Staff Quality Assurance Engineer

Apptronik Systems, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in robotics technology is looking for a Staff QA Engineer. This role involves leading validation of complex robotic systems, designing testing strategies, and providing hands-on leadership in ensuring product reliability. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve testing processes and mentor junior engineers in a dynamic and innovative environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in software development/testing for embedded systems.
• Proficient in Python and C++ in testing contexts.
• Expertise in working with robotic systems and QA processes.

Responsibilities

• Architect and lead testing strategies for complex robotic systems.
• Oversee integration of new tests in existing frameworks.
• Mentor junior engineers and lead root cause analysis.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Bug Resolution

Agile Methodologies

Python

C++

ROS or ROS2

Linux

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

Job description

Apptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. Our team has been building some of the most advanced robots on the planet for years, dating back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge. We apply our expertise across the full robotics stack to some of the most important and impactful problems our society faces, and expect our products and technology to change the world for the better. We value passion, creativity, and collaboration to help us overcome existing technological barriers in the industry to create truly innovative products.

You will join a team developing state-of-the-art general-purpose robots designed to operate in human spaces and with human tools. It is designed to work alongside humans, mobilize to human spaces, and manipulate the world around it.

JOB SUMMARY

We’re looking for a Staff QA Engineer to join our Software Integration & Test team at a pivotal moment in our journey as we lead the revolution of our testing infrastructure to shape the future of our product. We are a passionate and dynamic group dedicated to ensuring seamless integration and robust validation of the complex systems behind our groundbreaking humanoid robots. As a Staff QA Engineer, you’ll architect, lead the implementation, and drive the execution of innovative testing strategies—providing deep technical expertise and hands-on leadership in validating performance and reliability on cutting-edge robot hardware. Your work will directly influence the quality, reliability, and success of our products, making this an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to a mission-critical effort that will define the next generation of robotics technology.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Architect and lead the execution of comprehensive test plans and strategies for complex robotic systems, with a strong focus on hardware-software integration.
• Drive the design and development of advanced system-level tests, automation frameworks, and tools to significantly enhance testing efficiency, coverage, and reliability.
• Oversee the integration of new tests and tools into existing reporting and logging infrastructure, ensuring scalability and maintainability.
• Provide expert guidance on thorough test result documentation and lead complex root cause analysis activities to identify, isolate, and resolve critical issues.
• Lead and mentor teams in performing in-depth root cause analysis, collaborating closely with software and hardware development engineers to develop and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Define and implement strategies for collecting and analyzing data to support iterative improvements and refinements of product design and quality metrics.
• Champion best practices in QA, test automation, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior and senior engineers within the QA team and across collaborating teams.
• Assist with demonstrations of robotic platforms for marketing and outreach purposes.
• Because of our work with hardware, a physical presence in Austin, TX at least three days per week is required.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts and influence cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to track down and resolve challenging, deeply integrated bugs, including memory leaks, concurrency issues, and hardware-software interaction problems.
• Deep understanding and practical experience with Agile methodologies, including sprint planning, design reviews, and code reviews, at a leadership level.
• Expert proficiency in Python for developing robust test frameworks, automation tools, and data analysis scripts.
• Strong proficiency in C++ for test development, debugging, and understanding embedded software architectures.
• Extensive experience with ROS or ROS2 for robot system testing, simulation, and integration.
• Proven experience in QA on complex hardware systems, including robotics, embedded systems, or similar mechatronic products.
• Expert proficiency with Linux operating systems and command-line tools.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and inspire other engineers, fostering a culture of quality and technical excellence.
• (Preferred) Advanced understanding of networking concepts in a robotics context.
• (Preferred) Experience evaluating and implementing Test Management Software solutions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience (preferred).
• 8+ years of experience developing and/or testing software for complex embedded systems.
• 8+ years of professional experience with Hardware in the Loop (HIL) testing and validation.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience (excluding academic training), with a significant focus on Quality Assurance.
• 8+ years of experience in testing, encompassing unit, integration, system, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• 8+ years of experience enforcing and improving code coverage, test methodologies, and quality metrics.
• 5+ years of experience with ROS or ROS2 concepts and their application in testing and validation environments.
• 5+ years of expert proficiency in Python for developing robust test frameworks and automation tools.
• 5+ years of experience with C++ in a testing or embedded software context.
• (Preferred) 8+ years of experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) for test environments.
• (Preferred) 8+ years of experience building tooling to improve quality of life and efficiency in development and testing workflows.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Hearing and speech to communicate.

*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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