Sr. Software Development Engineer in Test, Infotainment

Socket.dev; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a Senior Infotainment QA engineer to lead testing of infotainment firmware across development stages, via automation and manual testing. You will drive end-to-end testing projects, build automation tools, and mentor the QA team to improve quality and scalability.

You will collaborate with developers and cross-functional partners, define test strategy, and ensure timely delivery while maintaining high standards in a fast-moving automotive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or greater in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience integrating and testing automotive infotainment sub-systems or similar consumer electronics devices.
• Experience leading test projects or initiatives with planning and prioritization.
• Excellent communication skills to convey issues, status, and risk across teams.
• Strong understanding of software testing principles, methodologies, and techniques.
• Proficiency with version control systems (e.g., git).
• Scripting skills (Python, Shell) for test automation.
• Comfortable with POSIX-based embedded systems (Linux, Android, and/or QNX).
• Experience with pytest, Appium and other automation tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead test projects from planning through completion, defining scope, milestones, and success criteria.
• Develop and execute test plans and cases for infotainment media applications (Bluetooth, streaming, USB).
• Identify, analyze, and document defects; drive root-cause analysis and resolution.
• Collaborate with developers to resolve issues and escalate risks when timelines or quality are at stake.
• Communicate test strategy, status, and results to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Plan and prioritize testing activities across multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Serve as a technical lead and mentor within the QA team; raise testing quality standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of testing processes and methodologies.
• Maintain and update test environments to stay current.
• Design and implement automated integration tests for media use cases (source switching, playback controls, metadata).

Skills

Test leadership

Communication

Software testing

Git

Python

Shell scripting

POSIX embedded

Linux/Android/QNX

Infotainment testing

pytest

Appium

Education

Bachelor's Degree or greater in Computer Science / Software Engineering / Electrical Engineering or related field

Job description

About Us

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.

The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

Role Summary

Join the Infotainment QA team, playing a crucial role in testing and ensuring the quality of infotainment firmware and functions across all stages of the development life-cycle — through automation, manual testing, or semi-automated methods, verifying software meets required standards and validates functionality. As a senior member of the team, you will lead testing projects end-to-end, drive them across the finish line, and contribute to building and enhancing automation tools and infrastructure to support scalability.

Responsibilities

• Lead test projects from planning through completion — defining scope, milestones, and success criteria, and driving execution across teams to ensure quality deliverables land on time.
• Develop and execute test plans and test cases for Infotainment Media applications — including media playback (Bluetooth, streaming services, USB), audio routing and focus handling, radio/tuner, and media session behavior across connectivity and power transitions.
• Identify, analyze, and document defects encountered during integration testing on sub-system HILs and in vehicle, and drive root-cause analysis and resolution to closure.
• Work closely with developers to resolve issues and ensure defects are effectively addressed, escalating and communicating risk clearly when timelines or quality are at stake.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand product requirements and system architecture, and articulate test strategy, status, and results effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Plan and prioritize testing activities across multiple concurrent workstreams, context switching effectively between projects while keeping each on track.
• Serve as a technical lead and mentor within the QA team, setting best practices and raising the bar on testing quality.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for testing processes and methodologies.
• Maintain test environments and ensure they’re up-to-date.
• Design and implement automated integration tests for media use cases — such as source switching, playback controls, metadata validation, and audio quality checks — to improve test efficiency and enable automated testing early in the development cycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or greater in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience integrating and testing automotive infotainment sub-systems or similar consumer electronics devices.
• Demonstrated experience leading test projects or initiatives, with the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple parallel efforts.
• Excellent communication skills — able to clearly articulate technical issues, test status, and risk to engineers, managers, and cross-functional partners.
• Strong understanding of software testing principles, methodologies, and techniques.
• Proficiency with version control systems (e.g., git).
• Solid scripting skills (Python, Shell) for test automation.
• Comfortable with POSIX-based embedded systems (Linux, Android, and/or QNX).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and manage time/priorities.
• Experience with android/adb.
• Automotive, CAN, and Ethernet experience is a plus.
• Experience with pytest, Appium, and other automation tools.

Total Rewards

We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.

Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.

In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country.

• health coverage
• retirement savings
• time off
• family planning programs

Learn more about our global benefit programs.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

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Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.