Hardware Validation Engineer/ Senior Electronic Characterization Engineer

Job Title: Hardware Validation Engineer/ Senior Electronic Characterization Engineer

Location: Irvine, CA or Palo Alto, CA (Onsite)

Duration: 12 Months

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Electronic Characterization Engineer to join the Electronics Test and Validation team, focusing on infotainment and telematics electronic control units (ECUs). This role will focus primarily on hands-on hardware testing, electrical characterization, and design verification to ensure electronic assemblies meet functional, electrical, and performance requirements.

The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits, practical experience validating printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), and proficiency with laboratory test equipment. This is a test-focused engineering position, with approximately 70% of the work dedicated to test execution. Candidates should be capable of understanding circuit designs, identifying hardware-related issues, performing root cause analysis, and collaborating with design and firmware teams to resolve test failures.

Previous experience in the automotive industry is beneficial but not mandatory.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute hardware validation, design verification, and electrical characterization test plans throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Perform hands-on testing of electronic circuits, integrated circuits (ICs), printed circuit boards (PCBs), and PCB assemblies (PCBAs) at the bench level.
• Create and execute test cases to verify electrical performance and functionality at physical interfaces.
• Use laboratory instrumentation, including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, programmable power supplies, and electronic loads, to measure and validate circuit behavior.
• Analyze test results, maintain test coverage records, and document characterization findings against established specifications.
• Identify hardware failures and electrical non-compliance, conduct root cause investigations, and collaborate with design and firmware engineers on corrective actions.
• Provide technical feedback on circuit functionality, design robustness, and testability based on validation results.
• Prepare and present Design for Testability (DFT) documentation and characterization reports.
• Track test schedules, milestones, progress, and results, communicating status and potential issues to project leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Develop basic Python scripts and instrumentation drivers to automate repetitive test activities and improve testing efficiency.
• Collaborate with software and firmware teams to flash, test, and troubleshoot ECU firmware.
• Support validation activities across development phases, working closely with design, reliability, firmware, and other engineering teams.
• Apply data analysis techniques to investigate failures, identify trends, and support timely resolution of technical issues.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience where accepted.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in electronics validation, hardware characterization, design verification, or electrical testing.
• Strong understanding of electrical and electronic circuit fundamentals, including analog and digital electronics.
• Hands-on experience with PCB and PCBA testing, circuit characterization, and physical hardware validation.
• Practical experience using laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, and electronic loads.
• Ability to understand circuit schematics and design requirements, develop appropriate test cases, and troubleshoot hardware issues.
• Experience performing root cause analysis and documenting test failures and validation results.
• Working knowledge of vehicle electrical systems and electronic communication interfaces or buses.
• Experience using Python for test automation, data processing, or engineering analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work onsite and collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering teams.

Location-Specific Technical Requirements

Irvine, CA — Analog, Power and Low-Speed Electronics

Candidates for Irvine should have hands-on experience with:

• Analog electronics and mixed-signal circuit validation.
• Power electronics and power-related circuit testing.
• Low-speed electrical interfaces and signal validation.
• Hardware troubleshooting involving battery systems and zonal electronic modules.
• Physical validation and characterization of electronic circuits and assemblies.

Palo Alto, CA — High-Speed Interfaces and Telematics

Candidates for Palo Alto should have hands-on experience with:

• High-speed electronic interfaces and signal characterization.
• Hardware validation of electronic control units, particularly telematics-related modules.
• Characterizing ECU behavior and electrical interfaces in a vehicle-connected environment.
• Investigating hardware and interface-level issues through bench testing, measurements, and data analysis.
• Working with vehicle electrical systems and communication interfaces.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with low-level firmware, embedded systems, or C programming.
• Experience with automated test equipment (ATE) and hardware test automation.
• Familiarity with Databricks or similar data analysis environments.
• Experience supporting ECU development, electronic module validation, or complex hardware characterization programs.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate is a hands-on electronics validation engineer who enjoys working in a laboratory environment, executing physical tests, analyzing electrical measurements, and troubleshooting circuit-level issues. The role is best suited to professionals with strong hardware testing and characterization experience rather than candidates focused exclusively on circuit design, PCB layout, or software testing.