Senior Firmware Test Engineer
Company Overview
Avigilon Alta is a leader within the access control industry. Our access control solution makes businesses more secure with multi-factor authentication, enables a contactless entry experience and can be easily scaled and managed due to its cloud-based architecture. We are looking for an outstanding team member to architect and drive the validation strategy for our deeply embedded firmware across new and existing products. We are seeking a senior technical leader to join us as we build, scale, and innovatively validate our industry-leading platform for access control and office automation. Outstanding analytical skills and a developer-centric approach to automation are a must. We are particularly seeking candidates who can bridge the gap between hardware and software—possessing the skills to design sophisticated Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) automation and troubleshoot complex system behaviors in power-constrained, real-time environments.
About the Role
As a test automation expert at Avigilon Alta, you will be the technical authority responsible for the validation strategy of our next-generation access control ecosystem. This role requires a deep understanding of how embedded systems interact with the physical world and the cloud. You will bridge the gap between electronics design, firmware development, and world-class test automation.
What You'll Do
- Design and lead the execution of comprehensive test strategies that cover the "hardware-to-cloud" journey, ensuring our readers and controllers are secure, performant, and resilient.
- Develop sophisticated, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) automation frameworks that exercise firmware at the driver, middle-ware, and application layers.
- Utilize a broad understanding of electronics to debug complex issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol sniffers.
- Validate and stress-test a variety of communication protocols including RS-485, Ethernet/IP, BLE, NFC, and UWB.
- Ensure robust device connectivity and security by testing network stacks, TLS/X.509 certificate handling, and data integrity across various deployment environments.
- Mentor junior engineers and collaborate directly with Hardware and Software teams to implement "testability" into the product design phase (DFT/DFM).
What You Bring
- A strong background in electronics; you are comfortable reading schematics and understanding the electrical constraints of embedded systems.
- Proven experience in firmware development or low-level testing (C/C++), with a firm grasp of RTOS, interrupt handling, and memory management.
- Expert-level proficiency in Python or similar languages for building scalable, automated test suites.
- Comprehensive knowledge of serial and networked communication (UART, SPI, I2C, TCP/IP, and RS-485).
- The ability to see the "big picture" of a product ecosystem and the discipline to build a validation culture that balances speed with unshakeable reliability.
Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in firmware development, embedded systems engineering, or firmware validation, with at least 3 years in a lead or principal capacity.
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field (Master's preferred).
- Expert-level proficiency in Python for developing complex, scalable test automation frameworks from scratch.
- Deep understanding of C/C++ and the ability to read and critique production-level firmware, including RTOS-based architectures and interrupt-driven logic.
- Hands-on experience with hardware lab equipment, including Oscilloscopes, Logic Analyzers, and Digital Multimeters for low-level signal analysis and troubleshooting.
- Advanced knowledge of wired and wireless interfaces, specifically RS-485, UART, I2C, SPI, and TCP/IP networking.
- Proven track record of implementing Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing.
Pay
Target Base Salary Range: $130,000 - $160,000. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate.
Benefits
- Incentive Bonus Plans
- Medical, Dental, Vision benefits
- 401K with Company Match
- 10 Paid Holidays
- Generous Paid Time Off Packages
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Paid Parental & Family Leave