Electrical Characterization Engineer – Automotive ECU Validation

Electrical Characterization Engineer – Automotive ECU Validation

Location: Palo Alto, CA — Onsite

Duration: 12 months

Job Type: C2C

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Electrical Characterization Engineer to join an automotive Electronics Test & Validation team. This role will focus on the design verification and electrical characterization of vehicle electronic control units (ECUs), particularly Zonal and Battery Management System (BMS) ECUs.

The engineer will work closely with hardware, firmware, reliability, and design teams to develop test strategies, execute characterization activities, analyze results, and identify opportunities to improve ECU design and testability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive design verification and electrical characterization test plans for ECU development programs.
• Plan and execute characterization testing in alignment with project milestones and engineering requirements.
• Perform bench-level electrical characterization at the IC and PCBA levels.
• Analyze test results and maintain detailed test coverage, characterization, and validation reports.
• Provide engineering feedback on circuit design, component selection, testability, and potential design risks.
• Develop and present Design for Testability (DFT) recommendations and reports.
• Manage characterization schedules and communicate project status, risks, and results to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Develop basic Python automation scripts and instrumentation drivers to improve testing efficiency.
• Work with firmware and software engineers to flash, test, debug, and validate ECU firmware.
• Analyze electrical and functional test data to identify failures, trends, and potential design issues.
• Lead cross-functional root-cause analysis for non-compliant or failed test results.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, reliability, manufacturing, and validation teams throughout the ECU development lifecycle.
• Support continuous improvement of testing methodologies, tools, processes, and validation infrastructure.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor''s or Master''s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of experience in electronics characterization, design verification, validation, or related testing.
• Strong understanding of electrical and electronics engineering fundamentals.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation such as:
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Digital multimeters
  • Power supplies
  • Electronic loads
  • Other electrical measurement equipment
• Working knowledge of automotive electrical systems and vehicle communication buses.
• Experience with Python scripting and test/data analysis.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to interpret electrical test data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering teams and communicate technical findings to both technical and leadership audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with automotive ECUs, particularly BMS, Zonal, Powertrain, Body, or other vehicle control modules.
• Experience with PCBA-level testing and electrical characterization.
• Familiarity with CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Automotive Ethernet, or other vehicle communication protocols.
• Experience with automated test equipment and laboratory test automation.
• Knowledge of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) or ECU validation environments.
• Experience developing Design for Testability (DFT) strategies.
• Familiarity with automotive development and quality processes.