Test Automation Engineer - Hardware-in-the Loop (HIL)

Tau Motors; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible time off

Competitive compensation

Excellent medical, dental, vision & life insurance

Comprehensive benefits including 401(k), HSA, and FSA benefits

Job summary

Tau Motors in Redwood City, CA, is seeking a Test Automation Engineer to build automated test frameworks across software and hardware-in-the-loop environments. The role will focus on ensuring the quality of embedded software for next-generation electric propulsion systems. Candidates should have a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, with 3+ years in test automation and a strong programming background. Competitive salary ranges from $120,000 to $210,000, along with excellent benefits including flexible time off and medical insurance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in embedded systems test automation.
• Strong programming skills in Python, C/C++, or similar.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain automated test frameworks for embedded software.
• Build hardware-in-the-loop systems for validation.
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines.

Skills

Test automation for embedded systems

Programming (Python, C/C++)

Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing

Real-time systems

Embedded software development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Jenkins

Oscilloscopes

Power supplies

CAN tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Overview

Tau is a venture-backed advanced technology company based in the Bay Area (Redwood City, CA). We design and develop next-generation products for electrification, constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. The company was started because we believe the key to a more sustainable future requires modern power conversion systems to increase the security of the world’s energy. We have pioneered technologies that leverage software-enabled hardware to provide industry-leading scale, economics, and efficiencies. Our systems include innovations across electric machines, inverters, controllers, thermal management, simulation, and charging systems. Tau's team of engineers, scientists, technologists, operators, and industry leaders continues to advance our internal technology roadmap while collaborating with commercial partners to deploy our existing products to market. They are relentlessly pursuing the creation of efficient power conversion systems for a more sustainable future. At our core, Tau is made of exceptionally talented and mission-aligned people. Developing complex electromechanical systems is an interdisciplinary challenge. We want to expand our team with diverse engineering, scientific, and operational expertise.

About You

We are looking for people who aren't afraid to take on new challenges and are as passionate about energy and electrification as we are:

• You find significant challenges exciting and enjoy discovering and defining problems as much as solving them.
• You deliver. You may enjoy thoughtful conversations about problems and perfecting design, but ultimately, you know that delivering innovative, effective, and reliable solutions matters.
• You are a cross-disciplinary team member. You are excited to work with, learn from, and contribute to technology teams ranging from electromagnetics, power electronics, controls systems, mechanical, materials, software, computational physics, and beyond.

About The Role

Tau Motors seeks a Test Automation Engineer, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) to build and scale our automated test infrastructure across software and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments. This role is critical to ensuring the quality and robustness of embedded software controlling next-generation electric propulsion systems.

You’ll work closely with firmware, controls, and hardware teams to design test strategies, develop automated test frameworks, and integrate validation into continuous integration pipelines.

What You'll Do

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for embedded software validation
• Build and operate hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test systems to validate real-time control software
• Develop test cases for motor control algorithms, power electronics, and safety-critical features
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines for continuous validation
• Define test strategies, coverage metrics, and validation plans across system, integration, and unit levels
• Debug complex issues spanning software, firmware, and hardware interfaces
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (controls, firmware, electrical, systems) to ensure testability and coverage
• Drive improvements in test infrastructure, tooling, and processes
• Support validation for safety and reliability standards (e.g., ISO 26262 concepts where applicable)

Preferred Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related degree
• 3+ years of experience in test automation for embedded systems
• Strong programming skills (Python, C/C++, or similar)
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and real-time systems
• Familiarity with embedded software development and debugging
• Experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, CAN tools, DAQs, etc.)
• Understanding of control systems, motor control, or power electronics is a strong plus
• Experience with CI/CD tools and automated test pipelines (Jenkins)

Desired Skills

• Experience with automotive or safety-critical systems
• Familiarity with CAN, SPI, UART, and other embedded communication protocols
• Experience with simulation environments (MATLAB/Simulink, etc.)
• Exposure to ISO 26262 or similar safety frameworks
• Experience scaling test infrastructure in fast-paced environments

US Salary Information

$120,000.00 - $210,000.00

Tau is committed to paying competitive compensation that is fair and equitable. Your experience, qualifications, training, critical skills, and/or business considerations determine your compensation. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include an annual performance bonus, equity, and other incentive compensation plans considered part of Tau’s total compensation package. To learn more about our top-tier benefits, please visit www.taumotors.com. The level will depend on the candidate’s experience. Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches his or her work with vigor and determination. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in their respective fields and possess the ability to learn quickly within a fast-paced environment.

Perks

• Become part of an emerging company during a rapid growth phase—within an industry undergoing dramatic transformation for a global imperative.
• Work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields to: (1) attack some of the most pressing issues of today while (2) contributing to technically demanding and deeply innovative solutions.
• Growth potential—we advance team members who have an outsized impact.
• Competitive compensation based upon experience level, including stock options—we believe in capturing value in the future we create together.
• Flexible time off and paid holidays.
• Centrally located in the Bay Area on the Peninsula in vibrant downtown Redwood City
• Blocks from the Caltrain
• Walking distance to food and entertainment
• Easy access to both the 101 and 280
• Excellent medical, dental, vision & life insurance
• Comprehensive benefits including 401(k), HSA and FSA benefits, commuter benefits and more

Equal Opportunity Employer

Tau is an equal opportunity employer that guarantees a work environment that respects and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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