Test Operator

NGV Talent; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Equity awards

Paid parental, medical, and familycare

Job summary

Top Echelon Software, LLC seeks a senior Test Operator in Phoenix to lead autonomous vehicle testing on closed courses and public roads. You will run both autonomous and manual Class 8 vehicles, validating platforms, performing release testing, and documenting outcomes with high precision.

You will certify operators, develop procedures, and ensure DOT/CVSA compliance while training teams across sites. Strong driving safety, reporting, and hands-on testing experience are required.

Qualifications

• Valid CDL Class A
• Current Medical Examiner's Certificate
• 8+ years of experience as a Vehicle Operator, commercial test driver, or in a technically equivalent Class 8 operations role
• At least 4 years of experience operating autonomous or ADAS-equipped vehicles
• Strong technical aptitude with autonomous vehicle platforms
• Strong written communication and technical reporting skills
• Ability to travel to operational sites and partner proving grounds
• Knowledge of FMCSA and DOT requirements for Class 8 test and development vehicles
• Ability to translate in-cab observations into reports that engineering, operations, and safety teams can act on

Responsibilities

• Operate Class 8 autonomous and manual vehicles on closed courses and public roads
• Execute platform validation and verification testing
• Test safety assurance limits, driver override response, supervised autonomy stability, and fault conditions
• Produce detailed written evaluations of vehicle and system behavior
• Distinguish baseline behavior from new or unexpected behavior and determine whether issues are reproducible
• Execute vehicle dynamics and characterization testing, including tire evaluation, trailer stability, and axle-weight verification
• Support offsite testing at partner proving grounds
• Administer operator knowledge and proficiency checks
• Evaluate and certify operators on new vehicle platforms
• Author and maintain platform-specific operating procedures and documentation
• Support DOT and CVSA compliance evaluations for new platforms
• Train operators on new platforms and support knowledge transfer between sites
• Escalate safety-related findings and stop testing when vehicle or equipment conditions warrant itDocument the technical and safety basis for testing decisions

Skills

Autonomous vehicle platforms

Technical reporting

Written communication

Safety procedure knowledge

Vehicle operation experience

Education

CDL Class A

Medical Examiner's Certificate

Job description

Job Overview

We are hiring a Test Operator to support autonomous vehicle development and validation testing in Phoenix.

This is a senior-level Class 8 autonomous vehicle testing role. You will operate both autonomous and manual Class 8 vehicles on closed courses and public roads while supporting platform validation, release testing, vehicle dynamics testing, operator certification, and technical evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate Class 8 autonomous and manual vehicles on closed courses and public roads
• Execute platform validation and verification testing
• Test safety assurance limits, driver override response, supervised autonomy stability, and fault conditions
• Produce detailed written evaluations of vehicle and system behavior
• Distinguish baseline behavior from new or unexpected behavior and determine whether issues are reproducible
• Execute vehicle dynamics and characterization testing, including tire evaluation, trailer stability, and axle-weight verification
• Support offsite testing at partner proving grounds
• Administer operator knowledge and proficiency checks
• Evaluate and certify operators on new vehicle platforms
• Author and maintain platform-specific operating procedures and documentation
• Support DOT and CVSA compliance evaluations for new platforms
• Train operators on new platforms and support knowledge transfer between sites
• Escalate safety-related findings and stop testing when vehicle or equipment conditions warrant itDocument the technical and safety basis for testing decisions

Requirements

• Valid CDL Class A
• Current Medical Examiner's Certificate
• 8+ years of experience as a Vehicle Operator, commercial test driver, or in a technically equivalent Class 8 operations role
• At least 4 years of experience operating autonomous or ADAS-equipped vehicles
• Significant hands-on experience operating Class 8 commercial vehicles
• Clean driving record
• Ability to successfully complete a background check and drug screening
• Strong technical aptitude with autonomous vehicle platforms
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate and characterize vehicle behavior precisely
• Ability to identify whether behavior is consistent or intermittent and reproducible or isolated
• Strong written communication and technical reporting skills
• Ability to translate in-cab observations into reports engineering, operations, and safety teams can act on
• Experience with closed-course and proving-ground testing procedures
• Experience conducting edge-case and failure-mode testing
• Strong understanding of FMCSA and DOT requirements for Class 8 test and development vehicles
• Knowledge of DVIR, Hours of Service, DOT annual inspections, CVSA out-of-service criteria, and applicable commercial vehicle regulations
• Comfortable maintaining detailed technical and operational documentation
• Ability to travel to operational sites and partner proving grounds

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience training, coaching, or certifying commercial drivers
• CVSA Enhanced Pre-Trip certification
• Proving-ground experience or applicable proving-ground licenses
• Experience with vehicle validation and verification testing
• Experience supporting engineering teams during vehicle development or release testing
• Advanced autonomous vehicle testing experience

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Equity awards
• Paid parental, medical, and family care leave
• Paid time off
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Health savings account options
• Catered meals, snacks, and drinks while onsite