Sr. Embedded Validation & Tools Engineer - Audio & Wireless

ALSO • Palo Alto, CA

34d • $140,000 - $175,000

About The Position

As an Embedded Validation & Tools Engineer - Audio & Wireless you will own validation for Bluetooth/BLE, Wi-Fi, wireless connectivity, media streaming, and audio subsystems for smart helmets. You’ll design and execute test plans that ensure high-quality audio (voice and media), reliable wireless connectivity, robust app integration, and excellent in-helmet user experience — across firmware, mobile apps, and cloud services. This role combines hands-on hardware and acoustic test work with automation, debugging, and cross-functional coordination with firmware, RF, DSP, and mobile teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Acoustics, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years hands-on experience validating embedded audio and wireless systems (Bluetooth/BLE, Wi-Fi, or similar).
• Strong practical knowledge of Bluetooth profiles (A2DP, HFP, AVRCP), BLE GATT and provisioning flows, and Wi-Fi streaming behaviors.
• Experience with audio signal processing concepts and validation of AEC, noise reduction, AGC, echo control, and latency measurement.
• Proficiency with scripting/automation using Python (preferred) or shell; experience integrating tests into CI pipelines.
• Hands-on experience with audio measurement tools (audio analyzers, HATS/head simulators, APx or similar), RF/protocol sniffers, and network emulators (netem, WAN emulators).
• Strong debugging skills with embedded systems: serial/UART logs, JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, firmware flashing, and log correlation across devices and mobile apps.
• Experience testing mobile app integrations for Android and iOS (using ADB, Xcode tools, instrumentation) and understanding of Bluetooth stacks on mobile platforms.
• Excellent problem solving and written/verbal communication; able to write clear test plans, bug reports, and postmortems.

Nice To Haves

• Background in consumer audio/headset validation, ANC, or helmet/automotive audio.
• Familiarity with audio codecs and streaming formats (SBC, AAC, aptX/aptX HD, LDAC, Opus) and voice codecs (CVSD, mSBC, Opus).
• Experience with DSP toolchains, MATLAB/Octave, or C/C++ signal processing code.
• Experience with cloud-connected telemetry, analytics stacks (Grafana, ELK), and deriving KPIs for fleet audio/connectivity quality.
• Experience performing field tests (on-road, varying environments) and designing safety-conscious test procedures for helmets.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute validation plans for Bluetooth Classic + BLE profiles (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP/HSP, BLE GATT), Wi-Fi streaming, and cross-stack interactions.
• Validate media streaming quality (audio codecs, buffering, latency, jitter, packet loss recovery), multi-stream scenarios, and simultaneous voice/media use cases.
• Test and tune audio processing: echo cancellation (AEC), noise reduction / suppression (NR), beamforming, automatic gain control (AGC), bass/treble tuning, and ANC/ANC-like features tailored for helmet acoustics.
• Validate headset/headphone behaviors: microphone routing, sidetone, voice call quality (MOS scores), wind noise mitigation, and handset/helmet ergonomics that affect audio performance.
• Develop and run automated test harnesses for firmware + mobile app integration (Android/iOS), including provisioning, reconnection, firmware upgrades, and profile/feature parity across platforms.
• Build and maintain hardware testbeds: HIL rigs, device farms, head & torso simulators (HATS), RF chambers or RF-shielded boxes, audio analyzers, and network emulators.
• Use RF and protocol sniffers (Ellisys/Frontline, Nordic/BlueZ tools) and network tools to diagnose Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity, coexistence, throughput, and interference issues.
• Characterize and measure audio metrics (SNR, latency, frequency response), including subjective metrics (MOS, user studies)
• Reproduce and debug complex field issues: capture logs, packet traces, audio samples, and telemetry; perform root-cause analysis and drive fixes with firmware/DSP/RF teams.
• Create and maintain validation artifacts: test plans, automation scripts, acceptance criteria, failure-mode matrices, runbooks, and release readiness checklists.

Benefits

• Robust health coverage — excellent health, dental, and vision insurance covered up to 100% by ALSO, with FSA & HSA options
• One Medical membership and dedicated insurance advocates
• Rich fertility and family-building benefits with Progyny
• Flexible time off
• 401(k) match

What This Job Offers

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