Senior Software Developer in Test - HIL Engineer

Ford-Motor-Company; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Palo Alto, CA is seeking a Software Developer in Test to design, develop, and maintain automated tests for embedded software products. You will lead end-to-end integration and testing across hardware and software, collaborating with cross-functional teams to support product design and debugging.

5+ years in software testing for automotive embedded systems, strong Python and Rust skills, and experience with Pytest/Robot Framework are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Electrical/Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience in software testing, preferably with embedded systems in automotive.
• Strong programming in Python, Rust, or similar for embedded verification.
• Experience with test frameworks (Pytest, Slash, Robot Framework) and requirements tools (JAMA, Polarion, DOORs).

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain automotive system-level tests with Python-driven automation.
• Create verification plans, test cases, and scripts to validate functional and safety aspects.
• Coordinate development and validation of distributed features across UEV programs.
• Collaborate with software, controls, and systems engineers to define requirements and tests.
• Execute test cases, decompose requirements into actionable test scenarios, and improve testing efficiency.

Skills

Python

Rust

Pytest

Robot Framework

Embedded systems

Software testing

Automation

System integration

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical/Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent

Tools

JAMA

Polarion

DOORs

Pytest

Slash

Robot Framework

Job description

In this position...
As a Software Developer in Test, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated tests for our embedded software products.
You will also be responsible for defining, decomposing, and realizing feature, function, interface, and testing requirements and associated integration efforts for Ford’s next-generation electronic systems and controls.

You will lead the end-to-end integration and testing of these systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to support product design, vehicle behavior definition, prototype bring-up, and debugging.

What you'll do...

• Design, build, and maintain comprehensive automotive system-level test benches, ensuring their seamless integration of hardware and software components for reliable and scalable test environments, with a strong emphasis on Python-driven automation.
• Develop comprehensive verification and validation plans, test plans, test cases, and test scripts to rigorously validate functional, non-functional, performance, safety, and regression aspects of automotive software systems and components.
• Overseeing and coordinating the development and validation of Distributed (e.g. Software, Electrical & Mechanical) Features on all UEV programs.
• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including software developers (e.g. UX, HMI, Connectivity), controls engineers, and systems engineers, to:
  • Develop item definition, identify the system goal, create technical requirements and test scenarios as per consumer electronics and automotive standards
  • Authoring and releasing Core Feature Requirements and Specification documents (JAMA, FEDE and JIRA)
  • Develop feature specifications, Quality documents (Quality History, Parameter Diagram, Feature Failure Mode Avoidance (FMEA) documentation), feature verification plan, etc.
  • Review existing system designs to find new opportunities for cost or quality improvement, with a keen focus on the end customer’s user experience.
  • Interact with hardware and software teams to come up with specification development for must have products, collaborating with device owners, program teams, core engineers and functional areas to create balanced solutions to competing requirements.
  • Execute test cases and test scripts, leveraging advanced Python automation to enhance testing efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability across various testing phases.
  • Decompose functional and non-functional requirements to comprehensive test scenarios that are actionable against V&V test platforms and test infrastructure.
  • Create a constant feedback loop between field issues and functional requirements and test cases, ensuring that we are left-shifting testing and defect detection.

You'll have...

• Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD degree in Electrical/Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in software testing, preferably with embedded systems in the automotive industry.
• Strong programming skills in Python, Rust, or other relevant languages used in embedded software development and verification.
• Experience writing automated tests in test frameworks such as Pytest, Slash, Robot Framework, or similar.
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals and ability to apply them to automotive concepts
• Experience with requirements capture in requirements management software platforms (JAMA, Polarion, DOORs, etc.)
• Strong experience debugging embedded systems at a module and/or system level, and the ability to triage nightly regression failures.
• Experience with software testing tools, frameworks, and methodologies (e.g., requirements-driven test development, unit testing, integration testing, system testing, automated testing).
• Experience designing/integrating/validating embedded software features across one or more of the following domains: network communication, cloud and connectivity, multimedia, infotainment, Android/iOS, and low-voltage power distribution.
• A systems approach to design and development, with an eagerness for continuous improvement and collaborative, cross-functional teamwork in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and project management skills

Even better, you may have...

• Electrical Systems Engineering experience including understanding of systems engineering V model
• Experience with Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA).
• Familiarity with common electronic components and comfort reading circuit design schematics & data sheets
• Ability to work independently on technical tasks, effective troubleshooting, and problem-solving with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication, and teamwork skills.
• A systems approach to design and development with the desire and curiosity to strive for exceptional delivery execution and continuous improvement.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools
• Experience with vehicle launch

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR

Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.