Embedded Software Engineer

Insight Global; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

FORD is seeking a Platform Validation Engineer to drive safety, performance, and deterministic reliability validation for next‑generation automotive ECUs. You will perform hands‑on post‑silicon validation of MCUs, RTD, STM, and automotive Ethernet chipsets, while shaping ISO 26262 compliant testing strategies.

The role focuses on embedded systems, automotive networking, bench validation, and test automation, with opportunities to contribute to secure boot, OTA workflows, and VDS validations.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in embedded systems and automotive networking.
• Hands-on bench validation experience across ECUs and microcontrollers.
• Experience with test automation and V&V in safety-critical domains.
• Familiarity with ISO 26262 functional safety and ASIL compliance is a plus.
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams to define validation strategies.

Responsibilities

• Post-silicon bench testing on silicon evaluation boards and ECUs.
• Configure and validate STM peripherals, memory protection units, and interrupts.
• Validate Automotive Ethernet transceiver performance and PHY/Switch drivers.
• Architect and execute test strategies for bootloaders, secure boot, flashing, and OTA rollback.
• Verify UDS flashing over CAN and Automotive Ethernet networks.
• Validate RTD in bare-metal and AUTOSAR environments.
• Benchmark network stack throughput and latency; use CANoe, iperf, and network analyzers.
• Develop and maintain automated regression tests in Python; write target-side tests in C.
• Support ASIL B/C/D compliance activities; perform root cause analysis with lab instruments.

Skills

Embedded systems

Automotive networking

Bench validation

Test automation

Functional safety

Tools

CANoe

iperf

packet generators

network analyzers

Job description

Automotive Electronics | Embedded Systems | Palo Alto CA OR Long Beach CA

About the Role

FORD is seeking a Platform Validation Engineer to drive and execute safety, performance, and deterministic reliability validation strategies for next-generation automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs).

In this role, you will perform hands-on post-silicon validation of microcontrollers, Real-Time Drivers (RTD), System Timer Modules (STM), automotive Ethernet chipsets, and bootloaders. You will define and execute testing methodologies supporting ISO 26262 functional safety requirements while optimizing real-time networking performance.

The ideal candidate has strong expertise in embedded systems, automotive networking, bench validation, test automation, and functional safety compliance.

Responsibilities

Post-Silicon Bench Testing & Hardware Validation

• Execute bench-level validation on silicon evaluation boards and custom automotive ECUs.
• Configure and validate hardware peripherals including System Timer Modules (STM), memory protection units, and interrupt controllers.
• Integrate and verify PHY and switch drivers while validating high-speed Automotive Ethernet transceiver performance.
• Architect and execute test strategies for bootloaders, secure boot functionality, flashing workflows, and OTA rollback capabilities.
• Validate secure boot processes including cryptographic signature verification.
• Test UDS (ISO 14229) flashing over CAN and Automotive Ethernet networks.

Driver & Performance Verification

• Validate Real-Time Drivers (RTD) for bare-metal and AUTOSAR environments.
• Benchmark network stack throughput, latency, and performance.
• Utilize tools such as CANoe, iperf, packet generators, and network analyzers.
• Analyze complex communication stacks including: TCP/IP, SOME/IP, and DoIP
• Automotive Ethernet

Functional Safety & Test Automation

• Design and maintain automated regression test frameworks utilizing Python.
• Develop target-side test applications in C
• Author verification and validation (V&V) test specifications mapped to functional safety goals.
• Support compliance activities for ASIL B, ASIL C, and ASIL D programs.
• Utilize oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, and lab instrumentation to investigate software and hardware issues.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action efforts across embedded platforms.

Job Info:

• Location: Palo Alto CA OR Long Beach CA (Can sit out of either location)
• Job Type: Contract / Full-Time
• Duration: 1 year + Extensions / Possible FTE Conversion