Staff Audio Test Automation Engineer

Ford; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Job summary

Ford is seeking an experienced staff Audio Test Automation Engineer to lead automated validation of next-generation IVI audio systems. You will design, build, and maintain scalable test suites in Python using pytest on Linux, validating multi-channel routing, DSP pipelines, AVAS, hands-free calling, and amplifier performance.

The role covers framework development, CI/CD integration, HIL bench setup, and platform-level stress testing, with a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Audio Engineering, Acoustics, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and scale automated test libraries in Python (pytest) on Linux/Ubuntu for IVI audio systems.
• Validate multi-channel audio routing, DSP pipelines, AVAS, hands-free calling, and amplifier performance.
• Execute platform-level amplifier and DSP stress tests; monitor diagnostics, clipping, and fault handling.

Skills

Python/pytest

DSP fundamentals

Audio hardware

Linux/Ubuntu

HFP/VoIP

Education

Bachelor’s degree in EE/CS/Audio

Tools

Audio interfaces (multi-channel)

CAN/CAN-FD, Automotive Ethernet

Job description

We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.

We are seeking an experienced staff Audio Test Automation Engineer to lead the automated validation of next-generation In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) audio systems. In this role, you will design, build, and maintain scalable test suites using Python and pytest to validate multi-channel audio routing, DSP pipelines, external sound systems (AVAS), hands-free calling, and onboard amplifier performance.

What you’ll do

• Framework Development: Develop and scale automated test libraries in Python (pytest) running on Linux/Ubuntu to interface with multi-channel audio hardware (e.g., Behringer UMC series, AudioControl line converters, DAQs).
• Audio Analysis & DSP Validation: Implement signal-processing algorithms to validate frequency response, channel separation, ducking, mixing, and dynamic gain control.

Feature & Platform Testing

• Validate IVI media playback across multi-channel vehicle configurations (e.g., 3-channel, multi-speaker surround, subwoofers).
• Validate Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) pitch/frequency modulation tied to vehicle telemetry.
• Validate Hands-Free Profile (HFP/VoIP) voice quality, downlink/uplink routing, and acoustic behavior.
• Execute platform-level amplifier and DSP stress tests, monitoring diagnostics, clipping, and fault handling.

HIL Bench Integration

• Setup, calibrate, and maintain bench-level audio hardware, signal routing, gain staging, and electrical isolation.

CI/CD Integration

• Integrate audio test suites into automated build and regression pipelines.

You’ll have

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Audio Engineering, Acoustics, or related field.
• Familiarity with AVAS (UN ECE R138 / FMVSS 141) acoustic safety regulations.
• Test Automation: 3+ years of professional experience building automated test frameworks in Python using pytest.
• Audio Signal Processing: Strong theoretical and practical foundation in digital signal processing (DSP) using Python scientific libraries (numpy, scipy, sounddevice, PyAudio).
• Audio Hardware & Instrumentation: Hands-on experience with multi-channel audio interfaces, line-output converters, microphone/speaker calibration, and gain staging.
• Audio Metrics: Deep familiarity with core acoustic and audio measurements: Frequency analysis / FFT spectral analysis, THD / THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise), Dynamic range, SNR, and crosstalk/isolation, RMS / Loudness / Audio ducking ratios.

Even better, you may have

• Platform & OS: Strong experience working in Linux (Ubuntu) environments, including ALSA/PulseAudio/PipeWire audio routing and configuration.
• Experience with automotive communication buses (CAN, CAN-FD, Automotive Ethernet) and automotive audio buses (Analog, A2B).
• Prior experience with automotive IVI systems (Android Automotive OS, QNX, or Automotive Grade Linux).
• Familiarity with speech quality standards (PESQ, POLQA, 3GPP/ITU-T loudness specs).
• Experience with professional audio test instruments (Audio Precision, SoundCheck/Listen Inc., or Rohde & Schwarz).

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare 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.

This position is a leadership level 6 and ranges from $150,200-$283,500. Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

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 with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.