Senior Software QA Engineer

Job Title: Senior Software QA Engineer

Location: Scotts Valley, CA

Department: Software Engineering

Reports To: SQA Lead

About Digital Dynamics, Inc. (DDI)

Digital Dynamics, Inc. (DDI) designs and manufactures real-time machine and process controllers used by leading OEMs in the semiconductor and display manufacturing industries. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Scotts Valley, CA, DDI is a 100% employee-owned ESOP company. Every employee-owner contributes to our culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Position Overview

The Senior Software QA Engineer is a hands-on engineering role responsible for defining test strategies, developing automation solutions, and executing hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation to ensure quality and reliability of DDI's software-based control systems. This role leads quality efforts across test planning, execution, defect analysis, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in software and embedded system validation, is proficient in Python and Linux environments, and can develop comprehensive test plans for hardware products. This role requires strong technical communication skills and collaboration across software, hardware, and systems engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

Test Strategy, Development & Execution

• Develop and maintain automated test scripts for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation using Python.
• Create and execute detailed test plans for hardware-integrated products.
• Support development of unit and integration tests in collaboration with software teams.
• Perform manual, exploratory, and system-level testing using embedded platforms and lab equipment.
• Use Testrail or equivalent test management tools to track and manage test coverage and results.

System Administration & Test Infrastructure

• Access and maintain Linux-based test environments to monitor execution health.
• Troubleshoot and debug software, hardware, or configuration-related test issues.
• Assemble and maintain basic test bench setups, wiring harnesses, and instrumentation (e.g., DMMs).

Tools & Test Lifecycle Management

• Track defects and participate in sprint-based quality reviews using Jira.
• Manage test organization and collaboration through GitHub.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain clear documentation of test procedures, configurations, and results.
• Present defect trends, risks, and improvement recommendations to cross-functional teams.

Collaboration

• Partner with software development, hardware engineering, and quality teams to define test strategies and improve reliability.
• Provide focused quality feedback during design reviews and post-test evaluations.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience as a Software QA Engineer (SQA), preferably within embedded or hardware-related environments.
• Proven ability to develop test plans for hardware-based products.
• Hands-on experience with test management tools such as Testrail.

Core Technical Skills

• Proficient in Python for test automation and scripting.
• Experience with Linux systems and command-line utilities.
• Hands-on experience with Raspberry Pi platforms or similar embedded systems.
• Familiarity with GitHub and Jira for code tracking and issue management.
• Skilled in using digital multimeters (DMMs) and performing basic electrical measurements.
• Experience assembling or troubleshooting wiring harnesses and test fixtures.

Soft Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication with the ability to clearly present technical issues.
• Detail-oriented, analytical, and proactive problem solver.
• Ability to work independently and lead quality efforts with minimal supervision.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Digital Dynamics, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected classification under federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.