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# Senior Staff Software Test & Automation Engineer

- **Company:** Mainspring Energy
- **Location:** Menlo Park, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Testing (Software), Artificial Intelligence, JIRA, Bash Shell, C++ (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, Configuration Management, Continuous Delivery, Continuous Integration, Software Debugging, DevOps, Python (Programming Language), Real-Time Operating Systems, Software Tools, Ansible, Software Engineering, Software Testing Automation Framework, System Testing, Test Case, Hardware Testing, AI Coding Agents, Gitlab, Containerization, Kubernetes, Information Technology, Docker, SDET
- **Published:** October 17, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.thejobnetwork.com/job/1afe6ce1-efc5-4a83-83ac-595cdc2d374a/senior-staff-software-test-automation-engineer

## About the Role

* Experience & Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field with 16+ years of professional experience, or a Master's degree with 15+ years in an SDET, Embedded Test, or Software Engineering role
 * Strategic Automation Leadership: A proven track record of leading complex automation projects from design to implementation, combined with the foundational ability to perform deep-dive manual exploratory testing and technical test case design
 * Technical Versatility: Strong hands-on software development experience in Python and C++, with the flexibility to navigate, debug, and contribute to diverse codebases (including Bash scripting) as the project requires
 * AI Workflow Ownership: Demonstrated proficiency in leveraging AI coding assistants as a force multiplier for productivity, combined with the professional judgment to challenge, validate, and expand upon AI-generated solutions to ensure system integrity and long-term maintainability
 * Domain Expertise: Professional experience testing and validating systems in at least three of the following areas: Cloud computing, embedded systems, networking, IoT with RTOS, controls, simulations (MIL/SIL/PIL), emulators, or complex algorithms

Desirable Qualifications

 * DevOps & Infrastructure: Experience working with containerization and orchestration tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and configuration management via Ansible
 * Industry Tooling: High proficiency with common industry test and development workflows like Jira, Xray, GitLab, or equivalent tools

## Description

* Architect Automation & Test Infrastructure: Design, scale, and maintain custom hardware test beds alongside robust, reusable test automation frameworks, software tools, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
 * System Validation & Integration: Develop comprehensive test plans, test cases, technical test approaches, and traceability matrices to validate complex hardware/software integrations and resolve system-level bottlenecks
 * Root Cause & Failure Analysis: Lead deep-dive failure analysis, debug and diagnose issues found during testing, and champion risk mitigation strategies to ensure test stability and environmental reliability
 * Strategic Coverage: Drive risk-based testing strategies, performing risk analysis to ensure 100% comprehensive test coverage of all critical-path functionalities
 * Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with development teams and support cross-functional engineering initiatives to diagnose system anomalies and vet new technologies