Software Quality Assurance Engineer - Firmware Team

About this role:

Pickle Robot is seeking a Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Engineer to ensure the reliability, safety, and performance of our robotics software systems. You’ll work hand-in-hand with developers, hardware teams, and deployment engineers to design, execute, and automate test strategies for real-world robotic platforms operating in logistics warehouses across the U.S.

You’ll own the end-to-end testing lifecycle—from validating features in development to verifying robot behavior in staging environments to supporting test procedures in the field. Your work will directly improve the stability and scalability of Pickle’s growing fleet of robotic truck unloaders.

This is an excellent role for someone who is highly collaborative, enjoys hands-on testing, and thrives in fast-paced, integrated environments involving hardware and software.

• Work closely with software, firmware, and systems engineers to build meaningful test coverage and validate new functionality.
• Conduct thorough testing of various safety sensors, scanners, e-stops, and other safety devices.
• Actively participate in design reviews, offering insights on testability, reliability, and safety, while identifying potential risks and areas for risk assessments and FMEAs to evaluate risk reduction strategies and support Safety FMEA documentation.
• Develop and execute manual test plans for verifying embedded systems and firmware.
• Analyze logged data to identify discrepancies, perform root cause analysis of issues, and verify fixes.
• Track and report bugs with detailed reproduction steps, logs, and telemetry data.
• Develop tools to monitor and analyze system performance, profiling, and metrics.
• Contribute to test documentation, QA processes, and best practices.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of our QA processes and methodologies.
• Support validation of system behavior in test labs and customer deployments.

• 5 years of experience in software QA, testing engineering or robotics QA roles.
• Experience testing complex embedded systems involving hardware, firmware, networking.
• Knowledge of communication protocols in embedded systems such as ProfiNet, Wireshark, or similar.
• Proven familiarity with various robotic safety sensors and devices, including safety scanners, light curtains, and e-stop systems.
• Understanding of industry standards for safety firmware.
• Proficient with networking tools like Wireshark, tcpdump, or similar.
• Solid understanding of low-level embedded systems and their interaction with hardware.
• Experience with testing I/O signals and a fundamental understanding of robotics hardware.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash).Comfortable reading and debugging logs, understanding control software behavior, and using CLI tools.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team.
• Excited to work in a fast-paced startup where QA processes are still evolving.
• Capable of working independently and taking initiative with minimal supervision.
• Detail-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

About Pickle Robot

Pickle Robot is a pioneer in Physical AI for supply chain applications. Today Pickle robots autonomously unload trucks, trailers, and import containers at human-scale or better performance. The alternative is manual work that is difficult, dirty, sometimes dangerous, and increasingly hard to staff at distribution centers around the globe. Pickle Robot is laser focused on automating truck unloading using generative AI, machine learning, computer vision, advanced sensors, and industrial robotics to deliver engineered products customers rely on. Pickle Robot Unload Systems work alongside people on loading docks to make the work safer, faster, and more efficient. Pickle robots are physical AI that unload trucks.

Pickle provides best-in-class benefits including health, dental, & vision insurance; unlimited vacation, along with all federal and state holidays; 401K contributions of 5% your salary, travel supplies, and other items to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive.