SQA Engineer III

Cohu•San Diego, CA

22h•$46 - $56•Onsite

About The Position

The SQA Engineer III will be responsible for planning, designing, documenting, executing, and reporting system-level testing for each release cycle, adhering to software requirements, design documentation, and Cohu’s software development process. This role involves reviewing customer and system requirements, software designs, and test plans to provide feedback that identifies defects and testability risks early. The engineer will select appropriate testing approaches (manual, automated, simulated, or equipment-based), create and maintain C#-based test scripts for internal automation tools, and execute automated tests. They will perform functional, new-feature, defect-fix, and regression testing in an engineering lab using actual equipment and simulators. Additionally, the role requires identifying, reproducing, troubleshooting, analyzing, and documenting software defects in Jira, collaborating with software development engineers on defect triage and closure, and extracting/analyzing release data using SQL or scripting tools to generate quality metrics and communicate status to stakeholders. The SQA Engineer III will also estimate testing effort, investigate incidents, use AI tools to improve testing efficiency, and evaluate/propose improvements to development and testing practices. Leadership expectations include guiding other SQA Engineers and Technicians in structuring, creating, reviewing, maintaining, executing, and reporting complex test procedures.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in software, electrical, mechanical, computer, or a related engineering discipline.
4-6 years of experience with software quality assurance and testing experience in a commercial, Windows-based product-development environment.
3+ years of experience testing electro-mechanical equipment and associated software applications.
Working knowledge of C# or C/C++, Visual Studio, Git or comparable version control, object-oriented design, SQL/database concepts, and communication protocols (e.g., serial, TCP/IP) in a Windows environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and working familiarity with project-planning and diagramming tools such as Microsoft Project and Visio.
Demonstrates creativity, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and disciplined problem-solving.
Communicates clearly in writing and verbally, including preparation of formal technical reports and concise quality summaries.
Works effectively both independently and within cross-functional teams in a fast-paced engineering environment.
Adapts to changing priorities, risks, requirements, and schedules while adjusting the testing strategy as needed.
Optimizes test activities, identifies practical alternatives, and recommends solutions that support committed schedules without compromising quality.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in Agile/Scrum development environments, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and related ceremonies.
Familiarity with Python or similar scripting languages for data analysis, reporting automation, or AI-assisted testing workflows.
Knowledge of UML, XML, TCP/IP, SECS/GEM, serial communication, and GPIB protocols.
Experience in one or more areas of machine automation, motion control, input/output systems, pneumatics, thermal systems, vision systems, or communication interfaces.
Software testing certification such as ISTQB (Foundation or Advanced Level) or CSTE.

Responsibilities

Plan, design, document, execute, and report system-level testing each release cycle, following software requirements, design documentation, and Cohu’s software development process.
Review customer and system requirements, software designs, and unit and integration test plans; provide actionable feedback that identifies defects and testability risks early in development.
Select an effective manual, automated, simulated, or equipment-based test approach based on requirement interfaces, risk, and available test infrastructure.
Create, maintain, and debug C#-based test scripts for internal automation tools, and execute automated tests in simulation and on production-representative equipment.
Perform end-user-focused functional, new-feature, defect-fix, and regression testing in an engineering lab using actual equipment and machine simulators.
Identify, reproduce, troubleshoot, analyze, and clearly document software defects in Jira, including evidence, impact, expected behavior, and reproducible steps.
Collaborate with software development engineers to triage defects, track corrective actions, retest fixes, and drive issues to verified closure.
Extract and analyze release data using SQL or scripting tools, generate clear charts and quality metrics, and communicate software quality status and risk to stakeholders.
Estimate testing effort and duration using the change scope, technical risk, available resources, test infrastructure, and relevant historical data.
Partner with engineering disciplines to investigate incidents found during system testing and determine whether root causes are related to software, hardware, integration, or test infrastructure.
Use company-approved AI tools responsibly to improve the accuracy, completeness, and efficiency of test plans, test scripts, defect analysis, and technical documentation.
Evaluate software development and testing practices, and propose measurable improvements that increase product quality, shorten release cycle time, and reduce cost.
Lead SQA Engineers and Technicians in structuring, creating, reviewing, maintaining, executing, and reporting complex test procedures.