Senior Firmware Test Engineer

Cala Health; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cala Health is seeking a Senior Firmware Test Engineer to join our R&D team in California. You will develop, maintain, and execute pre‑DVT and formal DVT testing across multiple initiatives, and dive into firmware to debug issues, add test hooks, and automate tests.

You will verify electrical stimulation waveforms, BLE, OTA‑DFU, sensors, and logging, collaborating with cross‑functional teams while applying IEC 62304 and ISO 13485 standards where relevant.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• 5–7+ years of embedded firmware testing and design verification.
• Embedded firmware experience with system-level understanding of hardware/software interaction.
• Proficiency in coding (C/C++ and Python) to read/modify/inject test hooks in firmware.
• Experience generating, designing to, and testing to product requirements.
• Troubleshooting and root cause analysis with hardware debugging tools like oscilloscopes.
• Experience writing test protocols, reports, and executing Design Verification Testing.
• Excellent written, interpersonal, and team communication skills.
• Prior experience in medical device development, including testing under Design Controls.
• Familiarity with IEC 62304, IEC-60601, ISO 13485.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and document test tools, methods, and protocols for firmware design verification across multiple projects.
• Build and maintain automated test infrastructure to expand regression coverage.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and bring up new test tools and methods.
• Modify firmware to debug issues, add test hooks, and build new test features.
• Verify subsystems like electrical stimulation waveforms, BLE, OTA‑DFU, sensors, and logging.
• Participate in risk analyses and requirements development for design verification.
• Use AI tools to accelerate test script development and documentation.
• Contribute to DHF deliverables and design reviews in a phase‑gated process.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Embedded firmware testing

RTOS

Oscilloscopes

Design verification

Education

BS/MS in Electrical/Computer Engineering/CS

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Firmware debuggers

RTOS debugging

Job description

At Cala, we’re working to free people from the burden of chronic disease. We began by creating the first non-invasive prescription therapy for hand tremor. After years of careful fine-tuning and improvements, we released Cala kIQ — our most sophisticated therapy yet. Our products have empowered thousands of people to get back to their lives with confidence and ease.

But we won’t stop there. Our pioneering technology can be applied across neurology, cardiology, and so much more. It’s all part of our mission to help people in their struggle with chronic disease. We’re only just getting started.

The Opportunity

Cala is seeking a Senior Firmware Test Engineer to join our growing R&D team. You will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing pre-DVT (Design Verification Testing) and formal DVT testing across multiple crucial initiatives, bridging both commercial production releases and early-stage clinical trials. This role requires a hands‑on engineer who is not only comfortable executing rigorous test protocols but also has the coding proficiency to dive into existing firmware to debug issues, add test hooks, automate test methods, and enable deeper validation features.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and document test tools, methods, and protocols for firmware design verification across multiple active projects, supporting both commercial product releases and clinical studies.
• Build and maintain automated test infrastructure, expanding regression coverage so firmware changes are validated continuously rather than only at formal DVT.
• Work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to develop and bring up new test tools and test methods.
• Leverage coding skills to navigate existing firmware repositories, making necessary changes to debug complex issues, add test hooks, and build in new test features.
• Verify critical subsystem functionalities including electrical stimulation waveforms, BLE communications, OTA‑DFU fault handling, sensor measurements, and logging.
• Participate in risk analyses and requirements development in relation to design verification activities
• Use AI tools to extend your own reach: accelerating test script development, making sense of unfamiliar firmware, and drafting documentation.
• Participate in DHF deliverables and design reviews in a phase‑gated development process.

Required Skills and Experience

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent field.
• 5–7+ years of experience in embedded firmware testing and design verification.
• Embedded firmware experience, with a strong understanding of how hardware, firmware, and software interact at the system level.
• Proficiency in coding (e.g., C/C++ and Python) with the ability to read, modify, and inject test hooks into bare‑metal or RTOS firmware architectures.
• Experience generating, designing to, and testing to product requirements.
• Demonstrated troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills, with comfort using hardware debugging tools such as oscilloscopes.
• Experience writing test protocols, comprehensive test reports, and executing formal Design Verification Testing.
• Excellent written, interpersonal, and team communication skills.
• Prior experience in medical device development, including testing under Design Controls.
• Familiarity with relevant medical device standards such as IEC 62304, IEC‑60601, and ISO 13485.

Nice to Have

• Experience working with external labs for regulatory testing, including EMC, Safety, and FCC certifications.
• Experience supporting devices used in human clinical studies or other regulated research settings.
• Experience testing embedded device interactions with companion mobile apps, desktop tools, or cloud services or cloud services.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis, or eligible for work authorization through a sponsorship path that Cala Health is able to support. Sponsorship decisions are made individually based on role, timeline, and cost considerations, and are not guaranteed.

Cala Health believes our success is based on diversity of people, teams and thinking. We offer all employees the tools, training and mentoring they need to succeed. Our selection process is driven by the key requirements for the role rather than bias or discrimination on the basis of a candidate’s sex, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, non-jobrelated disability/handicap or medical condition, family status, sexual orientation, religion, color, ethnicity, race or any other legally protected classification.