Software Test Technician

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies•Palo Alto, CA

1d•$92,800 - $108,250

About The Position

Join us in advancing the future of electric vehicles at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies (RVTech) by playing a pivotal role in delivering quality software to our customers. As a Software Test Technician, you will be on the front lines of the software team, executing vehicle-level testing across the software delivery lifecycle — from main-branch health to monthly over-the-air (OTA) release validation. You will have real, hands-on impact on how our vehicles operate while working directly with the latest hardware and software. This role requires vehicle fleet management skills, an understanding of software-defined vehicles, and familiarity with modern software integration workflows. You will collaborate closely with software development, integration, validation, and technician teams to ensure stable software delivery across programs and variants.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in automotive software testing, test or factory operations, or automotive diagnosis and repair (3+ years preferred)
Working knowledge of automotive electrical systems and vehicle communication protocols (CAN, LIN, Ethernet) and relevant debug tools
Understanding of dependencies between electrical and mechanical systems
Strong interpersonal communication skills and a proactive, cross-functional collaboration style
Demonstrated ability to learn new skills quickly and work in a fast-paced development environment
Strong understanding of vehicle safety concepts and testing-related safety procedures
Valid driver's license with a clean driving history

Nice To Haves

Experience with systems engineering, automotive network architecture, or vehicle integration is a plus
Experience managing or maintaining vehicle fleets for testing and validation is a plus
Professional experience driving prototype test vehicles on test tracks is a plus

Responsibilities

Execute vehicle-level testing across the software delivery lifecycle — smoke, regression, and integration on both main-branch and release-branch software — following structured test plans covering functional verification, bug-fix validation, and integration coverage.
Perform hands-on ad-hoc and exploratory testing to validate feature maturity and stability.
Manage the test fleet — install OTA updates, maintain software configurations, and instrument vehicles to collect data for debug and validation.
Triage issues found during testing and collaborate with cross-functional teams to root cause, prioritize, and resolve high-impact vehicle-level problems.
Support the broader test and technician community with vehicle prep, upkeep, and debug of vehicle-specific issues.
Perform other duties as required or assigned within the scope of the position.