QA Engineer

Catapult Federal Services; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 56,826 - 80,934; Part time

Job summary

Catapult Federal Services is looking for a QA Engineer to validate cutting-edge hardware and system components. Located in Santa Clara, CA, this hands-on role requires deep experience across hardware, firmware, and software layers.

Responsibilities include developing and executing testing strategies, analyzing failures, and collaborating with engineering teams to ensure product quality. Ideal candidates should have 5+ years in related fields and a BS in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering.

The position offers an hourly rate of $50.00, focusing on fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in test development, firmware development, automation, or software engineering.
• Proven experience in hardware and firmware testing (not software/application testing).
• Strong Linux experience: administration, OS internals, networking, and security.

Responsibilities

• Validate products through systematic tests to develop and maintain quality standards.
• Analyze logs and failures spanning hardware, firmware, and software.
• Build and assemble test systems, handling assembly, setup, and configuration.

Skills

Test development

Firmware development

Automation

Software engineering

Linux systems administration

Debugging

Documentation

Communication skills

Education

BS degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent

Job description

QA Engineer

IT

Location: Santa Clara, CA. Role Type: Contract position 6 months (June 1, 2026 – November 30, 2026). Work Permits Accepted: US citizen, Green card, Green card‑EAD, TN, H‑1B, E‑3, H4‑EAD, L2‑EAD, OPT‑EAD, CPT‑EAD, TPS‑EAD, STEM‑EAD.

About Our Client: Our client is a global technology solutions provider with a 30+ year history of partnering with the world's leading technology manufacturers. With over 10,000 employees across 55+ locations worldwide, they combine strategy, execution, and partnership to deliver cutting‑edge technology solutions for large public and private organizations. Their Advanced Technology Center features state‑of‑the‑art equipment and infrastructure where engineers collaborate with customers to conceptualize, test, and validate innovative solutions in areas such as high‑performance computing, data center technology, and emerging hardware platforms. The company is committed to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and creating a great place to work for all employees.

Job Description: We are seeking a QA Engineer to join a specialized hardware validation and testing team. In this role, you will be responsible for validating cutting‑edge hardware and system components through systematic testing, analysis, and automation. You will work at the critical intersection of hardware, firmware, and software layers, ensuring product quality through comprehensive diagnostics and testing strategies.

Your day‑to‑day work will include building and configuring test systems, executing detailed test plans, analyzing failures across hardware and firmware components, and developing test automation to improve code coverage and quality. You will collaborate closely with engineering teams to identify test gaps, propose solutions, and provide root‑cause analysis for complex issues. This is a hands‑on role where you will have direct impact on product quality and market readiness.

The ideal candidate is passionate about hardware quality, has deep systems knowledge, and is comfortable working at the interface between low‑level firmware and high‑level software systems. You will report to the hiring manager and work alongside a team of experienced engineers focused on delivering the highest quality products.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Validate products through the use of systematic tests to develop, apply, and maintain quality standards.
• Analyze logs and failures that may span hardware (HW), firmware (FW), and software (SW) layers.
• Propose debug and mitigation strategies for issues identified during testing.
• Build and assemble test systems: handle hardware assembly, setup, installation, and configuration.
• Develop, modify, and execute comprehensive test plans.
• Create and enhance test automation software and scripting to improve code coverage.
• Maintain detailed documentation of test results to support debugging and product modification.
• Provide root‑cause analysis and corrective action plans in a timely manner.
• Write clear and complete reports detailing testing steps taken and findings.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of testing strategies, tools, and processes.
• Work with AI tools to facilitate and enhance the automation process.

Required Experience / Skills

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in test development, firmware development, automation, or software engineering.
• Proven experience in hardware and firmware testing (not software/application testing).
• Strong Linux experience: administration, OS internals, networking, and security.
• Proven experience architecting diagnostics for complex server systems at the software/hardware interface.
• Deep systems knowledge: x86/ARM architectures, Linux/Windows OS internals, firmware (UEFI/BIOS), BMC, and platform security.
• Able to build PCs: assembly, setup, and installation.
• Familiar with hardware/software management: components, devices, peripherals, and drivers.
• Experience in developing strong QA processes.
• Good communication skills: verbal and written.

Nice‑to‑Haves

• Experience with GPU hardware or specialized computing platforms.
• Experience in high‑performance computing or data center environments.
• Knowledge of platform security and secure boot mechanisms.
• Experience with BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) testing.
• Familiarity with baremetal and VM imaging.
• Personal interest in hardware validation and quality assurance.

Education

BS degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent hands‑on experience.

Pay & Benefits Summary

• Hourly Rate: $50.00/hour