Validation Engineer

Insight Global; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Insight Global seeks a Platform Software Validation Engineer to drive safety, performance, and deterministic reliability for next-gen automotive ECUs. You will perform hands-on post-silicon bench testing on microcontrollers, validate RTD and bootloaders, and architect automated test frameworks guided by ISO 26262 requirements.

You will use Python for test automation, with C/C++ or Rust for target-side code as needed, leveraging lab analyzers and emulators to ensure high-quality software

Qualifications

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field.
• Hands-on experience debugging and validating microcontrollers (e.g. ESP32).
• Deep understanding of automotive networking protocols: Automotive Ethernet 100BASE-T1/1000BASE-T1, CAN FD, LIN, UDS/ISO 14229 for flashing configurations.
• Familiarity with Realtek Ethernet transceivers/switches and configuring low-level peripheral timers like STM.
• ISO 26262 knowledge, HSIs, and safety-critical testing techniques.
• Fluent Python for bench automation; C for embedded software inspection.

Responsibilities

• Post-Silicon bench testing on microcontrollers and automotive ECUs.
• Architect and execute test strategies to comply with ISO 26262 ASIL requirements.
• Develop automated test frameworks controlled by Python; target code in C/C++/Rust when needed.
• Validate RTD, STM, automotive Ethernet chipsets, and bootloaders; verify UDS over CAN/Ethernet.

Skills

MCU debugging

Automotive Ethernet

ISO 26262

Python

C/C++

Embedded systems

Education

B.S./M.S. in EE/CE/CS

Tools

Trace32

RAD-Gigastar

Keysight IxNetwork

Spirent TestCenter

dSPACE ControlDesk

Job description

1 year contract + extensions/potential conversion

Onsite in Palo Alto or Long Beach

Pay Rate: $70-$85hr

Required Skills & Experience

You'll have...

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field.
• Processor Expertise: Hands-on experience debugging and validating microcontrollers (ie. ESP32,
• Automotive Communication: Deep understanding of automotive networking protocols, including Automotive Ethernet (100BASE-T1/1000BASE-T1), CAN FD, LIN, and Unified Diagnostic Services (UDS / ISO 14229) for flashing configurations.
• Silicon Ecosystems: Proven familiarity with Realtek Ethernet transceivers/switches and configuring low-level peripheral timers like the STM.
• Functional Safety Standards: Comprehensive understanding of ISO 26262 processes, hardware software interface definitions (HSI), and safety-critical testing techniques.
• Software Toolkit: Strong programming fluency in Python for building bench automation frameworks, alongside C for low-level embedded software inspection.

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

Even better, you may have...

• Experience using dedicated automotive hardware interfaces and packet injection tools such as Intrepid Control Systems RAD-Gigastar, Vector VN5610A/VN5640, or other
• Familiarity with enterprise Layer 2/3 traffic emulation suites such as Keysight IxNetwork or Spirent TestCenter to validate switch latency and throughput boundaries.
• Hands-on knowledge of network script automation using open-source packet
• Advanced proficiency in automated debugging and memory trace extraction utilizing a Lauterbach Trace32 debugger or other vendor-specific debuggers.
• Experience using bench automation and instrumentation platforms such as dSPACE (ControlDesk/ConfigurationDesk) or Vector VT System for modular I/O and fault-injection testing.
• Proficiency configuring low-level registers, clocks, and peripheral drivers via vendor specific configuration tools.
• ISO 26262 Code Compliance & Dynamic Analysis
• Experience with target-based software testing and code coverage frameworks like QA Systems Cantata or Parasoft C/C++test to enforce structural safety standards.
• Familiarity with static analysis and MISRA C/C++ compliance checkers such as QA MISRA, Helix QAC, or Synopsys Coverity.

Job Description

We are seeking a Platform Software Validation Engineer that drives and executes the safety, performance, and deterministic reliability strategies for next-generation automotive electronic control units (ECUs). In this role, you will develop and perform hands-on post-silicon bench testing on microcontrollers, validating Real-Time Drivers (RTD), the System Timer Module (STM), integrated automotive Ethernet chipsets, and bootloaders.

You will own the end-to-end definition and execution of test methodologies designed to comply with ISO 26262 ASIL functional safety requirements while optimizing real-time network stack throughput. You will architect automated test frameworks primarily controlled via Python frameworks, with flexibility to develop target-side test code in C, C++, or Rust. Your expertise in embedded systems and automotive industry knowledge will help ensure the quality and reliability of our software solutions.

What you’ll do...

• Post-Silicon Bench Testing & Hardware Validation
  • Execute bench-level validation on physical silicon evaluation boards and custom automotive ECUs.
  • Configure and validate hardware peripherals, specifically focusing on the System Timer Module (STM), memory protection units, and interrupt controllers.
  • Integrate and verify PHY/switch drivers, validating high-speed automotive Ethernet transceiver performance under varied environmental conditions.
  • Bootloader & Flash Validation: Architect and execute test strategies for primary/secondary bootloaders, validating secure boot sequences (cryptographic signature verification), flashing routines via UDS (ISO 14229) over CAN/Ethernet, and
• Driver & Performance Verification
  • Validate Real-Time Drivers (RTD) for bare-metal and AUTOSAR runtime environments.
  • Benchmark network stack throughput and latency using network testing utilities like iperf, CANoe, and hardware packet generators.
  • Analyze complex communication layers including TCP/IP, SOME/IP, and DoIP over automotive Ethernet interfaces.
• Functional Safety & Test Automation
  • Design, implement, and maintain automated regression test frameworks controlled via Python scripts.
  • Develop target-side test applications in C, C++, or Rust when bare-metal deterministic execution or strict memory safety verification is required.
  • Author V&V test specifications mapped directly to safety goals to ensure compliance across various safety levels (ASIL B to ASIL D) in alignment with ISO 26262 Part 6.
  • Utilize advanced lab instrumentation (digital oscilloscopes, logic analyzers) and debuggers to capture signals and isolate physical-layer anomalies.