Head of Test and Quality

Somo AI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Somo AI seeks a hands-on Head of Test & Quality Engineering to own quality across hardware, firmware, software, and manufacturing. You’ll set our quality strategy while remaining directly involved—designing automated test systems, writing tests, and building fixtures and end-to-end test rigs.

You’ll partner with engineering and manufacturing as we scale. You’ll lead the test function, establish metrics, and drive regression coverage across production and field environments.

Qualifications

• Proven record testing embedded electronics and IoT devices.
• Designing automated test equipment and physical fixtures.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop, reliability and production testing.

Responsibilities

• Design automated test systems for connected hardware products.
• Build hardware-in-the-loop environments and end-of-line test rigs.
• Create reusable test tools and improve testability across hardware and firmware.
• Define validation plans, release criteria and production pass/fail requirements.
• Develop regression, endurance, fault-injection, power-cycle and reliability tests.
• Lead root-cause analysis across hardware, firmware, networking and software.

Skills

Embedded systems testing

Automated test equipment design

Hardware-in-the-loop

Python

TypeScript

C

C++

Microcontrollers

UART/CAN/SPI/I2C

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

CI/CD integration

Team leadership

Communication skills

Job description

We’re looking for a hands‐on Head of Test & Quality Engineering to own quality across our hardware, firmware, software, and manufacturing processes.

This is not a traditional software QA management role. You’ll set our quality strategy while remaining directly involved - designing automated test systems, writing tests, building hardware‑in‑the‑loop environments, and developing flashing and end‑of‑line test rigs. You’ll partner closely with engineering and manufacturing teams and build the quality function as we grow.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Design automated test systems for connected hardware products.
• Build hardware‑in‑the‑loop environments, physical fixtures, and automated flashing, provisioning, calibration, and end‑of‑line test rigs.
• Create reusable test tools and help hardware and firmware engineers improve testability and automated coverage.
• Define validation plans, release criteria, and production pass/fail requirements.
• Develop regression, endurance, fault‑injection, power‑cycle, and reliability tests.
• Lead root‑cause analysis across hardware, firmware, networking, and software.
• Support manufacturing‑line bring‑up and improve yield, traceability, and failure detection.
• Turn production and field failures into permanent regression coverage.
• Establish quality metrics, communicate product readiness, and grow the test and quality engineering team.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Significant experience testing embedded systems, electronics, IoT devices, or connected hardware.
• Hands‑on experience designing automated test equipment and physical fixtures.
• Experience with hardware‑in‑the‑loop, reliability, and production testing.
• Strong programming skills in Python, TypeScript, C, C++, or a similar language.
• Experience with microcontrollers, embedded firmware, and interfaces such as UART, CAN, SPI, I²C, USB, GPIO, Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, or RF.
• Confidence using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, programmable power supplies, and other lab equipment.
• Strong debugging skills across hardware and software boundaries.
• Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD and release workflows.
• Technical leadership experience with excellent judgment and communication skills.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience taking connected hardware into volume manufacturing.
• PCB or mechanical design experience for test fixtures.
• Experience with environmental, longevity, or fault‑injection testing.
• Familiarity with design for test, manufacturing yield, secure provisioning, regulatory testing, or contract manufacturers.