Autonomous Vehicle Test Engineer

General Motors•Sunnyvale, CA

1d•$98,300 - $150,200•Onsite

About The Position

The Autonomous Vehicle Test Engineer (AVTE) is responsible for planning, executing, and reporting on autonomous vehicle testing activities across established and evolving test scenarios. The AVTE works closely with the AV Test Lead, Systems Engineering, vehicle integration engineers, software engineering, and cross‑functional teams to perform AV scenario testing, regression testing, and system validation. This role contributes technical support and hands‑on execution under the guidance of senior engineers and leads and is not expected to serve as a technical lead or mentor.

Requirements

Solid cross‑functional collaboration skills; able to work effectively with software and hardware teams.
Ability to follow and help develop detailed test plans and procedures; familiarity with writing test cases.
Working knowledge of integration processes, validation methods, and the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Fundamental troubleshooting, data analysis, and test result reporting skills.
Familiarity with test management and collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Slack).
Foundational understanding of automotive networks and protocols (CAN, Ethernet, LIN).
Basic understanding of vehicle/autonomy data and integration testing; ability to learn new tools and methods quickly.
Ability to assist in debugging software stacks and to partner with developers on issue resolution.
Knowledge of hardware/software interfaces and the autonomy software stack for assigned systems (introductory to intermediate level).
Familiarity with software release tools and environments (e.g., Jenkins, Artifactory, SPR, Linux).
Experience contributing to development from early build through launch (coursework, internships, or prior roles).
Strong organization and prioritization for managing assigned test tasks and requests.
Clear, concise communication and effective collaboration with engineering, operations, and technician teams.
Proactive problem‑solving mindset and willingness to learn in evolving test scenarios.
High attention to detail and adherence to safety and compliance requirements.
Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment with guidance from senior staff.
2–4 years overall in automotive, consumer, or AV engineering experience
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, or related field) or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to software integration and logging tools (Vector, Intrepid, INCA, d‑space) is preferred; willingness to upskill is expected.
testing AV systems/robotics (or equivalent internships/co‑op/project experience)
Internship or project experience in vehicle or subsystem integration.
Exposure to software‑defined vehicle platforms.
Level 2 driving certification or ability to obtain.
Introductory programming skills in Python, Java, C++, or TypeScript/JavaScript.
Basic understanding of system software concepts (drivers, filesystems, sockets) on Linux and/or QNX.

Responsibilities

Execute defined AV test scenarios on vehicles, following safety procedures and ensuring data accuracy and alignment with program test objectives.
Triage and diagnose basic software and hardware issues, reproducing issues and escalating complex findings to developers, systems engineering, and vehicle integration for root‑cause analysis.
Analyze vehicle and autonomy data at a foundational level, transforming logs into clear observations and contributing to validation reports, defect tracking, and release‑readiness assessments.
Support the setup and use of test tools and logging systems, including Vector, Intrepid, INCA, d‑space, and other measurement/automation platforms.
Assist with cross‑functional test pipelines—tracking requests, test execution status, and progress updates in collaboration with software engineering, operations, and systems engineering.
Ensure test quality and documentation completeness by maintaining accurate test cases, results, and traceability in tools such as Jira, Confluence, and other test management platforms.
Execute verification tasks for new builds, validate integration points across the autonomy stack, and confirm performance against acceptance criteria with guidance from senior team members.
Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance test coverage, automation, data workflows, and operational efficiency, and by adopting best practices and standards.