Robotics Test Engineer Onsite - Austin, TX

Apptronik Systems, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik Systems, Inc. in Austin, Texas is seeking a Robotics Test Engineer to write automated tests for Apollo's software. This role involves hands-on work with testing frameworks and collaborating with engineers to ensure robust software quality.

Ideal candidates will have a background in Computer Science or Engineering, programming skills in Python, and familiarity with CI/CD systems. The position emphasizes mentorship and professional growth in the field of robotics testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Robotics required.
• 2-4 years of experience in software development or test engineering.
• Experience writing automated tests in a production environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Write automated integration tests in pytest based on software requirements.
• Partner with engineers for root-cause investigations of defects.
• Run and maintain test suites on hardware-in-the-loop benches.

Skills

Python proficiency

Test frameworks like pytest

Linux command line

Git fundamentals

Debugging mindset

Clear communication

Eagerness to learn

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

CI/CD systems

Hardware-in-the-loop testing

Job description

Job Summary

Apptronik is seeking a Robotics Test Engineer to join the Software Integration & Test (RSIT) team. In this role, you will write automated tests that verify Apollo's software at the integration layer, partner with senior engineers on defect investigations, and help grow the regression coverage that keeps each release safer than the last. You will work hands‑on with our pytest‑based test infrastructure, HIL benches, and the broader RSIT platform to turn software‑level requirements into verifiable tests. This is a role designed for someone who wants to grow into deep expertise in robotics test engineering, with mentorship from senior teammates and meaningful ownership of test suites from day one.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Test Authoring: Write automated integration, contract, and ICD conformance tests in pytest against software‑level requirements, with clear pass/fail signals that feed the release gate.
• Defect Investigation: Partner with senior engineers on root‑cause investigations for CI failures, escaped defects, and stochastic issues, building familiarity with debugging tools (sanitizers, log analysis, MCAP playback) over time.
• Regression Coverage: Convert defects into permanent regression tests, ensuring every escape becomes a new automated check in the gate.
• HIL Test Execution: Run and maintain test suites on hardware‑in‑the‑loop benches, capture data, and report results into the team's dashboards and result reporting systems.
• Test Suite Maintenance: Keep existing test suites healthy: triage flaky tests, update fixtures as the stack evolves, and improve readability and reliability of test code.
• Requirements Engagement: Read software‑level requirements and Systems Validation plans, ask clarifying questions, and surface ambiguity or untestable language to senior teammates and Systems Engineering.
• Tooling Feedback: Serve as an active customer of the RSIT platform, surfacing friction in CI, dashboards, or release tooling so the Release & Integration team can improve developer experience.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work with stack engineers, firmware engineers, and senior RSIT teammates to understand the systems being tested and produce verification that reflects how those systems actually behave.

Skills and Requirements

• Programming: Working proficiency in Python, including ability to write clean, maintainable test code and small utility scripts. Comfort reading C++ to understand the systems under test.
• Test Frameworks: Hands‑on experience with pytest or an equivalent framework (unittest, Google Test, JUnit), including fixtures, parameterization, and test organization.
• Linux Comfort: Day‑to‑day fluency on the Linux command line, including basic systemd, log inspection, file system navigation, and shell scripting.
• Version Control: Solid Git fundamentals, including branching, pull requests, and code review participation.
• Debugging Mindset: Demonstrated curiosity and persistence in tracking down bugs, including willingness to read code in unfamiliar parts of the stack to understand a failure.
• Communication: Ability to write clear bug reports, test documentation, and pull request descriptions. Comfort asking questions and surfacing blockers early.
• Learning Orientation: Eagerness to grow into deeper expertise in robotics, real‑time systems, and verification engineering through mentorship, code review, and hands‑on work.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Exposure to ROS or ROS2.
• Experience with CI/CD systems (Bitbucket Pipelines, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or similar) as a user.
• Familiarity with hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing or other forms of hardware‑integrated software verification.
• Experience with observability tools (Grafana, Loki, Prometheus) as a consumer of dashboards and logs.
• Background in robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace, or another hardware‑integrated domain through coursework, internships, or prior roles.
• Familiarity with sanitizer tooling (ASan, TSan, UBSan) or other dynamic analysis approaches.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.
• 2–4 years of professional experience in software development, test engineering, or a related discipline. Strong internship and project experience may substitute for a portion of this requirement.
• Experience writing or maintaining automated tests in a production codebase is strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Hearing and speech to communicate.

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.