Test Systems Architect

Chemelex • Redwood City, CA

2d

About The Position

Chemelex is seeking a Test Systems Architect to define, modernize, and scale the software and control architectures used across our manufacturing test fixtures and validation systems. This role operates at the system architecture level, defining how automated test systems are structured, integrated, and deployed across the factory. The Test Systems Architect will establish standards for software, hardware interfaces, and data systems, and will partner closely with Controls Engineers to implement these architectures on production equipment. The ideal candidate has a strong background in hardware, firmware, and software design for automated test systems and is capable of translating complex system requirements into scalable, maintainable solutions. This role complements the Controls Engineer function by providing architectural direction and technical leadership for fixture control systems and test infrastructure.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (Or Bachelors + 5 YOE) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5–10 years of experience in automated test systems, hardware/software integration, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Strong background in hardware, firmware, and software co-design for automated systems.
• Experience developing and architecting test systems, including data acquisition and instrumentation integration.
• Proficiency in one or more programming environments such as Python, C#, C/C++, or LabVIEW.
• Experience integrating PLC-based control systems with higher-level software applications.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols including OPC UA, MQTT, Ethernet/IP, and serial interfaces.
• Experience designing scalable software architectures and structured data systems.
• Strong understanding of system reliability, diagnostics, and maintainability in production environments.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to translate system requirements into practical engineering solutions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience modernizing legacy systems and deploying standardized architectures across multiple platforms is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with MES integration, data pipelines, and analytics in manufacturing environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the architecture for automated test systems, including software frameworks, hardware abstraction, interfaces, and standards for sequencing, communication, and data acquisition.
• Drive modular, reusable designs.
• Architect test control and data handling systems.
• Define interfaces across PLCs, embedded systems, instrumentation, and PC applications.
• Guide technology selection for long-term maintainability.
• Lead system-level integration of sensors, motion, instrumentation, and DUTs.
• Ensure reliable communication across industrial protocols and clear separation between real-time controls and supervisory software.
• Partner with Controls Engineers to deploy systems in PLC/HMI/SCADA environments.
• Support commissioning and troubleshooting.
• Align with plant-wide controls and data infrastructure.
• Define data models and workflows linking test results to product genealogy.
• Integrate with MES and analytics platforms to enable yield, reliability, and root cause analysis.
• Assess and modernize legacy systems, reducing technical debt while maintaining production continuity.
• Improve diagnostics and long-term supportability.
• Serve as technical authority for test systems.
• Mentor engineers and collaborate across Manufacturing, Quality, IT, and Product Engineering.

What This Job Offers

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