Firmware / PLC Software Test Engineer

Real Staffing Group; North Carolina; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Paid leave

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Real Staffing Group is seeking a Firmware / PLC Software Test Engineer to join an on-site QA team focused on PLC-based software for automated electromechanical systems. You will independently verify and validate PLC and controls software, and develop, maintain, and execute structured test procedures and cases on equipment, simulators, and lab setups.

Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in PLC-based control systems and industrial automation software, with the ability to read PLC

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related engineering discipline and at least five years of relevant experience.
• Strong ability to read PLC programs, control logic, and fault-handling logic.
• Experience with sensors, actuators, motor drives, and motion control.
• Ability to document, reproduce, and track defects through resolution.
• Experience with laboratory testing and hands-on verification on equipment.

Responsibilities

• Perform functional, regression, integration, and fault-condition testing of PLC software.
• Verify alarms, events, diagnostics, and system logging under normal and abnormal conditions.
• Develop, maintain, and execute structured test procedures and test cases.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams during system verification.
• Document defects and drive root-cause analysis to resolution.

Skills

PLC software testing

Industrial automation

Firmware testing

Controls engineering

Regression testing

Integration testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Controls Engineering

Software Engineering

Tools

Software version control

Defect tracking

Requirements management

Reading electrical schematics

Job description

We are seeking a Firmware / PLC Software Test Engineer to join an onsite team focused on quality assurance for PLC-based software in automated electromechanical systems. In this role, you will independently verify and validate PLC and controls software, ensuring it meets defined requirements and is ready for release. You will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing structured test procedures and cases, performing hands-on testing on equipment, simulators, and laboratory setups.

Key responsibilities include functional, regression, integration, and fault-condition testing of PLC software. You will test system behavior during abnormal conditions such as sensor failures, communication faults, and sequencing errors, and verify proper operation of alarms, events, diagnostics, and system logging. Identifying, documenting, reproducing, and tracking software defects through resolution and retesting is a critical aspect of the role. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams during system verification and troubleshooting, while maintaining an independent quality perspective.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience testing PLC-based control systems and industrial automation software, with the ability to read and understand PLC programs, control logic, and fault-handling logic. Hands-on experience with sensors, actuators, motor drives, servo systems, safety devices, and motion control is essential. Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills for complex electromechanical systems are required. Experience with software version control, defect tracking, and requirements management is preferred.

A bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required, along with at least five years of applicable experience. A strong attention to detail and a quality-focused mindset are essential for success in this role.

Must-Have Skills: PLC software testing, industrial automation, firmware testing, controls engineering, regression testing, integration testing

Nice-to-Have Skills: software version control, defect tracking, requirements management, electrical engineering, reading electrical schematics, root-cause analysis, system verification, troubleshooting electromechanical systems

EOE Statement: Specialist Staffing Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for benefits such as health insurance, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance, and paid leave where required by applicable law. Eligibility may vary based on factors such as location and hire date and is subject to change.