Test Automation Engineer - NI VeriStand to Python Migration

Onward Technologies Limited; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Onward Technologies Limited is seeking an experienced Embedded Test Engineer to migrate a legacy NI VeriStand framework to a Python-based test suite for hospital-device hardware, including benches and real-time targets. You will analyze, port, and extend test logic while ensuring functional equivalence and traceability.

You will work onsite in Kalamazoo, partnering with hardware teams to stabilize verification tooling, implement reusable drivers, and verify test outcomes across environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years embedded systems, firmware, or system-level test engineering on physical hardware.
• Hands-on NI VeriStand: system definition, Real-Time Sequences, stimulus profiles, configurations, and custom devices.
• Experience with NI hardware PXI/PXIe, DAQ modules, and signal conditioning.
• Python production-quality, OOP, pytest, fixtures, hardware abstraction, logging and reporting.
• Familiarity with NI Python APIs: nidaqmx, nixnet, pyvisa or equivalent instrument-control work.
• Ability to read schematics and probe live PCBs with scopes, DMMs, logic analyzers.
• Protocols CAN/CAN FD, I2C, SPI, UART/RS-232/RS-485 at debugging level.
• Onsite work in Kalamazoo for the full engagement.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and reverse engineer the VeriStand library to document intent and coverage.
• Port VeriStand test logic into the Python framework with functional equivalence.
• Build Python hardware-abstraction layers over NI stack and PXI hardware.
• Develop reusable fixtures, drivers, and utilities for maintainability.
• Integrate migrated tests into version control and automated execution.
• Document equivalence evidence for design-control reviews.
• Support bench and hardware work including wiring, signal conditioning, and fault-insertion.

Skills

Embedded systems

Firmware testing

Python programming

Test automation

Hardware-abstraction

CAN/CAN FD

Tools

NI VeriStand

NI PXI hardware

nidaqmx/nixnet/pyvisa

LabVIEW/TestStand

Oscilloscopes/Logic analyzers

Job description

Client is a global medical device manufacturer. Their Acute Care R&D group develops connected electromechanical patient-support platforms (hospital beds and stretchers) with embedded firmware, sensing, actuation, and network connectivity. Verification runs on custom Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) benches built on National Instruments PXI hardware.

The client is consolidating verification tooling onto a single Python-based test framework. This role migrates the existing NI VeriStand test asset library into that framework preserving functional equivalence, test coverage, and verification traceability.

Responsibilities

Analysis & reverse engineering

• Analyze the existing VeriStand library: system definition files, Real-Time Sequences, stimulus profiles, workspace configurations, custom devices and document functional intent, signal mapping, and coverage of each test
• Reconstruct test intent where documentation is thin or original authors are unavailable
• Produce a migration inventory and sequencing plan covering dependencies, complexity, and priority
• Port VeriStand test logic into the Python framework, maintaining functional equivalence with the legacy implementation
• Build and extend Python hardware-abstraction layers over the NI stack - nidaqmx (DAQ, analog/digital I/O), nixnet (CAN/CAN FD), pyvisa (instrument and serial control) and over PXI chassis and real-time targets
• Implement reusable fixtures, drivers, and utilities so the migrated suite is maintainable, not a one-for-one transliteration
• Integrate migrated tests into version control and automated execution

Verification of the migration

• Design and execute an equivalence strategy: run legacy VeriStand and migrated Python tests against the same device under test and reconcile results
• Investigate discrepancies, distinguishing genuine defects from timing, resolution, or signal-conditioning differences between environments
• Document equivalence evidence to a standard suitable for design-control review

Bench & hardware work

• Bring up and maintain HIL benches: PXI chassis, NI modules, signal conditioning, wiring harnesses, load banks, simulated sensors and actuators
• Debug at signal level with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, protocol analyzers
• Support fault-insertion and boundary-condition testing on electromechanical subsystems
• Maintain traceability from migrated tests to source requirements and test protocols
• Support test-tool validation and produce documentation consistent with design-control and DHF expectations
• Participate in peer code review, protocol review and defect triage

Required

• 5+ years embedded systems, firmware, or system-level test engineering on physical hardware
• NI VeriStand hands-on: system definition (.nivssdf), Real-Time Sequences (.nivsseq), stimulus profiles, workspace/screen configuration, custom devices; deploying to NI real-time targets
• NI hardware: PXI/PXIe chassis, real-time controllers, DAQ modules, signal conditioning; configuration in NI MAX
• Python: production-quality - OOP design, pytest or comparable, fixtures, hardware abstraction, structured logging and reporting
• NI Python APIs: nidaqmx, nixnet, pyvisa, or demonstrable equivalent instrument-control work in Python
• Electronics: reads schematics fluently, confident probing live PCBAs, proficient with scope, DMM, logic analyzer, bench supplies, electronic loads
• Protocols: CAN and CAN FD, I²C, SPI, UART/RS-232/RS-485 - at debugging level, not just familiarity
• Able to work onsite in Kalamazoo for the full engagement

Preferred(5-8 years of Testing exp)

• Test method validation (TMV) and software tool validation in a regulated environment
• LabVIEW and NI Test Stand - especially for interpreting legacy custom devices and sequence orchestration
• Simulink or model-based plant simulation feeding VeriStand
• Electromechanical test: motor control, actuators, load cells, position/force sensing, battery systems
• IEC 60601-1 and 60601-1-2 familiarity
• CI/CD for hardware test (Jenkins, GitLab CI) and automated test reporting.