Senior Embedded Software Test Engineer
Owns the embedded software system-test capability for Optics11's sensing interrogator platforms: designing and automating Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and box-level integration/regression tests, qualifying software and firmware release candidates on representative hardware, and wiring test automation into CI/CD. Core stack: Python, embedded Linux, pytest/Robot Framework, Docker, CI/CD, and lab instr
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Full time
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Category
- Qa
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- BSc or MSc in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, or related technical discipline
- 5+ years of relevant experience in embedded software testing, embedded systems integration, test automation, HIL testing, software quality engineering, or related fields
- Strong experience testing embedded products on physical hardware and integrated systems throughout the product-development lifecycle
- Strong Python skills for test automation, tooling, laboratory equipment control, and analysis
- Strong understanding of embedded Linux systems, applications and services, networking, logging/diagnostics, and hardware/software interaction
- Hands-on experience designing or maintaining automated test harnesses, HIL or system-level test environments, and regression suites for embedded products
- Experience with automated test frameworks such as pytest, Robot Framework, or comparable; Git; Linux; Docker; and CI/CD systems such as GitLab CI, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions
- Experience testing software APIs, hardware interfaces, inter-process communication, system control, data acquisition, and integrated embedded-system behavior
- Strong analytical skills with structured test design, defect triage, problem-solving, and root-cause analysis
- Experience debugging complex issues across software, firmware, FPGA, electronics, and hardware boundaries using logs, traces, diagnostics, and lab equipment
- Strong communication skills in English for technical and non-technical stakeholders
Nice to have
- Experience in multidisciplinary high-tech product development involving software, firmware, electronics, FPGA, photonics, sensing, manufacturing, or defense/security
- Experience with laboratory automation and instrumentation (programmable power supplies, function generators, switching equipment, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, LabVIEW)
- Experience with SIL, simulation, device emulation, or virtualized test environments complementing physical HIL testing
- ISTQB or comparable test certification
- Experience designing fault-injection, endurance, recovery, power-cycle, upgrade/rollback, and robustness tests for embedded systems
- Familiarity with systems engineering, product verification, requirement traceability, configuration management, and product lifecycle management processes
Full description
Optics11 is a fast-growing high-tech company based in Amsterdam, developing advanced fiber optic sensing systems for the most demanding environments. Our technology detects the earliest signs of failure in critical assets – from high-voltage energy infrastructure to subsea and defense applications – and gives our customers precise, real-time data they can act on.
Within our Underwater Security business we develop sensing technologies that help detect and monitor underwater threats. Our solutions include OptiBarrier, designed for immediate, over-the-horizon threat detection, and OptiArray, our low-power optical thin-line towed array for unmanned underwater vehicles and submarines.
The Role
As a Senior Embedded Software Test Engineer at Optics11, you own the embedded software system-test capability for our sensing interrogator platforms. You define, automate, execute, and continuously improve Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and box-level integration and regression testing so that software and firmware release candidates are qualified on representative hardware before they move downstream to formal verification, FAT (Factory Acceptance Test), field, or application validation.
Your scope covers the integrated behavior of embedded Linux applications and services, internal and external APIs, hardware interfaces, firmware and FPGA interactions, system control, calibration and configuration, diagnostics, data acquisition, boot and update behavior, recovery mechanisms, and sensor interfaces. You build and maintain automated test frameworks, HIL benches, test harnesses, CI/CD integration, and objective release evidence that make product behavior repeatable, observable, and measurable.
You are part of the Sensing Platform Team and work closely with Embedded Software, FPGA/Firmware, Electronics, Photonics, Architects, Product System Engineering, Product Integration, Verification & Validation, Lifecycle Engineering, application/software teams, and external development partners. The primary ownership of this role is integrated interrogator/HIL system-level testing and release qualification. It complements developer-owned unit and component testing and does not replace independent formal verification, compliance, environmental, or end-to-end application validation performed downstream.
Responsibilities
- HIL & System-Level Test Development
- Own the interrogator/HIL test strategy, system-level regression suite, and embedded software/firmware release qualification approach for the Sensing Platform.
- Translate product, software, firmware, and interface requirements into test plans, acceptance criteria, coverage objectives, and automated regression tests.
- Design, build, and maintain HIL test setups using representative hardware, simulated or real sensor inputs, and remotely controlled lab equipment.