Staff Firmware Test Engineer

Boston Dynamics•Waltham, MA

About The Position

As a Staff Firmware Test Engineer on the Safer Robotics Team, you will join a cross-functional group developing robotic technologies that enable our robots to operate safely around people and in complex environments. In this role, you will architect the validation frameworks and test infrastructure required for high-integrity, fault-tolerant, safety-critical firmware that unlocks safe human-robot collaboration. Working within the firmware team, you will take end-to-end ownership of our test strategy for MCU-based systems. You will bridge the gap between hardware design and firmware execution, designing and scaling the HIL and SIL subsystems required to ensure reliability through coverage. If you are a builder who loves the iterative hardening of complex systems, and you are passionate about learning—come join us!

Requirements

5+ years of experience in firmware validation or embedded systems testing, with a strong focus on automated test development.
Expert-level proficiency in Python, specifically within the pytest ecosystem (fixtures, markers, plugins) and managing internal Python packages at scale.
Strong ability to read and analyze C/C++ code and navigate complex build systems to inform test design for our safety functions.
Deep understanding of low-level communication protocols (SPI, I2C, UART, etc.) and the ability to verify raw payloads over the wire using associated lab equipment and tooling.
Experience reading electrical schematics, layouts, and datasheets to understand hardware constraints and design effective test fixtures.
Familiarity with network layers and hierarchy, with the ability to validate data integrity across various communication stacks.
Experience with embedded profiling tools to verify execution timing and measure system performance under load.
A mindset that thrives on learning. You approach technical challenges with an open mind and value the diverse ways a multidisciplinary team sees and solves problems.
Proficiency with embedded Linux or similar MPU based systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience testing safety-critical systems within standardized functional safety processes (e.g., ISO 26262, IEC 61508, or IEC 62304).
Proficiency in Fault Injection Testing (software and hardware) to validate system resilience and error-handling paths.
Experience with formal verification methods like TLA+, Alloy, or Spin, to model and prove the correctness of our safety functions and overall test strategy.
Familiarity with building out physical test fixtures (e.g., "bed of nails" pogo-pin jigs) for FCT and injection testing.
Hands-on experience with hardware debuggers and trace tools (e.g., J-Link, iSYSTEM, Lauterbach, TDS) to verify low-level execution.
Experience working with electro-mechanical devices (Steppers, Motors controllers, Encoders, voltage/current sensing).

Responsibilities

Architect and deploy scalable, cross-product test frameworks that validate safety-critical systems.
Design and build dedicated HIL and SIL systems, including the development of custom fixtures and tooling to simulate complex behaviors.
Define comprehensive test plans and manage requirements traceability to ensure coverage of our safety functions.
Drive the integration of automated testing into our CI/CD pipelines for push-button smoke tests and automation suites.
Collaborate with a tight-knit firmware team to perform white-box and black-box testing, identifying edge cases in timing, communication, and fault tolerance.
Push best practices in test automation and package management, enabling the team to deploy and maintain testing tools at scale to verify product stability.