Senior Test Engineer - Software

Trust Automation, Inc.; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Trust Automation, Inc. seeks a Test Software Engineer to design, implement, and maintain test software for motion control and cyber security products.

The role collaborates with Product Development and Manufacturing to create test plans and fixtures, enabling automated validation and scalable manufacturing. The position requires strong coding skills in Python, C, or C#, experience with Linux, test equipment, and leadership abilities to drive test development and reviews across teams.

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Software/firmware design experience, including programming skills with higher level languages (i.e. C).
• Experience building and maintaining software applications in Python or C#.
• Basic electronics knowledge: familiarity with digital and analog circuits.
• Experience using test equipment (oscilloscope, DVM, function generator, logic analyzer, etc…).
• Target level debugging skills.
• Capable of technical leadership.
• Typically 8+ years of engineering experience.
• Ability to read and understand electrical schematics.
• Experience with command-line interfaces.
• Experience building on or deploying to headless Linux systems.
• Experience with digital and analog I/O using data acquisition hardware (LabJack, Arduino).
• Familiarity with SPI, I2C, RS232/RS422/RS485.
• Experience using statistical analysis methods.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, deploy, and maintain software used by the Trust Manufacturing Team for building and testing motion control, power conversion, and cyber security products.
• Develop test code using Python, C, C#, and TypeScript.
• Design manufacturing tests for new products.
• Assist in building prototype test hardware including cable assemblies, hardware integration, and component ordering.
• Lead Trust Automation's test development processes, including design reviews.
• Provide mentoring and training for other engineers.
• Support of Business Development efforts.
• Support of Operations with released product issues and engineering sustainment.
• Create and execute validation plans to confirm test implementations meet goals.
• Perform full regression testing for software release candidates.

Skills

C

Python

C#

Electronics basics

Test equipment

Debugging

Leadership

Schematic reading

CLI

Linux

Data acquisition

Serial protocols

Statistics

Communication

Education

BS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent

Tools

LabJack

Arduino

Job description

Trust Automation has over 35 years of experience in custom motors, linear drives, digital drives, and systems which meet the unique needs of its customers. Its product line includes motors, linear drives, digital drives, custom assemblies, and products to fit unique applications and ground‑up system design and manufacturing solutions. We design, build and support control and power management systems for the most demanding defense, semiconductor, industrial automation, and medical applications.

Trust Automation is an equal opportunity employer and committed to attracting, hiring, developing, and retaining a skilled, productive, and diverse workforce, personnel with competencies and experience related to the regional and State population. Every employee has an "at-will" relationship with Trust Automation. This means that employment with Trust Automation is at the mutual consent of the employer and the employee and is subject to termination by either party at will, with or without cause or advance notice.

Job Summary

The Trust Automation Test Engineering Team develops test systems and software applications that empower Trust Automation to build and ship best-in-class motion control and cyber security hardware. Test Engineers collaborate with Product Development and Manufacturing teams to create manufacturing test plans for new products, and design fixtures and software to automate these tests. Test Engineering is a multidisciplinary team, with most projects requiring mechanical, electrical, and software design. The Test Software Engineer is responsible for the software component of these projects, creating a test plan, and supporting the team to solve shared design problems. A common project for the Test Engineering Team is the design and integration of bed‑of‑nails test fixtures. Test content can include ICT, chip programming, functional/integration tests, motion control, and signal processing. Technical breadth of test content is constantly growing as new products and technologies are added to the Trust Automation portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, deploy, and maintain software used by the Trust Manufacturing Team for building and testing motion control, power conversion, and cyber security products
• Develop test code using Python, C, C#, and TypeScript
• Design manufacturing tests for new products
  • Review product requirements, electrical schematics, and other product design documentation to generate requirements for the test design
  • Requirement derivation, tracking and verification for test solutions
  • Create diagrams of target products and other supporting documents to aid in communication and design of the test
  • Create and document a test plan. Lead reviews of the test design with engineers, program stakeholders, and external customers
  • Implement test software using Python and other programming languages
  • Create work instructions that guide Test Operators through execution of the test
  • Create and execute a validation plan to confirm that the test implementation meets design goals prior to release for use in manufacturing
• Assist in building prototype test hardware including cable assemblies, hardware integration, specification and ordering of components, and mechanical assembly
• Perform a variety of complicated tasks, primarily relying on job experience to accomplish project goals. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.
• Lead Trust Automation's test development processes, including design reviews
• Provide mentoring and training for other engineers
• Support of Business Development (i.e. - Bid and Proposal) efforts
• Support of Operations with released product issues, leading engineering sustainment
• Become a product knowledge expert, using that knowledge to:
  • Contribute to troubleshooting documentation
  • Train and assist peers to identify and troubleshoot product issues
  • Design and execute experiments to characterize product design issues. Create reports to communicate findings. (i.e. - perform root-cause analysis).
• Troubleshoot test system and product issues using tools such as:
  • Multimeters
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Logic and protocol analyzers
  • Network analyzers
  • Debuggers (e.g., pdb, gdb) and trace probes (e.g., Segger)
• Provide production support in the factory by supporting product launch, executing tests, deploying hot fixes, and troubleshooting operational systems.
• Perform full regression testing for software release candidates
• Participate in Trust Automation's design and development processes, including design reviews
• Assist Program Managers and Trust VPs with project/program planning, including specification of system application solutions, task prioritization, and risk mitigation
• Contribute to project/program success by meeting deliverables on schedule and within budget

Position Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • BS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent
  • Software/firmware design experience, including programming skills with higher level languages (i.e. - C)
  • Experience building and maintaining software applications in Python or C#
  • Basic electronics knowledge: familiarity with digital and analog circuits
  • Experience using test equipment (oscilloscope, DVM, function generator, logic analyzer, etc…)
  • Target level debugging skills
  • Capable of technical leadership
• Typically 8+ years of engineering experience
• Ability to read and understand electrical schematics
• Experience with command-line interfaces
• Experience building on or deploying to headless Linux systems (or an unabashed enthusiasm to learn)
• Experience with digital and analog I/O using data acquisition hardware or similar (i.e. - LabJack, Arduino)
• Familiarity with the following serial protocols: SPI, I2C, RS232/RS422/RS485. Ability to convert a logic analyzer or scope trace of one of these to bytes.
• Experience using statistical analysis methods
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to create visual aids
  • Ability to identify and present meaningful data
  • Ability to professionally engage with customers and partners external to the company
• Thrives in an innovative, multidisciplinary design team environment
• Ability to manage time effectively and work effectively with teammates and management

Physical Requirements

• Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person, on the telephone or virtually.
• Dexterity of hands, fingers, and wrist to operate a computer keyboard, calculator, or assemble/manufacture intricate items.
• Seeing to read a variety of materials.
• Sitting or standing for extended period of time.
• Physical agility to lift up to 50 pounds to shoulder height. Any items that weigh more than 50 pounds will require two or more people or a lifting device to move.
• Physical agility to lift, carry, push, or pull objects.

Pay/Salary Information

Pay scale for this position - $135,000 - $150,000.00 annually