Wireless Validation Engineer

Client: Autonomous Vehicle/Tech

Title: Wireless Validation Engineer

Job Location: Foster City, CA

Duration: ~6 months

Hourly Pay Rate: $82 - $85.50/HR W2

Summary:

We're looking for an expert, innovative, and self-starting Hardware & Wireless Validation Engineer to join our team in Foster City. In this role, you will be responsible for developing, documenting, and executing comprehensive unit and system-level validation tests for both general hardware and network-connected devices. Your work will focus on mission-critical wireless interfaces, including 4G-LTE, 5G-NR, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, as well as Ethernet and other on-vehicle network protocols. You'll collaborate with design engineers and external partners to ensure our systems meet performance, quality of service, and regulatory compliance targets.

What You'll Do

• Test Execution & Analysis: Conduct hands-on functional, performance, environmental, and reliability testing on both physical hardware and network systems. You'll use a variety of tools, from oscilloscopes, VNAs, and environmental chambers to specialized wireless test platforms from vendors like Keysight and Rohde & Schwarz.
• Test Infrastructure Development: Select, procure, commission, and configure test equipment and software. Develop custom test assets such as load simulators, test harnesses, and scripts using Python and TTCN. Construct and maintain lab infrastructure, from fixed network test harnesses to RF cabling.
• Protocol & System Validation: Develop and execute test cases to analyze the behavior of wireless and fixed networks, including 4G-LTE, 5G-NR, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and IP. Collaborate with suppliers to validate network performance and identify the root cause of failures.
• Documentation & Compliance: Draft and present detailed documentation, including test plans, design reviews, and data reviews. You will also perform or commission conformance testing for international regulatory requirements, such as FCC emission compliance, PTCRBF test suites, and U.S. MNO conformance testing.

What You Bring

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, or a similar discipline.
• Experience: 6+ years of professional, relevant work experience in electronics development.
• Technical Expertise:
• • Hands-on experience configuring/programming wireless test platforms (Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz) and testing/troubleshooting Automotive Ethernet products.
  • Expertise in Ethernet standards (IEEE 802.1AS, 802.11), IP network protocols, and 3GPP 4G-LTE / 5G-NR network architecture.
  • Experience with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Classic/LE protocol and PHY designs.
  • Proficiency with lab equipment, including oscilloscopes, e-loads, VNAs, and spectrum analyzers.
  • Experience with regulatory conformance testing and analyzing network diagnostics using tools like Wireshark and Qualcomm QXDM logs.
  • Familiarity with Ethernet lab equipment (Ixia, Spirent) and associated software (IxNetwork, TTworkbench).

Bonus Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Engineering.
• Experience with team/club competitions (e.g., SAE, FIRST, DARPA).
• Foundational knowledge of systems and networking (e.g., systems architecture, memory hierarchy, storage subsystems, routing).
• Experience with specific protocols (PCIe, CAN, SPI, I2C, MDIO) and Ethernet standards (IEEE 802.3x).
• Familiarity with specific chipsets (e.g., Broadcom, Marvell) and signaling (NRZ and PAM-4).
• Certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE.
• Experience with data acquisition systems (UEI or Keysight), requirement-test case management tools (Polarion), and Atlassian products (Jira/Confluence).