Test Engineer

Actalent; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

HSA

Transit Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Actalent in South San Francisco is seeking a Senior Integration & Test Software Engineer to own and advance test systems powering drone platform development and manufacturing. You will work across avionics, sensors, and mechatronics, driving high-quality software from prototype to production environments.

The role emphasizes Python/C++ development, Linux-based testing, and automation, with collaboration across hardware and software teams and external vendors.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python and C/C++.
• Experience with Linux and embedded systems.
• Experience building automation for safety-critical/factory uses.
• Knowledge of test plans, requirements, and criteria for hardware products.
• Familiarity with data acquisition hardware and test instrumentation.
• Ability to work independently and with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Be the technical owner of test systems across manufacturing and engineering (SIL, HIL, EOLT).
• Architect, develop, deploy, troubleshoot, and improve testing software and assets for avionics, sensors, motors, batteries, and mechatronics.
• Elevate testing standards and protocols for quality and safety in engineering changes.
• Develop deep understanding of components under test and their behavior across conditions.
• Collaborate with internal teams on data handling for test assets.
• Develop automation scripts and visualization tools to streamline design and production testing.
• Interface with cross-functional teams and vendors to deploy reliable test systems.

Skills

Python

C/C++

Linux

Embedded systems

Automation systems

Git/CI

Hardware interfacing

Test plans & criteria

Data acquisition

Problem solving

US work authorization

Tools

Git/CI

Job description

Job Title: Senior Integration & Test Software EngineerJob Description

As a Senior Integration & Test Software Engineer, you will have the unique opportunity to develop and deploy high-quality software that powers test systems used throughout the production, design, and operation of our long-range drone platform. You will gain a deep understanding of our embedded flight code, test infrastructure, manufacturing processes, and operations. You will own these test systems from early prototype design all the way through deployment in test or production environments. Additionally, you will spearhead improvement initiatives, lead root cause investigations, interface with cross-functional stakeholders, and drive schedules and deliverables with a focus on quality, reliability, and safety. Your work will directly contribute to the continued evolution of our long-range drone system, enabling critical improvements across reliability, capability, and accessibility of our technology.

Responsibilities

• Become the technical owner of test systems across manufacturing and engineering disciplines for our long-range drone platform (e.g., SIL, HIL, EOLT, etc.).

• Architect, develop, deploy, troubleshoot, and improve testing software and assets used to validate components from avionics boards, sensors, motors, batteries, and other mechatronic assemblies.

• Develop and elevate testing standards and protocols to ensure the highest levels of quality and testing rigor to facilitate efficient and safe engineering and manufacturing changes.

• Develop a deep understanding of components under test, becoming a subject matter expert in the component’s behavior under a range of environmental, performance, and system conditions.

• Collaborate with other internal teams to organize and define our approach to data handling for all test assets.

• Develop automation scripts and visualization tools to streamline design and optimize production testing.

• Interface with cross-functional teams and external vendors to deploy reliable high-quality test systems.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in Python and C/C++.

• Experience working with and managing Linux systems.

• Experience working with embedded systems.

• Experience building automation systems for use in safety-critical and factory applications.

• Experience working with Git/CI and software development and validation processes in a medium to large scale organization.

• Experience developing software that interfaces directly with hardware, including navigating datasheets and validating hands-on with representative hardware.

• Experience developing test plans, test requirements, and test criteria for hardware products.

• Experience using and deep understanding of common test instrumentation and data acquisition hardware.

• Experience solving complex multidisciplinary problems with little supervision on schedule as an individual or as a member of an integrated team.

• Must be authorized to work in the US.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Demonstrable history of assuming ownership of cross-disciplinary engineering problems and driving them from inception to solution in an open-ended environment.

Work Environment

This is an onsite role at our South San Francisco office with potential for some travel opportunities. The position requires a strong sense of ownership, outstanding technical foundations, and excellent communication skills. The role involves working at the intersection of software and real-world impact, bringing clarity and progress to complex systems. Success in this role requires the ability to translate between hardware, software, manufacturing, and operations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of South San Francisco, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $100.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in South San Francisco,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 29, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.