Senior Electronic Characterization Engineer

Job Description

The Electronics Test and Validation team owns the module-level validation testing for electronic vehicle systems. It is our responsibility to ensure ECU electronics are designed validated and manufactured correctly. To achieve this we develop scalable tools processes hardware and software solutions deployed for characterization validation and manufacturing.

In this role you will be an individual contributor responsible for design verification and characterization of vehicle electronics with a strong focus on Zonal Controllers and Battery ECUs. You will work cross-functionally with design firmware reliability and manufacturing teams to ensure electronic modules meet performance quality and reliability requirements.

The ideal candidate is a hardware-focused validation engineer with strong experience in electronic characterization circuit analysis bench-level testing and hardware debugging. Candidates should be comfortable working in Device Under Test (DUT) environments connecting test equipment to ECUs measuring signals and troubleshooting issues down to the PCB and component level.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop detailed design verification and characterization test plans for all phases of ECU programs in collaboration with reliability design and firmware teams.
• Lead execution of characterization and validation testing according to project milestones.
• Own test coverage reports analysis and documentation of results.
• Perform bench-level characterization and validation at IC PCB and PCBA levels.
• Analyze circuit designs and schematics to validate functionality and identify design risks.
• Conduct signal measurements data collection and detailed test reporting.
• Provide early feedback to design engineers regarding design decisions testability and performance.
• Develop and present Design for Testability (DFT) reports for ECU designs.
• Own characterization schedules and communicate testing status with management and cross-functional teams.
• Work closely with software and firmware engineers to flash test and troubleshoot firmware.
• Lead root-cause investigations of non-compliance test results using data analysis and hardware debugging techniques.
• Write basic Python scripts and instrumentation drivers to improve test efficiency and automation where needed.

Required Qualifications

• BS/MS degree in Electrical Engineering or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in electronics characterization hardware validation and design verification testing.
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals and electronic circuit operation.
• Experience validating Electronic Control Units (ECUs) preferably Zonal Controllers or similar embedded electronic systems.
• Experience with microcontroller-based circuit designs low-speed and mixed-signal electronics.
• Hands-on experience using laboratory equipment including:
• Oscilloscopes
• Digital Multimeters (DMMs)
• Power Supplies
• Signal Generators
• Logic Analyzers
• Network Analyzers
• Electronic Loads
• Experience developing and executing test plans test procedures and validation reports.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills for hardware and electronic systems.
• Working knowledge of vehicle electrical systems and communication interfaces including:
• CAN
• LIN
• I2C
• SPI
• Memory Interfaces
• Automotive Ethernet (up to 1 GHz)
• Experience with Python scripting and data analysis with the ability to utilize and modify existing automation frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive electronics experience is highly preferred.
• Experience in hardware validation within Automotive Telecommunications Networking Aerospace Medical Devices or related electronics industries.
• Familiarity with low-level firmware development and C programming.
• Experience with automated test equipment (ATE).
• Experience with Databricks or similar data analysis environments.
• Experience with PCB-level testing characterization and failure analysis.
• Understanding of Design for Testability (DFT) principles and methodologies.