Sr. Firmware Development & Test Automation Engineer

Northwind Robotics is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world’s first 3D-stacked photonics engine, Passage™, capable of connecting thousands to millions of processors at the speed of light in extreme-scale data centers for the most advanced AI and HPC workloads. Northwind Robotics raised $400 million in its Series D round, reaching a valuation of $4.4 billion. We will continue to accelerate the development of data center photonics and grow every department at Northwind Robotics! If you're passionate about tackling complex challenges, making an impact, and being an expert in your craft, join our team of brilliant scientists, engineers, and accomplished industry leaders. Northwind Robotics is (re)inventing the future of computing with light! About this Role We are hiring a talented software QA engineer to help us build the next generation of photonic AI processors and interconnects. In this role, you will be responsible for planning and automating device software and firmware testing capabilities for Photonic Compute and Photonic interconnect products. You will collaborate with other software teams and hardware systems teams to enhance the delivery of quality software. You will leverage your skills with standard methodologies and tools to effectively implement industry best practices in our environment. Responsibilities Develop and execute comprehensive test plans and test cases for embedded software and systems. Set up and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment. Conduct Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing to simulate real-world scenarios. Utilize JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers to identify and diagnose issues. Track and manage defects using issue tracking systems like Jira or GitHub issues. Analyze test results and generate detailed reports on findings and metrics. Automate test scripts using languages like Python or Bash. Collaborate with hardware and software teams to resolve issues and improve product quality. Contribute to the improvement of testing methodologies and best practices. Report progress, metrics, and potential roadblocks to leadership. Candidate Qualifications BS and 8+ years of experience, or MS and 6+ years of experience Familiarity with embedded development and test environments, including proficiency with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) concepts and usage, and understanding of software testing methodologies and best practices for embedded systems. Experience with CI/CD pipelines, such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or CircleCI, and experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing. Experience with scripting languages like Python or Bash for test automation. Experience with PyTest, CppUtest, static analysis and other test frameworks. Knowledge of embedded system architectures and hardware interfaces. Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including hardware and software engineers. Familiarity with version control systems like GitHub, GitLab or BitBucket. Experience with issue tracking systems like Jira, GitHub Issues or Bugzilla. Knowledge of common testing and debugging tools, such as JTAG debuggers (e.g., Lauterbach TRACE32), oscilloscopes (e.g., Tektronix), and protocol analyzers (e.g., Wireshark, Saleae, Aardvark). Ability to analyze and report on test results and metrics. Preferred Qualifications Understanding of embedded Linux and driver development. Knowledge of peripheral buses and communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, and Ethernet. Experience in developing test plans and test cases for embedded software using tools like TestRail or Zephyr Scale. Experience with performance testing and optimization of embedded systems. Knowledge of security testing practices for embedded devices. Experience in forming and leading a QA team, including mentoring team members and developing project schedules. Ability to report progress and metrics to leadership, and contribute to strategic planning for QA processes. We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data. Salary Range: total compensation goes beyond base salary, it also includes a new hire equity grant, annual performance-based equity, and other rewards that recognize your impact and contribution. $178,000 — $225,000 USD Benefits Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Savings Matching Program Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Generous Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Paid Family Leave Short Term & Long Term Disability Training & Development Commuter Benefits Flexible, hybrid workplace model Equity grants (applicable to full-time employees) Benefits eligibility may vary depending on your employment status and location. Northwind Robotics recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. Export Control Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.