Software Validation Engineer, Energy Storage

Socket.dev; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 343,000; Full time

Job summary

Redwood Materials is seeking a Software Validation Engineer to design and maintain SIL and HIL environments, enabling high-fidelity simulations of battery assets and grid conditions.

You will lead automated test suites in Python (Pytest) and define comprehensive V&V plans for site controllers and embedded power electronics. This role involves CI/CD integration, custom HIL interfacing, and close collaboration with firmware teams to drive robust production-ready software.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with 2+ years in software validation or test automation for hardware-focused systems.
• Experience with real-time simulation platforms Typhoon HIL, Opal-RT, or dSPACE and modeling power electronics in a virtual environment.
• Proficiency in Python for test automation (e.g., Pytest) and familiarity with Rust and C/C++ for embedded codebases.
• Comfort in a high-voltage lab with standard test equipment and digital protocols (CAN, SPI, Ethernet).
• Experience with Git, Jenkins/GitHub Actions, and Docker for managing test environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and scale SIL and HIL validation environments to provide high-fidelity simulations of battery assets and grid conditions.
• Lead development of automated test suites in Python and transition validation processes to a scalable framework.
• Define and execute Verification and Validation plans for site controller and embedded power electronics.
• Integrate automated HIL/SIL testing into CI/CD pipelines with real-time feedback to development teams.
• Design custom interface hardware and wiring for HIL benches bridging physical I/O to simulated power stages.
• Collaborate with firmware and systems teams to debug failures using analyzers, oscilloscopes, and telemetry logs.

Skills

Python

Rust

C/C++

Test automation

Pytest

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Tools

Typhoon HIL

Opal-RT

dSPACE

Git

Jenkins/GitHub Actions

Docker

Job description

About Redwood Materials

Redwood is localizing a global battery supply chain that seamlessly integrates recovery, reuse, and recycling — keeping critical minerals in circulation and driving the energy transition. Founded in 2017, we’re delivering low-cost and large-scale energy storage and producing battery materials in the U.S. for the first time, all from batteries we already have.

The Redwood Vision: Architecting the Future of the Grid

We are at the precipice of a global energy transition. At Redwood Materials, we are moving beyond battery recycling to build the most advanced, circular energy ecosystem on the planet. Our goal is to shift the industry from static, hardware-heavy infrastructure toward agile, software-defined energy assets. The Software Validation team ensures that these complex systems are safe, resilient, and ready for grid-scale deployment.

As a Software Validation Engineer, you are the bridge between pure code and physical reality. You will design and maintain the environments—Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL)—that allow us to stress-test our power electronics and site controllers. Your mission is to build the automated frameworks that catch edge cases before they hit the field, ensuring every product we ship meets the highest standards of reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Validation Environment Design: Architect and scale our SIL and HIL environments (using platforms like Typhoon HIL, Opal-RT, or similar) to provide high-fidelity simulations of battery assets and grid conditions
• Test Automation Frameworks: Lead the development of automated test suites in Python. You will transition our validation processes from manual intervention to a fully automated, scalable framework
• V&V Strategy: Define and execute comprehensive Verification and Validation (V&V) plans, ensuring all software requirements for the site controller and embedded power electronics are met under normal and fault conditions
• CI/CD Integration: Integrate automated HIL/SIL testing into our CI/CD pipelines, providing real-time feedback to the development teams and serving as the final gate for production-ready code
• Hardware-in-the-Loop Interfacing: Design custom interface hardware and wiring for HIL benches, bridging physical I/O from our controllers to simulated power stages
• Root Cause Analysis: Work closely with the firmware and systems teams to debug complex failures found during validation, using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and telemetry logs to pinpoint issues

Qualifications

• Background: A BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field, combined with 2+ years of professional experience in software validation or test automation for hardware-focused systems
• HIL/SIL Mastery: Proven experience with real-time simulation platforms (Typhoon HIL, Opal-RT, or dSPACE) and a deep understanding of how to model power electronics components in a virtual environment
• Automation Toolchain: Expert proficiency in Python (specifically for test automation frameworks like Pytest) and familiarity with Rust and C/C++ to navigate embedded codebases
• Hardware Literacy: Comfortable in a high-voltage lab environment. You should be proficient with standard lab equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, electronic loads) and digital protocols like CAN, SPI, and Ethernet
• Systematic Thinking: A dedicated mindset for "breaking" software. You have a track record of finding critical edge cases in complex state machines and control loops
• Infrastructure: Experience with Git, Jenkins/GitHub Actions, and containerization tools like Docker for managing consistent test environments

California Pay Range

$152,500—$342,500 USD

The position is full-time. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

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