Senior Systems Test Engineer

Are you excited by the challenge of validating a sophisticated robotic system across hardware and software boundaries? Do you enjoy designing rigorous test systems that push the limits of integration, reliability, and real-world performance?

We’re looking for a Senior Systems Test Engineer to join our robotics team and ensure our robots perform flawlessly in the real world. This role will own the validation strategy for our robot as a complete system. You’ll build test infrastructure, develop system-level test plans, and lead validation efforts that span firmware, embedded control, high-level autonomy, and the mechanical system itself.

Join us to reimagine the future of human-robot interaction.

Collaborative Robotics is a team of innovators and builders redefining the future of human-robot interaction. We are working to realize a world where robots are a trusted extension of your surroundings. They work, adapt, and react around you. Not the other way around.

This role is located onsite at our Santa Clara, CA headquarters.

Cobot will offer a relocation stipend if you are relocating to join our Santa Clara office and currently live more than 50 miles outside of the office location.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and architect system-level validation strategies that ensure the robot behaves correctly in real-world environments.

• Develop and scale automated test infrastructure across hardware and software integration points.

• Create scenario-based and metric-driven validation plans for robot behavior, performance, reliability, and safety.

• Investigate, debug, and triage complex hardware and software issues from low-level interfaces to high-level autonomy behavior.

• Build and extend simulation-based and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments to support comprehensive system validation.

• Establish processes for tracking test coverage, regression, and performance trends over time.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams across embedded software, perception, controls, and mechanical and electrical domains.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to support verification and validation efforts, including targeted or one-off campaigns when required.

• Contribute to internal tools for test automation, diagnostics, telemetry, and log analysis.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.

• 5+ years of experience in systems testing, software testing, or validation of complex robotics or hardware-integrated systems.

• Experience defining and owning system-level test strategies, including scenario-based and requirements-driven validation.

• Proficiency in object-oriented Python for test development and automation

• Experience validating systems that integrate software and electromechanical components.

• Experience setting up and running Hardware in the Loop (HIL) testbeds.

• Understanding of Linux-based development environments and common debugging tools.

• Highly motivated teammate with excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Enjoy working in a fast paced, collaborative and dynamic start-up environment as part of a small team.

• Willing to occasionally travel.

• Must have and maintain US work authorization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with automated testing tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or equivalent.

• Familiarity with robot middleware such as ROS/ROS2.

• Familiarity with hardware communication protocols such as EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, or I2C.

• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally to drive root-cause analysis and quality improvements.

• Experience developing or maintaining telemetry and logging infrastructure for test analysis.

• Exposure to safety-related testing practices or certification processes such as fault injection or redundancy validation.

The annual base salary range for this position is $185,000-$215,000 plus equity and comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision plans, 401(k) plan, unlimited paid vacation time, paid sick leave, and parental leave. Our salary ranges are determined by role and experience level. The range reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in the noted geographic area. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Cobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

To all recruitment agencies: Collaborative Robotics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our employees. Collaborative Robotics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.