Senior QA Automation Engineer


Senior QA Automation Engineer – Grass Valley

Senior QA Engineer serves as a strategic technical leader bridging the gap between firmware, software, and manufacturing. Architecting and building AJA’s QA automation infrastructure, leveraging extensive experience across hardware and software. Championing best practices, implementing Design for Testability (DfT), integrating automated testing directly into AJA’s GitLab CI/CD pipelines. Mentoring the QA team, in optimizing testing tools and frameworks that ensure products are high quality, reliable and ready to ship.

Requirements:

  • Design, develop, and maintain custom automated testing frameworks specifically tailored to AJA’s hardware, firmware, and software stack. Ensure all infrastructure is scalable and maintainable as the product line evolves.
  • Architect and manage GitLab CI/CD pipeline automation for build verification, regression testing, and deployment. Implement "Shift-Left" strategies to embed testing directly into the development cycle for near-instant feedback.
  • Partner with R&D during the initial design phase to ensure products are inherently testable, reducing "black box" debugging and long-term technical debt.
  • Perform expert-level testing, implementing automation where feasible, on embedded systems, specifically addressing timing issues, memory management, security, and hardware-software communication.
  • Collaborate with Development to create high-reliability quality checks and validation protocols for the production line, ensuring integration is verified at the point of assembly.
  • Provide rigorous code reviews, establish quality standards, and offer a "seen-it-all" perspective on complex hardware edge cases.
  • Serve as a technical authority for the QA team, mentoring junior and mid-level engineers to elevate the department's overall automation capabilities.
  • Define the long-term quality automation roadmap, effectively balancing high-level software requirements with low-level hardware constraints.
  • Act as the primary technical liaison between Hardware, Software, and Manufacturing teams to eliminate silos and prevent high-level integration failures

 

Desirable Skills & Experience:

  • Mastery of firmware timing, memory constraints, security protocols, and hardware-level bug patterns that standard software QA often misses.
  • Proven track record in GitLab pipeline build automation, version control strategies, and embedding testing into the CI/CD pipeline.
  • Ability to read schematics and source code to advise on DfT and DFM (Design for Manufacturing) protocols.
  • Experience in bridging the gap between R&D lab environments and high-volume manufacturing floors.
  • Exceptional ability to translate complex technical risks into actionable strategies for both developers and executive leadership.
  • Proficient in C/C++, Go, Java, Python, JS, Shell, Linuz/Unix, MacOS, and Windows.
  • Extensive knowledge of video software and hardware.
  • Understand networking -- TCP/IP layers, routing and addressing/sub-netting.
  • Competent with Waveform monitors, test signal generators (both audio and video), and oscilloscopes.
  • Knowledgeable of SMPTE standards and specifications.
  • Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Willingness to adapt to changing business needs and deadlines that may extend hours.
  • Willingness to adhere to company policies and support management decision and goals in a positive and professional manner.

 

Education and Experience:

  • Typically requires MSEE/CS combined with 4+ years of related experience, or BSEE/CS combined with 6+ yrs related experience.
  • Experience should be in firmware engineering, embedded systems, or hardware-level QA.

 

This is a full-time position with competitive pay and benefits. The base salary for this position is $119,917 – $164,886. This range reflects base salary only, and does not include additional compensation or benefits. Individual base pay is determined by various factors such as relevant experience, education, training and skills, and the scope and responsibilities of the position.

 

Email resumes to: jobs@aja.com


Life at AJA

A career at AJA Video Systems will be unlike any other you’re exploring. You’ll be challenged and inspired with creative design opportunities working in a beautiful Sierra Foothills location on a campus designed to facilitate learning, teamwork and innovation with products that are changing the broadcast and media landscape. Our location in Grass Valley is a paradise for people who enjoy the outdoors – hiking, fishing, white water rafting and kayaking, skiing, or camping.

We look for people interested in turning ideas into real products. Our products facilitate video and movie productions. We want people who are creative, out-of-the-box thinkers and who are tenacious problem-solvers.

The nearby Yuba is considered one of the most beautiful rivers in California. We are located an hour from Lake Tahoe, an hour from Sacramento, and about two hours from the Bay Area. Grass Valley also hosts multiple music festivals and is home for numerous artists, writers and musicians. Nevada City, our sister city, was recently voted one of the top ten small towns in the U.S. We have excellent schools including numerous charter schools that appeal to specific talents and interests of our community’s families.


Our Benefits

We offer competitive salaries and have a full range of benefits which include multiple health plan options, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, 125 Flexible Spending Accounts, and matching 401(k) plan.