AV Test Engineer
Mission Summary
The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Test Engineering team at Motional is responsible for validating the safety, functionality, and performance of our self-driving technology through rigorous, system-level testing. As a Test Engineer, you will play a hands-on role in the end-to-end verification of AV features—spanning perception, planning, and control—across virtual, closed-course, and public road environments.
You will contribute to test strategy, scenario creation, and infrastructure development using industry-leading simulation tools, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) platforms, and real-world vehicle testing. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, you will help translate engineering requirements into comprehensive test plans, automated test cases, and measurable outcomes. Your efforts will support iterative development, fault injection analysis, and safety-critical system evaluation, ensuring that every release meets the highest standards for quality and reliability.
**Requires onsite work in Las Vegas**
Essential Duties:
- Contribute to a high-performing team that prioritizes quality, continuous improvement, and robust validation throughout the development lifecycle.
- Design and execute test campaigns for self-driving vehicle features, with a focus on perception, planning, and control systems, across both virtual and on-vehicle environments.
- Develop and maintain detailed test plans, cases, and automation scripts using Python and Bash/Shell.
- Leverage Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), and scenario-based simulation platforms—such as Applied Intuition—for feature validation and regression testing.
- Create synthetic and re-simulation scenarios to support iterative development, root-cause analysis, and large-scale release validation.
- Conduct fault injection and low-level control testing using tools like CANalyzer and CANoe, targeting subsystems such as drive-by-wire (DBW), braking, and steering.
- Perform mechatronic and systems integration testing, including on-road and closed-course test track validation.
- Analyze logs and data to assess system behavior and conduct root-cause investigations, collaborating cross-functionally with perception, planning, hardware, and safety teams.
- Participate in recursive testing cycles, contributing to QA and release efforts throughout the AV software development lifecycle (SDLC).
- Document test procedures, results, and technical findings using tools like Confluence, Jira, and GitLab, ensuring traceability and alignment with quality standards.
- Ensure testing practices comply with industry standards such as ISO26262, ISO21448 (SOTIF), and ISO9001.
- Continuously adapt test strategies to evolving AV stacks and fast-paced development cycles.
- Support flexible testing schedules, including occasional night shifts or late meetings as required by fleet operations or global team collaboration.
- Collaborate across multiple projects and disciplines, gaining exposure to diverse engineering challenges and contributing to system-level integration milestones.
- Enhance tools and processes for integrated testing workflows, including system integration, simulation-based validation, and track-based testing.
- Show initiative and thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment that encourages collaboration and creative problem solving.
- Contribute to the development of new tools, processes, and solutions that shape the future of safe, autonomous mobility.
- Additional duties as assigned.
- Willingness to travel domestically as needed.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering, Robotics, ECE, Computer Science or relevant field.
- 2+ years in software QA and testing of ADAS subsystems and self-driving features.
- 2+ years of experience writing and developing test cases and test plans and automation scripting.
- Excellent knowledge of software development processes, testing processes, SDLC, and QA Tools.
- Experience with test engineering, recursive testing, and mechatronic system testing.
- Experience with Linux and programming languages (C++, Python, Bash/Shell, SQL).
- Experience in using issue tracking software or tools is preferred (esp. Atlassian Confluence, Jira, Gitlab).
- Hands-on experience with virtual testing environments, including Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), and scenario-based simulation.
- Proficiency with industry-standard AV simulation platforms such as Applied Intuition, IPG Carmaker, and NVIDIA DRIVE Sim.
- Experience designing and analyzing test cases in simulation to validate AV software, including perception, planning, and control systems.
- Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to think logically and remove bias from evaluation of problems.
- Ability to collaborate across teams and wear multiple hats.
- Experience in technical writing, technical drawings and documentation of mechatronics systems is preferred.
- Experience testing safety-critical applications.
- Demonstrated ability to operate effectively amid ambiguity, interpreting incomplete or evolving system requirements as the AV stack continues to mature at a rapid pace.
- High level of accuracy and attention to details.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong troubleshooting, debugging, analytical and creative problem solving skills.
- Desire to work in a fast-paced startup environment.
- Flexible schedule and willing to attend evening/night meetings.
- Enthusiasm for the AV industry as well as safety/mobility.
- Hands-on experience in automotive communication protocols like CAN, LIN, Ethernet, FlexRAY.
- Understanding of industry standards such as ISO26262, ISO21448, and ISO9001 is preferred.
- Experience with CAN tools like CANalyzer or CANoe for bus-level debugging, fault injection, and low-level ECU communication analysis.
- Familiarity with fault injection testing techniques to validate system robustness and safety-critical behaviors.
- Strong understanding of low-level vehicle control systems, including drive-by-wire (DBW), braking, and steering control validation in both simulated and on-vehicle environments is preferred.
- Ability to design, execute, and analyze test cases in simulation to validate autonomous software components across perception, planning, and control domains.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and at times for long periods; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds.
Working Environment
The work environment characteristics described here represent those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions, road conditions, and pedestrian traffic. The team member is regularly exposed to mechanical and computer parts. The team member is occasionally exposed to fumes and airborne particles. The noise level in the environment is low to moderate.
Motional AD LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and we welcome all qualified applicants. All applicants will receive impartial consideration regarding race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or another legally protected status. Motional AD LLC is a Drug-free workplace.
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors including but not limited to specific skills, experience and expertise, role location, certifications, licenses, and business needs. The estimated compensation range listed in this job posting reflects base salary only. This role may include additional forms of compensation such as a bonus or company equity. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.
Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional’s benefits program. Motional’s benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health saving accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.
Salary Range
$91,200 - $135,500 USD
Motional is a driverless technology company making autonomous vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. We’re driven by something more.
Our journey is always people first.
We aren't just developing driverless cars; we're creating safer roadways, more equitable transportation options, and making our communities better places to live, work, and connect. Our team is made up of engineers, researchers, innovators, dreamers and doers, who are creating a technology with the potential to transform the way we move.
Higher purpose, greater impact.
We’re creating first-of-its-kind technology that will transform transportation. To do so successfully, we must design for everyone in our cities and on our roads. We believe in building a great place to work through a progressive, global culture that is diverse, inclusive, and ensures people feel valued at every level of the organization. Diversity helps us to see the world differently; it’s not only good for our business, it’s the right thing to do.
Scale up, not starting up.
Our team is behind some of the industry's largest leaps forward, including the first fully-autonomous cross-country drive in the U.S, the launch of the world's first robotaxi pilot, and operation of the world's longest-standing public robotaxi fleet. We’re driven to scale; we’re moving towards commercialization of our technology, and we need team members who are ready to embrace change and challenges.
Formed as a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, Motional is fundamentally changing how people move through their lives. Headquartered in Boston, Motional has operations in the U.S and Asia. For more information, visit www.Motional.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
Motional AD Inc. is an EOE. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To comply with Federal Law, we participate in E-Verify. All newly-hired employees are queried through this electronic system established by the DHS and the SSA to verify their identity and employment eligibility.
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