Software Test Engineer - SDET

Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and driven Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to join our team, focusing on Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates and in-vehicle module validation. In this role, you will contribute to ensuring the quality and reliability of new vehicle modules and features. This is an excellent opportunity for someone eager to grow their skills in test automation, automotive diagnostics, and communication protocols within a dynamic environment.

What you'll do...

• Support OTA Software Validation: Assist in the end-to-end validation of Over-The-Air (OTA) software upgrades, including testing the creation and deployment of software updates to ensure proper functionality.

• In-Vehicle Flashing & Update Support: Perform and assist with ECU flashing and software updates using various methods, including OTA, wired connections, and USB, within vehicle environments.

• Module Testing Execution: Execute established test plans for stress, functional, feature, and core hotfix testing on various vehicle modules, contributing to timely validation cycles.

• Component Validation: Participate in the validation of OTA updates for specific vehicle ECUs.

• Test Management & Reporting: Follow established test strategies and plans, manage test cases, and log defects accurately using tools like Jira.

• Log Analysis & Debugging Support: Capture User-Level Telemetry (ULT) and CAN logs, and assist in identifying the root cause of OTA-related issues.

• Test Automation Contribution: Develop and maintain test automation scripts using programming languages such as Python, ECU Test, and other relevant frameworks to improve testing efficiency.

• Protocol Learning & Application: Develop a working knowledge of automotive communication protocols, including UDS, Diagnostics over CAN (Diag over CAN), DoIP, CAN, and LIN, applying them during testing and diagnosis.

• Diagnostic Tool Usage: Utilize Diagnostic Engineering Tools (DET) for CAN flashing, analyze logs with CANoe/CANalyzer, and learn in-vehicle recovery techniques for modules.

• Collaboration & Communication: Collaborate effectively with engineering teams, suppliers, Product Owners, and Feature Owners to understand requirements and address identified issues.

• Defect Management Participation: Participate in defect status and review meetings, providing updates on assigned issues.

• Tool Familiarity: Utilize issue management, defect management, and version control tools (e.g., Jira, GitHub) in day-to-day work.

You'll have...

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or a related field or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

• 3+ years of experience in software testing or development (e.g., internships, academic projects or professional), preferably in an automotive context.

• Experience executing various types of testing (functional, feature) on software modules.

• Ability to capture and analyze logs, such as CAN logs.

• Basic programming skills, preferably in Python, and an interest in test automation.

• Familiarity with issue tracking and version control tools (e.g., Jira, GitHub).

Even better, you may have...

• Familiarity with OTA (Over-The-Air) software update processes is a plus.

• Hands-on experience with ECU flashing or similar embedded system updates is desirable.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a