Software Test Automation Engineer

Senior Test Automation Engineer – ECU Validation | Onsite | Normal, IL | Employment Type: Contract | Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (1-hour non-billable lunch).

Work Model: 100% Onsite

Summary

This role is part of a high-impact engineering team responsible for functional validation and testing of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) for Rivian and Volkswagen Group. The scope includes telematics, infotainment, battery management, ADAS, and zonal ECUs.

You will design and develop custom automated test solutions combining Python-based software, low-level firmware, data platforms, and custom electromechanical hardware, deployed across internal labs and external manufacturing/testing facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with electronics design teams to define test requirements and validation strategies
• Develop custom automated test sequences in Python, following software engineering best practices and internal automation frameworks
• Design, implement, and maintain automated test equipment (ATE) for ECU validation
• Create well-documented test cases, test procedures, and operating manuals
• Support hardware bring-up, debug, and root-cause analysis (mandatory hands-on hardware debug)
• Collaborate with Validation, Reliability, EMC, and Product Launch teams to ensure test solutions meet program needs
• Deploy and support automated test systems in manufacturing and lab environments
• Work with complex instrumentation and interfaces to ensure accurate and repeatable testing

Must-Have Technical Skills

• Strong Python programming experience (mandatory)
• Hands-on hardware debugging experience (mandatory)
• Experience with automation instrumentation:
• Programmable power supplies
• Multiplexers
• Digital Multimeters (DMMs)
• Signal generators and analyzers
• Multifunction DAQ devices (digital & analog)
• Ability to:
• Read and interpret electrical schematics
• Navigate PCB layouts
• Understand manufacturer datasheets and specifications
• Experience with vehicle communication protocols:
• CAN, CAN-FD, DoIP
• Automotive Ethernet
• LIN
• Experience with industrial buses and interfaces:
• USB, VISA, GPIB
• Ethernet, Serial, RS-485
• SPI, I2C

Qualifications

• BS/MS (or equivalent experience) in Electrical or Electronics Engineering
• 5 years of experience designing automated test equipment (ATE) for electronics
• Experience working in automotive, semiconductor, or aerospace industries
• Experience supporting deployment of ATE in manufacturing environments
• Strong understanding of electronics testing, validation, and automation systems

Nice to Have

• Experience with databases and data platforms:
• SQL
• Databricks
• Apache Superset

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Hands-on engineer with strong hardware software integration skills
• Comfortable working onsite in a fast-paced, hardware-heavy environment
• Detail-oriented, documentation-focused, and process-driven
• Proactive problem solver with a strong validation and quality mindset

Next Steps

This role is ideal for an experienced Python-based Test Automation Engineer with deep hands-on electronics and hardware debugging experience who enjoys building scalable, production-ready test systems. Apply now to work on next-generation vehicle electronics validation.