SQA Engineer III

Cohu, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 64,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Tuition assistance

Disability & life insurance

Profit Sharing

Job summary

Cohu, Inc. is seeking a Software Quality Assurance engineer to lead testing efforts for a Windows-based product line.

You will design and execute tests, review requirements, and implement automated strategies using C# and SQL, while working closely with software and hardware teams in a fast-paced lab environment. The role emphasizes defect analysis, test planning, and risk management, with travel up to 25% and a focus on delivering high-quality software in collaboration with engineers and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in software, electrical, mechanical, computer, or a related engineering discipline.
• 4–6 years in software quality assurance and testing in a commercial Windows-based product-development environment.
• 3+ years testing electro-mechanical equipment and related software applications.
• Proficiency with C# or C/C++, Visual Studio, Git, OO design, SQL/databases, and Windows communication protocols.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, document, execute, and report system-level testing per requirements and process.
• Review requirements and designs; provide feedback on defects and testability risks.
• Select manual, automated, simulated, or equipment-based test approaches based on risk and infra.
• Create and debug C#-based test scripts; run automated tests in simulation and on equipment.
• Perform end-user functional, feature, defect-fix, and regression testing in an engineering lab with real equipment.
• Document software defects in Jira with evidence, impact, and steps to reproduce.
• Collaborate with software engineers to triage defects and verify fixes.
• Analyze release data using SQL or scripts; generate charts and quality metrics for stakeholders.
• Estimate testing effort and duration using scope, risk, and resources.
• Engage with engineering to determine root causes across software, hardware, integration, or test infra.
• Use AI tools to improve test plans, scripts, and documentation.
• Suggest improvements to testing practices to raise quality and shorten release cycles.

Skills

C# / C/C++

SQL/Database

Visual Studio

Git

OO Design

TCP/IP / Serial

Agile/Scrum

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in software, electrical, mechanical, computer, or related engineering

Tools

Jira

Visio

Microsoft Project

Job description

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

• Plan, design, document, execute, and report system-level testing each release cycle, following software requirements, design documentation, and Cohu’s software development process.
• Review customer and system requirements, software designs, and unit and integration test plans; provide actionable feedback that identifies defects and testability risks early in development.
• Select an effective manual, automated, simulated, or equipment-based test approach based on requirement interfaces, risk, and available test infrastructure.
• Create, maintain, and debug C#-based test scripts for internal automation tools, and execute automated tests in simulation and on production-representative equipment.
• Perform end-user-focused functional, new-feature, defect-fix, and regression testing in an engineering lab using actual equipment and machine simulators.
• Identify, reproduce, troubleshoot, analyze, and clearly document software defects in Jira, including evidence, impact, expected behavior, and reproducible steps.
• Collaborate with software development engineers to triage defects, track corrective actions, retest fixes, and drive issues to verified closure.
• Extract and analyze release data using SQL or scripting tools, generate clear charts and quality metrics, and communicate software quality status and risk to stakeholders.
• Estimate testing effort and duration using the change scope, technical risk, available resources, test infrastructure, and relevant historical data.
• Partner with engineering disciplines to investigate incidents found during system testing and determine whether root causes are related to software, hardware, integration, or test infrastructure.
• Use company-approved AI tools responsibly to improve the accuracy, completeness, and efficiency of test plans, test scripts, defect analysis, and technical documentation.
• Evaluate software development and testing practices, and propose measurable improvements that increase product quality, shorten release cycle time, and reduce cost.

Leadership Expectations

Lead SQA Engineers and Technicians in structuring, creating, reviewing, maintaining, executing, and reporting complex test procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education/Training: Bachelor’s degree in software, electrical, mechanical, computer, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience: 4-6 years of experience with software quality assurance and testing experience in a commercial, Windows-based product-development environment. 3+ years of experience testing electro-mechanical equipment and associated software applications.
• Working knowledge of C# or C/C++, Visual Studio, Git or comparable version control, object-oriented design, SQL/database concepts, and communication protocols (e.g., serial, TCP/IP) in a Windows environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and working familiarity with project-planning and diagramming tools such as Microsoft Project and Visio.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in Agile/Scrum development environments, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and related ceremonies.
• Familiarity with Python or similar scripting languages for data analysis, reporting automation, or AI-assisted testing workflows.
• Knowledge of UML, XML, TCP/IP, SECS/GEM, serial communication, and GPIB protocols.
• Experience in one or more areas of machine automation, motion control, input/output systems, pneumatics, thermal systems, vision systems, or communication interfaces.
• Software testing certification such as ISTQB (Foundation or Advanced Level) or CSTE.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates creativity, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and disciplined problem-solving.
• Communicates clearly in writing and verbally, including preparation of formal technical reports and concise quality summaries.
• Works effectively both independently and within cross-functional teams in a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Adapts to changing priorities, risks, requirements, and schedules while adjusting the testing strategy as needed.
• Optimizes test activities, identifies practical alternatives, and recommends solutions that support committed schedules without compromising quality.
• Travel as needed to U.S. and global customer or Cohu sites, up to 25% of the time.
• Works in a lab environment with constant or intermittent noise. Prolonged sitting at a computer terminal, use of keyboard.

Job Conditions/Physical Demands

Works in a lab environment with constant or intermittent noise. Prolonged sitting at a computer terminal, use of keyboard.

Protective Devices Required: In required areas.

Compensation: The estimated base pay range for this position is $46.15 to $56.44 per hour, depending on qualifications, experience, education, and other job-related factors. This range represents Cohu’s good faith estimate of what it reasonably expects to pay for this role upon hire. This role may also be eligible for other compensation programs as determined by company policy.

Featured benefits

• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• 401(k) with company matching contributions
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Tuition assistance
• Disability & life insurance
• Profit Sharing