Platform Software Validation Engineer

Palo Alto, United States

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.
  • Boot loader & 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.

• 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. ESP
  32,
• Automotive Communication:
  Deep understanding of automotive networking protocols, including Automotive Ethernet (100
  
  BASE-T1/1000
  
  BASE-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.
• Even better, you may have...
  • Automotive Network & Traffic Generation Tools
  • 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 Test Center to validate switch latency and throughput boundaries.
  • Hands-on knowledge of network script automation using open-source packet
  • Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) & Debug Environments
  • Advanced proficiency in automated debugging and memory trace extraction utilizing a Lauterbach Trace
    32 debugger or other vendor-specific debuggers.
  • Experience using bench automation and instrumentation platforms such as dSPACE (Control Desk/Configuration Desk) 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…