Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Team Lead

You will...

• Lead Waabi's HIL program, owning the strategy, architecture, roadmap, and execution across Hardware and Software organizations.
• Define and deliver a tiered HIL architecture — from lightweight component-level benches (single ECU under test) through embedded-system benches to full-system integration benches — scaled across multiple vehicle platforms and OEM programs.
• Verification of critical electrical, timing, and fault-handling requirements from full-vehicle testing onto HIL benches, ensuring only mature software reaches the vehicle.
• Own safety-critical fault injection on real hardware: power loss, autonomy disconnect, redundant power failover, and other destructive or high-risk scenarios verified in a safe environment before track deployment.
• Validate real-time constraints (e.g., control loop update intervals) using hardware timestamping and instrumented measurement (oscilloscopes, high-speed DAQ).
• Integrate HIL testing into CI and the firmware/software release process, including automated smoke testing and test modality tracking.
• Partner closely with Embedded Systems, Systems & Safety, Autonomy, V&V, and Infrastructure teams to define requirements coverage and unblock development.
• Plan bench capacity, hardware resources (ECUs, actuators, harnessing), and headcount as the program scales; hire and grow the HIL team.
• Establish documentation, processes, and success metrics for the program (fault-injection coverage, release validation time, timing compliance).

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent industry experience.
• 7+ years of experience in HIL, embedded systems test, or V&V for safety-critical systems, with demonstrated experience building HIL programs or labs from early stages.
• Hands-on experience architecting and building custom HIL platforms as well as using OTS systems.
• Deep knowledge of automotive interfaces and debugging: CAN, automotive Ethernet, and related protocols.
• Strong understanding of simulation vs. stimulation approaches — plant modeling and vehicle dynamics simulation as well as message-level injection for logical state testing.
• Proficiency in Python and test automation frameworks; experience integrating hardware test into CI pipelines.
• Demonstrated technical leadership: leading engineers, driving cross-functional projects with high ambiguity, and communicating across hardware and software organizations.
• Excellent technical writing skills for effective communication and documentation.
• Passionate about self-driving technologies, solving hard problems, and creating innovative solutions.

Bonus:

• Experience with functional safety standards (ISO 26262) and real-time safety-critical systems.
• Experience with heterogeneous compute platforms (e.g., NVIDIA DRIVE-class SoCs, safety MCUs) in HIL environments.
• Experience with fault-injection hardware, load boxes, and breakout/harness design for bench systems.
• Prior experience in autonomous vehicles, trucking, or other complex vehicle programs spanning multiple platforms.