Tech Lead, Device Automation & QA

WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 217,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Tools for Humanity seeks a Device Automation & QA Lead to own software quality end-to-end for device platforms. You will design scalable automated testing across devices, hardware-in-the-loop, backend services, and CI/CD systems, enabling faster releases and higher confidence.

You will write test code, define architectures, and collaborate with hardware and firmware teams to ensure release readiness and robust test coverage.

Qualifications

• Hands-on with software and hardware, debugging real devices and test rigs.
• Experience designing or owning automation at scale and test fleets.
• Ability to read firmware and software to target tests.

Responsibilities

• Own automation and QA strategy for Device Software and final release gate.
• Design, implement, and operate a large-scale automated test fleet.
• Write and review test code and build reusable test frameworks.
• Define quality benchmarks with project leads for new products.
• Enable scalable fleet operations and CI-triggered tests.
• Investigate field issues and triage with multiple teams.
• Improve test coverage and reliability over time.

Skills

Automation at scale

QA strategy

Test code

CI/CD

Hardware debugging

Tools

HIL systems

CI/CD pipelines

Test frameworks

Job description

About The Company

Tools for Humanity (TFH) designs and builds technology behind World. World is building a real human network designed to accelerate people in the age of AI. As bots and autonomous agents reshape the internet, people, institutions, and applications need a trusted way to confirm who is a real human while preserving privacy. The TFH and World tech stacks make this possible: the Orb verifies real, unique people, World ID proves it privately, and World App puts these capabilities, and more, in people’s hands. Together, they add a human layer to an AI-driven internet.

About The Company

Tools for Humanity (TFH) designs and builds technology behind World. World is building a real human network designed to accelerate people in the age of AI. As bots and autonomous agents reshape the internet, people, institutions, and applications need a trusted way to confirm who is a real human while preserving privacy. The TFH and World tech stacks make this possible: the Orb verifies real, unique people, World ID proves it privately, and World App puts these capabilities, and more, in people’s hands. Together, they add a human layer to an AI-driven internet.

World is already running at a global scale. More than 17 million people across 160 countries have verified with World ID, and more new Orb verifications take place each week. World App is already among the most used wallets globally. Developers are integrating World ID to build safer online experiences and create spaces where real people can participate, earn, and be recognized in ways AI simply can’t replicate.

Founded in 2019, TFH has more than 400 people across hardware, software, AI, cryptography, mobile engineering, and global operations. Our teams come from OpenAI, Tesla, SpaceX, Apple, Google, Stripe, Meta, Coinbase, Palantir and MIT Media Lab. We’re backed by leading investors, including a16z, Khosla Ventures, Bain Capital Crypto, Blockchain Capital, Variant, Tiger Global, and Coinbase Ventures, as well as prominent operators and founders across fintech and AI.

TFH and World have been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine, highlighted in Fast Company’s Next 5 in Fintech, and explored in a Bloomberg deep dive. The New York Times, Bankless and TechCrunch have all recognized our collective progress in identity, cryptography, AI, and global-scale hardware deployment. Our leadership is also named to the Time AI 100. Learn more about the newest product launches from our Liftoff event.

About The Team

The Device Software team develops the magical experiences that enable the missions of TFH. We are passionate about making great products. We own problems end-to-end and are able to lead cross-functional teams when needed. We love to collaborate but are not afraid to make decisions. We value open communication and are not afraid to fail - we see the value in learning quickly more than making a perfect decision. We really enjoy working with each other and only bring on the best talent.

About The Role

We are looking for a Device Automation & QA Lead to own software quality end-to-end for our device platforms. This role is the final quality gate for device software releases and operates alongside but independently from product development teams, with clear accountability for release readiness, test coverage, and test fleet health.

You will design, build, and operate a scalable automated test infrastructure spanning devices, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), backend services, and CI/CD systems. Your work will directly enable faster development cycles, higher release confidence, and fewer issues reaching the field.

You will write and review test code, design test architectures, interact directly with hardware, and set the quality bar for multiple device product lines. Over time, this role will define how quality scales as our device portfolio, team size, and system complexity grow.

In This Role, You Will

• Own the automation and QA strategy for Device Software, serving as the independent verification and final release gate for all device releases
• Recruit and hire top talent to the QA team that will be able to be self-sufficient within the realms of software, hardware and fleet management
• Act as the build and release manager including release scheduling, readiness reviews, and release notes
• Design, implement, and evolve a large-scale automated test fleet, including test devices, test stations, and custom HIL systems
• Architect and operate test infrastructure spanning:
• Devices (Orb and future products)
• Test stations that interact with devices like a human would
• Backend services, CI/CD pipelines, and fleet management tooling
• Designing and automating regression, smoke, and nightly test workflows
• Define quality benchmarks and test strategies in partnership with project leads for new products and features
• Enable scalable fleet operations, including:
• Automated test deployment and updates
• CI-triggered test execution
• Monitoring and troubleshooting of test failures
• Investigate and reproduce field issues, acting as first-line triage before handing off to firmware, software, hardware, and backend teams
• Continuously improve test coverage, execution speed, and system reliability, including negative and fault-injection testing

You Might Thrive In This Role If You Have

• Are deeply hands-on with software and hardware, comfortable debugging real devices, test rigs, and electrical signals
• Have designed or owned automation systems at scale, including fleets of test devices
• Write and review high-quality test code and enjoy building reusable, maintainable test frameworks and libraries
• Can read production firmware and software code to understand system behavior and translate that understanding into targeted tests
• Are naturally curious and proactive— you dig for bugs, edge cases, and failure modes others miss. A human fuzz tester
• Are comfortable setting direction with ambiguity and do not require detailed test instructions to get started
• Lead with collaboration and low ego, earning trust by delivering value
• Think in systems—anticipating future bottlenecks in testing, release processes, and infrastructure before they become problems
• Are not afraid to break things in the name of learning, validation, and quality

Pay Transparency Statement (for CA And NY Based Roles)

The reasonably estimated salary for this role at TFH in San Francisco ranges from $217,000 - $260,000, plus a competitive long term incentive package, and may include variable compensation. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, TFH offers a wide range of best in class, comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits for this role including healthcare, dental, vision and mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan and match, life insurance, flexible time off, commuter benefits, professional development stipend and much more!