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Robotics Test Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Robot SW Test Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $195K/yr

About Nimble Nimble is an AI robotics company building the autonomous supply chain to power fast ... Strong programming in Python and Rust (or C++); experience building automated test frameworks and ...

Robot SW Test Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $195K/yr

About Nimble Nimble is an AI robotics company building the autonomous supply chain to power fast ... Strong programming in Python and Rust (or C++); experience building automated test frameworks and ...

Robot SW Test Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $195K/yr

About Nimble Nimble is an AI robotics company building the autonomous supply chain to power fast ... Strong programming in Python and Rust (or C++); experience building automated test frameworks and ...

Test Engineer

Hayward, CA · On-site

$150K - $166K/yr

About 1X We're building humanoid robots that work in any space humans exist with the mission to ... As a Test Engineer, you will build the test infrastructure that allows the team to understand how ...

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Robotics Test Engineer information

What is a robotics test engineer?

A Robotics Test Engineer is responsible for evaluating and testing robotic systems to ensure functionality, performance, and safety. They design test plans, run automated and manual tests, analyze results, and document findings to improve system reliability. They work closely with developers, designers, and other engineers to identify issues and refine robotics hardware and software. This role requires knowledge of robotics, programming, and testing methodologies to validate robotic systems before deployment.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a robotics test engineer?

A Robotics Test Engineer typically spends their day developing and executing test plans for robotic systems, analyzing data from hardware and software tests, and documenting results. They collaborate closely with design engineers to identify problems and propose solutions, as well as participate in troubleshooting and root-cause analysis. The role often involves setting up test environments, calibrating sensors, and using simulation tools to validate robotic behavior in different scenarios. Regular communication with quality assurance teams and participation in iterative development cycles are also key parts of the job.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the robotics test engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Robotics Test Engineer, you need strong knowledge of robotics systems, programming (such as C++, Python, or ROS), and experience with hardware and sensor integration, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with test automation tools, simulation software, and data analysis platforms, as well as certifications in robotics or quality assurance, are often required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and strong teamwork and communication skills help distinguish top candidates. These skills are essential for designing effective test plans, identifying system issues, and ensuring the reliable performance of complex robotic solutions.

What are popular job titles related to Robotics Test Engineer jobs in California?

For Robotics Test Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Robotics Test Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Robotics Test Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Robotics Test Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Lead Software Engineer, AI & Robotics Test Infrastructure

RoboForce

Milpitas, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 10 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Design, build, and maintain a modular, scalable test execution engine to standardize testing processes across the company.

  • Partner with AI and simulation teams to develop automated pipelines for testing machine learning models and integrating simulation edge-cases into CI/CD pipelines.

  • Collaborate with hardware and manufacturing teams to develop software for hardware-in-the-loop rigs and package test frameworks for factory validation.


Job description

Why RoboForce
 
RoboForce is an AI robotics company developing Physical AI-powered Robo-Labor for dull, dirty, and dangerous work. The company's robots are engineered for demanding industrial environments, with a focus on real-world deployment and scalability.
 
We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer, Robotics Test Infrastructure to architect the overarching validation framework for our robot fleet from the ground up. This is a massive-scope, highly hands-on Technical Lead / Principal Individual Contributor (IC) role. You will act as the principal technical authority and central hub connecting our software, embedded, simulation, machine learning, and manufacturing teams. You will design and build the core test execution software that orchestrates End-to-End (E2E) simulation runs, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) physical testing, ML model regression pipelines, and End-of-Line (EOL) factory validation.
 
At RoboForce, Test Engineers aren't manual testers-you build the scalable infrastructure, automation engines, and CI/CD pipelines that empower all our engineering disciplines to test their code continuously, rigorously, and automatically.
 
Responsibilities
  • Test Framework Architecture: Design, build, and maintain a modular, scalable test execution engine (Python/C++) that standardizes how tests are written, triggered, and reported across the entire company. You will own the technical roadmap for this framework, moving us from zero to a fully automated pipeline.
  • ML Evaluation Infrastructure: Partner with the Autonomy and AI teams to build automated pipelines for testing non-deterministic machine learning models (e.g., vision, perception, manipulation). You will integrate massive datasets and synthetic simulation edge-cases into the CI/CD pipeline to benchmark model performance and catch regressions before deployment.
  • E2E & Simulation Orchestration: Collaborate closely with the Simulation and Cloud teams to integrate your test framework with our existing physics engines, automating complex E2E autonomy and navigation tests within our CI/CD pipeline.
  • HIL & Performance Testing Infrastructure: Work with the Embedded and Hardware teams to build the software layer that controls our Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) rigs. Develop the profiling tools needed to benchmark compute load, memory utilization, and real-time performance.
  • EOL Test Software & Packaging: Partner with Manufacturing Operations to package your test framework into a secure, operator-friendly format (e.g., GUIs, automated pass/fail scripts) for the factory floor, ensuring seamless, IP-isolated hardware validation.
  • Design for Testability (DFT) & Enforcement: Actively participate in cross-functional design reviews, enforcing strict testing standards and ensuring that code from the Autonomy and Embedded teams is inherently testable within your framework. You will have the technical authority to push back on tightly coupled designs and require code to be easily mocked and unit-tested.
  • Technical Leadership: Act as a force multiplier for the engineering org. Mentor feature developers on automated testing best practices and drive a company-wide culture of rigorous, software-defined validation. (Note: This is a hands-on technical leadership role, not a people management role).
Requirements
  • Education: B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Experience: 6+ years of software engineering experience focused on building test infrastructure, automation frameworks, or CI/CD tooling for complex systems (robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, etc.), with a proven track record of architecting systems from scratch rather than just maintaining existing pipelines.
  • Advanced Programming: Expert-level Python (OOP, system architecture, test frameworks like Pytest) and strong C++ proficiency (Google Test, Catch2) to design core architectural interfaces with our robotics middleware.
  • Systems & CI/CD Integration: Deep comfort in Linux environments, bash scripting, and containerization (Docker). Proven experience integrating automated testing into modern CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Buildkite).
  • Hardware Intuition: Strong systems-level thinking with the ability to understand how software interacts with physical hardware, and experience diagnosing complex integration failures at the boundary of software and physical robotics.
  • Testing Non-Deterministic Systems: Familiarity with the unique challenges of testing AI/ML models, robotics perception stacks, or other non-deterministic systems at scale.
  • Requires 5 days/week in-office collaboration with our engineering teams at our headquarters.
Bonus Qualifications
  • Robotics Middleware: Experience writing testing infrastructure that interfaces with ROS 2, eCAL, or custom pub/sub architectures.
  • Data Visualization: Experience building test reporting dashboards using tools like Grafana, Foxglove, or custom web interfaces.
Benefits
  • Competitive stock options/equity programs.
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) plan.
  • Visa sponsorship and green card support for qualified candidates.
  • Lunches and dinners, a fully stocked kitchen, and regular team-building events.
Compensation: Salary $165,000-$235,000 USD + Bonus + Equity
 
The base salary range above represents the expected compensation for this full-time U.S. position. Final compensation will be determined based on role scope, level, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training, and may fall outside the listed range in exceptional cases.