Senior Firmware Test Engineer

About the role

Halter is seeking a Senior Firmware Test Engineer to become a vital member of our Device Platform team. This position focuses on ensuring the reliability and performance of our collar firmware through rigorous testing at scale. You will collaborate closely with firmware and hardware engineers to identify and resolve issues early in the development process, ensuring that our innovative solutions function flawlessly in real-world environments. Your contributions will directly impact the efficiency and sustainability of farming operations, making this role both challenging and rewarding.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Engage directly with collar hardware components, including GPS, LoRa mesh, cellular, BLE, and various sensors, to develop test rigs and automation processes that assess their performance.
• Create and manage comprehensive test strategies for the collar firmware, covering everything from low-level FreeRTOS functionality to the data generated in the cloud.
• Develop automated regression tests and hardware-in-the-loop frameworks using Python, integrating them into our CI/CD pipeline to ensure every firmware release is thoroughly vetted before deployment.
• Investigate issues from the collar's signal through to the LoRa/cellular uplink and into data processing systems like Athena and Elasticsearch, demonstrating your ability to trace problems to their source.
• Analyze field and fleet data using tools such as Grafana and Athena to identify regressions and reliability challenges that may only emerge when operating thousands of collars in real-world conditions.
• Collaborate with firmware engineers to transform vague issues into clear, reproducible defects, facilitating effective troubleshooting and resolution.
• Contribute to the evolution of our testing culture, enhancing test plans, regression coverage, and overall release confidence as our team expands.
• Participate in Agile team processes, proactively identifying testing needs and contributing to a fast-paced development environment.

Requirements

• Proven experience in testing embedded firmware or software for physical products, particularly in challenging environments.
• Proficiency in Python automation, with a history of building or maintaining a test framework from scratch rather than merely utilizing existing ones.
• Comfort with debugging and bench setups, including familiarity with UART, SPI, I2C, and JTAG protocols.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines integrated into your workflow.
• Strong analytical skills, capable of forming hypotheses and conducting tests to diagnose issues effectively.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic Agile team setting, taking initiative to address testing priorities without waiting for direction.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with LoRa/LoRaWAN, BLE, or cellular IoT technologies (LTE-M/NB-IoT).
• Experience with Protobuf or similar binary serialization methods, particularly regarding schema compatibility.
• Knowledge of AWS services, including Athena, Elasticsearch, Lambda, EventBridge, and Grafana.
• Experience working with FreeRTOS or other real-time operating systems.
• A genuine interest in farming, animal welfare, or outdoor hardware applications, with a willingness to learn about the domain.

Skills & tools

• Firmware testing
• Python programming
• CI/CD integration
• Debugging hardware
• Data analysis with Grafana and Elasticsearch

Practical notes

• Halter offers a vibrant office environment in Auckland, where team collaboration and in-person interactions are prioritized to foster strong relationships and effective communication.
• The company culture emphasizes high performance, innovation, and a commitment to meaningful work that drives real change in the agricultural sector.
• Benefits include a supportive health insurance partnership, generous parental leave policies, a personal development budget, wellness leave, and an attractive remuneration package that includes stock options.

Join our team

At Halter, we are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, even if they do not meet every single requirement outlined in the job description. If you are excited about the opportunity to contribute to our mission and believe you would be a great fit, we invite you to submit your application, including a cover letter detailing your enthusiasm for the role and your CV. We look forward to hearing from you!