QA Engineer​/Trainer

Location: Charlottesville, VA (on-site), with travel to deployment sites for on-site commissioning and training

Reports To: VP of Projects

Employment Type: Full-Time or Part-Time; open to entry-level through experienced candidates

Perrone Robotics is looking for a QA Engineer/Trainer, based out of our Charlottesville, VA office, to lead vehicle-level quality assurance, on-site field commissioning, and operator training across our AV Kit deployments. This role owns the full pre-launch to operations pipeline: validating vehicle behavior against expected outcomes, commissioning and route mapping new vehicles on-site, diagnosing and documenting issues found during test runs, and training the operators who will run the vehicle day to day.

It combines hands-on field testing and sensor/hardware troubleshooting with structured QA documentation and operator training delivery.

We're open to candidates across a range of experience levels, from part-time or entry-level candidates looking to build hands-on field and QA experience, to experienced candidates ready to own the full deployment lifecycle independently. Scope and responsibility will be tailored to the candidate's experience.

QA test execution: Run structured test missions on deployed vehicles, log actual versus expected behavior (stop point accuracy, intersection handling, obstacle response, braking behavior), and document findings for engineering follow-up.

Field diagnostics: Troubleshoot sensor and connectivity issues encountered during testing, including LiDAR/RADAR faults, network timeouts, and power issues, working directly with hardware and software engineering to isolate root cause and confirm fixes.

Log and data analysis: Review vehicle logs and mission data to identify unexpected behavior (stop overshoot, route deviations, sensor timeouts) and translate findings into clear, actionable engineering tickets.

Operational documentation: Write up expected versus actual vehicle behavior for edge cases, such as intersection handling and construction zones, so findings can be regression-tested and referenced by the team.

Field commissioning: Travel on-site for new vehicle commissioning, including route mapping, initial system checkout, and validation testing before a vehicle enters regular service.

Route and stop-point tuning support: Map new routes and tune stop-point braking and speed behavior on-site, working with engineering to adjust behavior based on field observations.

Operator training: Develop and deliver training for vehicle operators, covering day to day operation, data collection procedures, and how to respond to system faults or manual takeover situations.

Deployment lifecycle ownership: Own QA, field preparation, field testing, training, and operations launch activities for each new vehicle deployment, ensuring a consistent, repeatable rollout process.

Cross-team coordination: Work closely with engineering, hardware, and field teams during live demonstrations and go-live events, escalating and coordinating fixes on the spot when issues surface.

This role is open at multiple levels. Where you land depends on your background:

Entry-Level / Part-Time: Run test missions and log findings under the guidance of a more experienced team member, assist with on-site commissioning and route mapping, help deliver operator training sessions, and build up field diagnostic skills over time. A great fit for someone early in their career who wants hands-on exposure to vehicle testing and field work.

Experienced / Full-Time: Own the full QA and commissioning process independently for new deployments, diagnose complex field issues with minimal oversight, design and…