Senior Test Automation Engineer Jobs in Minnesota

INTRODUCTION

Take the lead in advancing product quality and performance at Starkey as a Sr. Test Automation Engineer, where you’ll design cutting-edge automated V&V systems spanning hardware, firmware, software, RF, and wireless technologies. This highly technical, hands-on role offers the opportunity to architect intelligent test platforms, apply advanced analytics, and mentor engineers while shaping the next generation of innovative communication-enabled products.

Starkey is a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of advanced hearing technologies. We are in the business of connecting people and changing lives. Our teams come to work each day focused on ensuring people everywhere have the products and services they need to hear better and live better.

Founded in 1967 by Bill Austin, Starkey is known for our cutting-edge hearing health innovations, industry-leading research and development, and not being afraid to push the edge of what’s possible.

We are headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, have over 5,000 employees in 29 facilities across the globe, and do business in more than 100 markets worldwide.

JOB SUMMARY DESCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE OF JOB

The Sr Test Automation Engineer 1 engages other engineering groups to analyze the product’s HW, FW and SW to understand the system verification and validation (V&V) requirements and procedures to define, create and document SW and HW test solutions to improve and automate the V&V processes. This is done during the development of new products and designs. Constant monitoring of existing tool performance against new requirements is needed to maintain levels of V&V performance with the changes in technologies and the introduction of new system elements. The Sr Test Automation Engineer 1 will use SW and database development tools to create test platforms to improve the V&V processes, in addition she/he leads and direct work to develop V&V environments. This position must be familiar with a variety of electrical, acoustic, wireless and RF concepts, practices, and procedures and rely on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. A proactive approach towards problems and projects in addition to creativity and latitude is expected. The Sr. Test Automation Engineer 1 will understand wireless physical layer and MAC protocol layer to design and create SW/HW tools that will interact with the product to ensure that algorithms and protocols perform well on real-world traffic and real-world channel variations.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES/RESULTS

• Serve as a leader for the successful development of projects, task, and the resolution of problems

• Proactively approach development tasks.

• Design and create test systems for the Starkey product’s platforms.

• Collect, research, and document the needs and requirements of new test systems.
• Evaluate off the shelf test and automation equipment.
• Work independently and/or with internal or external resources to build and program test automation.
• Integrate software and hardware and carry out system debug and tests.

• Review and verify accuracy of designs and builds by others.

• Research, evaluate and implement new test methods that relate to the Starkey product platforms.

• Stay current with new technology developments both in the test and measurement area for new communication platforms.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of new methods and equipment and generate a report or present findings to a group.

• Maintain and update existing test systems.

• Create periodic test system verification and preventative maintenance plans to ensure test results are accurate and repeatable for test platform systems.
• Seek feedback from customers for improvement areas in the systems.

• Ensure follow up with corrective actions to fix bugs and deficiencies.

• Design and implement calibration procedures and methods for the test.

• Analyze implemented and possible new methods to increase accuracy and repeatability.

• Participate in the conceptualization and development of mechanical tools that will be used in test and test automation.

• Interact with other engineering departments to provide ideas and concepts to develop mechanical tools for testing and automation.

• Design, create and test new software tools for the development of Starkey test platforms.

• Use requirements and test goals to interact with software engineers to create or modify software tools.

• Maintain and improve existing test software tools.

• Seek feedback from customers for areas of improvement.
• Ensure follow up with corrective actions to fix bugs and deficiencies.
• Develop new features and/or create new data sets in the database to support new products.

• Test and debug new features and applications.

• Serve as a facilitator of discussion and analysis of data and problem solution.

• Create test procedures for test and calibration.

• Use proven test methods to create test procedures documentation, work with tech writer to release documents.

• Use proven calibration methods to create calibration procedures.

• Create reports and documentation for data collected in the tests.

• Evaluate and compare the performance of test systems.
• Develop metrics and ways to visualize system performance.
• Apply statistical analysis to data to determine trends or correlations.

• Effectively communicate the problems, trends and correlations discovered during test.

• Maintain and improve data collection, retrieving and reporting tool.

• Seek feedback from customers for new queries/reports and areas of improvements.
• Develop new features/reports.

• Document changes and release new revisions, implement into test procedures.

• Lead technical staff to complete task and projects.

• Interact with other engineers and with technicians to improve and accelerate results.

• Create and organize test plans and test flow.
• Manage projects and resources on the project to ensure project milestones are met.
• Review technician’s work.

• Provide trainings to junior test engineers and technicians. Mentor junior engineers.

• Ensure test software is designed and developed in a way that is flexible and reusable.

• User interfaces are intuitive and easy to understand and use.

• Create test procedures for each new test and updated for existing test procedures.

Job Requirements

Education

Minimum 7 years with B.S. (E.E or C.S) or related experience or 5 years with M.S., or 2 years with PhD

Experience

2 to 7 years related experience

Knowledge / Technical Requirements

• Analog /digital Electronics, RF & wireless fundamentals and troubleshooting of related circuits/systems required.
• Electrical and RF test and measurement equipment required.
• Good understanding of digital, analog and RF circuits and working experience in measuring devices via computer-controlled test equipment required.
• Experienced in Visual Basic/VB.NET programming for automated electronic testing.
• Understanding of Wireless Physical Layer and Wireless MAC Layer Protocols desired
• Data statistical analysis and statistical process control (Excel and others)
• Understanding of FCC, ETSI and other wireless standards desired for Sr. Test Automation Engineer I and required for Sr. Test Automation Engineer II.

Competencies, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in using the following equipment: oscilloscope, signal generator, spectrum analyzer, Network analyzer, Vector Signal Analyzers, Antenna Measurements and RF Anechoic Chambers.
• Excellent people skills.
• Excellent Communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Capable of performing with minimum supervision
• Comfortable with multi-tasking

WORK CONTEXT

Working Conditions

• Standard office and lab conditions
• Some travel required.

Salary and Other Compensation:

The target pay rate for this position is between $93,940 - $125,000 annually. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include: geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is eligible for a bonus based upon performance results. There is no guarantee of payout.

Benefits:

The following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements, include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, employee assistance plan, hearing aid benefits, Paid Time Off, paid holidays, paid floating holidays, paid volunteer service day, paid paternity and maternity leave and tuition reimbursement.