Principal Automation Validation Engineer

Principal Automation Validation Engineer (Lead/Expert)

Role Overview

As a Principal Automation Validation Engineer in Automotive V&V, you will be at the forefront of ensuring the safety, reliability, and performance of next-generation vehicle systems. You will lead the design, development, and implementation of sophisticated automation frameworks that streamline the testing of complex ECUs, ADAS features, and infotainment systems. This role requires a deep blend of automotive domain knowledge and high-level software engineering to transition traditional testing into fully autonomous CI/CD pipelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Framework Architecture: Design and maintain scalable automation frameworks for SIL (Software-in-the-Loop), HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop), and MIL (Model-in-the-Loop) environments.
• Test Strategy & Execution: Define automated test strategies for complex automotive systems, ensuring maximum coverage of functional and non-functional requirements.
• Scripting & Development: Develop high-quality, reusable test scripts and libraries using Python, C++, or CAPL to automate diagnostic (UDS), communication (CAN/LIN/Ethernet), and functional tests.
• Tool Integration: Integrate automated testing into DevOps pipelines (Jenkins/Azure DevOps) to enable continuous integration and rapid feedback loops.
• Analysis & Debugging: Lead the root-cause analysis of complex system failures, utilizing bus logging tools to trace issues across distributed vehicle networks.
• Compliance: Ensure all automation processes and test cases align with industry standards such as ISO 26262 (Functional Safety) and ASPICE.
• Mentorship: Act as a technical authority for the V&V team, providing guidance on coding best practices, automation logic, and modern testing methodologies.

Required Technical Skills

• Programming Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Python (specifically for test automation) and C/C++ . Familiarity with Java or Rust is a plus.
• Automotive Protocols: Deep understanding of automotive communication protocols including CAN, CAN-FD, LIN, FlexRay, and Automotive Ethernet .
• Testing Tools: Hands-on experience with the Vector Toolchain (CANoe, CANalyzer, vTESTstudio) or dSPACE (ControlDesk, AutomationDesk).
• V&V Methodologies: Comprehensive knowledge of the Automotive V-Model and experience in requirements-based testing (using tools like IBM DOORS or Jama).
• Diagnostics: Strong experience with UDS (ISO 14229) and DoIP.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in automotive software testing, with at least 3 years focused specifically on automation framework development.
• Safety Standards: Proven track record of working within ISO 26262 environments and understanding ASIL levels.
• Problem Solving: A "test-to-break" mindset with the ability to troubleshoot complex hardware-software interactions.

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication skills to bridge the gap between software developers and system architects.
• Strong analytical thinking and the ability to work under tight production deadlines.
• Proactive approach to identifying process bottlenecks and implementing automated solutions.