AV Test Engineer

Motional • Las Vegas, NV

40d

About The Position

The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Test Engineering team at Motional is responsible for validating the safety, functionality, and performance of our self-driving technology through rigorous, system-level testing. As an AV Test Engineer, you will take a lead role in the strategy, planning, and execution of comprehensive test campaigns that span perception, planning, and control systems across virtual, closed-course, and public road environments. Motional is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior/Mid-Level AV Test Engineer to join our AV Test Engineering team. You will play a lead role in validating the safety, functionality, and performance of our self-driving technology through rigorous, system-level testing across virtual, closed-course, and public road environments, with a direct focus on commercial readiness of our robotaxi service. This role requires a proven technical leader who can guide test development, drive continuous improvements to our infrastructure, and ensure high standards for release readiness and safety assurance as we move towards mass deployment.

Requirements

• 5+ years in software QA or system testing, specifically within AV, ADAS, robotics, or safety-critical systems.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Robotics, ECE, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• Demonstrated expertise in test strategy, automation, and end-to-end testing for complex mechatronic/autonomous systems.
• Strong proficiency in AV simulation platforms and scenario-based validation.
• Deep familiarity with CAN-based tools (CANalyzer/CANoe) and logging/debugging techniques.
• Working knowledge of industry safety standards (ISO26262, SOTIF).
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and integrating quality gates for production-grade software releases in a ride-hailing/fleet context.
• Proven ability to lead technical efforts, mentor, operate with minimal oversight, and drive cross-functional alignment with teams like Fleet Operations and Product.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Familiarity with AV safety case development or safety validation workflows.
• Experience with robotaxi service features (e.g., in-cabin HMI testing, rider support systems).
• Experience with ROS, cloud telemetry systems, or AV data pipelines.
• Experience in a cross-site or global engineering organization.

Responsibilities

• Own the planning, design, and execution of comprehensive validation campaigns across Perception, Planning, and Control systems using simulation, SIL, HIL, and on-vehicle environments, specifically targeting scenarios critical for robotaxi service reliability and rider experience.
• Drive test execution and documentation to meet the highest standards, ensuring system compliance with safety-critical standards (ISO26262, ISO21448 (SOTIF)), with an emphasis on Operational Design Domain (ODD) limits and safe fallback behavior.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance robust, scalable test infrastructure and automation frameworks using Python, Shell, and relevant platforms to support high-volume, fleet-wide software rollouts.
• Serve as a technical lead for scenario-based testing (using tools like Applied Intuition) and AV capability campaigns, focusing on testing for end-to-end mission performance and service uptime.
• Design and execute testing for non-driving features critical to the commercial service, including rider interactions, remote assistance handoffs, fleet operations protocols, and over-the-air (OTA) update verification.
• Define and track Service Quality Indicators (SQI) and KPIs related to rider experience and operational efficiency during validation.
• Conduct detailed log analysis, support root-cause investigations across AV software and hardware, and utilize CAN-based tools for subsystem verification, particularly diagnosing issues impacting fleet efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Lead QA review cycles, define release readiness gates for commercial software, represent Test Engineering in cross-functional forums, and mentor junior engineers.

Benefits

• Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional’s benefits program.
• Motional’s benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health saving accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees