonomous Systems Validation Operators for South San Francisco, CA. You will drive prototype autonomous vehicles, perform on‑road and closed‑track tests, and collect data for engineering analysis.

The role requires experience in automotive or AV testing, strong communication, and the ability to travel up to 50% for field testing. Hazardous environments and long shifts may occur, with OTA updates and data management as part of daily duties.