Lead Platform Software V&V Engineer

Ford • Long Beach, CA

87d • $150,200 - $283,500 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Lead Platform Software V&V Engineer to architect and execute safety, performance, and deterministic-reliability strategies for next-generation automotive electronic control units (ECUs). The role leads hands-on post-silicon bench testing of microcontrollers, validating Real-Time Drivers (RTD), the System Timer Module (STM), integrated automotive Ethernet chipsets, and bootloaders. It owns end-to-end test methodology definition and execution for ISO 26262 ASIL functional safety compliance and real-time network-stack performance, while providing technical leadership across regional sites and mentoring local and offshore engineers.

The engineer defines validation roadmaps and test strategies for physical post-silicon bench and hardware-in-the-loop environments; coordinates distributed testing and works with Systems, Silicon, Firmware, and Safety teams. The role validates hardware peripherals, automotive Ethernet, drivers, bootloaders, flashing and OTA rollback mechanisms; benchmarks network performance; and designs automated regression frameworks using Python, with target-side test development in C, C++, or Rust as needed. It also authors safety-goal-mapped V&V specifications and uses lab instrumentation and debuggers to investigate physical-layer anomalies.

The position is hybrid. Candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub may be required to work onsite four or more days per week. The stated salary range is $150,200–$283,500, with final salary based on skills, experience, scope, responsibility, and market value. Visa sponsorship is available. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field.
• Hands-on experience debugging and validating microcontrollers, such as ESP32 or ARM Cortex-M.
• Deep understanding of automotive networking protocols, including Automotive Ethernet (100BASE-T1/1000BASE-T1), CAN FD, LIN, and UDS / ISO 14229.
• Familiarity with Realtek Ethernet transceivers or switches and low-level peripheral timers such as STM.
• Comprehensive understanding of ISO 26262 processes, hardware-software interface definitions, and safety-critical testing techniques.
• Strong Python programming skills for bench automation frameworks and C programming skills for low-level embedded software inspection.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with automotive hardware interfaces and packet-injection tools such as Intrepid Control Systems RAD-Gigastar, Vector VN5610A/VN5640, or other media converters.
• Familiarity with Keysight IxNetwork or Spirent TestCenter for Layer 2/3 traffic emulation and switch latency and throughput testing.
• Hands-on knowledge of Python packet-manipulation libraries such as Scapy.
• Advanced automated debugging and memory-trace extraction skills using Lauterbach Trace32 or other vendor-specific debuggers.
• Experience with dSPACE ControlDesk/ConfigurationDesk or Vector VT System for modular I/O and fault-injection testing.
• Proficiency configuring low-level registers, clocks, and peripheral drivers using vendor-specific configuration tools.
• Experience with target-based testing and code-coverage frameworks such as QA Systems Cantata or Parasoft C/C++test.
• Familiarity with static analysis and MISRA C/C++ compliance tools such as QA-MISRA, Helix QAC, or Synopsys Coverity.

Responsibilities

• Define the validation and verification roadmap, test strategies, and architecture for post-silicon bench testing and hardware-in-the-loop environments.
• Mentor offshore engineers and distributed validation teams, establishing unified practices for code quality, safety-critical testing, and test engineering.
• Coordinate cross-site testing, handoffs, and consistent test artifact generation across global engineering groups.
• Work with Systems, Silicon, Firmware, and Safety teams to align verification plans with hardware-software interface definitions.
• Perform bench-level validation on silicon evaluation boards and custom automotive ECUs.
• Configure and validate hardware peripherals, including the System Timer Module, memory protection units, and interrupt controllers.
• Integrate and verify PHY and switch drivers, and validate automotive Ethernet transceiver performance under varied environmental conditions.
• Develop and execute bootloader test strategies covering secure boot, cryptographic signature verification, UDS flashing over CAN or Ethernet, and dual-bank OTA rollback mechanisms.
• Validate Real-Time Drivers in bare-metal and AUTOSAR runtime environments.
• Benchmark network-stack throughput and latency using utilities such as iperf, CANoe, and hardware packet generators.
• Analyze TCP/IP, SOME/IP, and DoIP communication over automotive Ethernet interfaces.
• Design, implement, and maintain automated regression test frameworks controlled via Python.
• Develop target-side test applications in C, C++, or Rust when deterministic execution or memory-safety verification is required.
• Author V&V test specifications mapped to safety goals for ASIL B through ASIL D in alignment with ISO 26262 Part 6.
• Use digital oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debuggers to capture signals and isolate physical-layer anomalies.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new-parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized backup childcare.
• Family-building benefits, including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior