Firmware Release & Test Automation Engineer

Verkada is transforming physical security with an integrated, privacy-sensitive AI platform spanning video security, access control, environmental sensors, alarms, intercoms, and visitor management systems. Valued at $5.8B with over 2 million active devices deployed across 170+ countries, Verkada sits at the center of the Physical AI shift.

As a Firmware Release & Test Automation Engineer, you will own the final mile between embedded code development and physical deployment across our global fleet of connected devices. Sitting at the intersection of build infrastructure, automated hardware validation, and release governance, you will architect continuous integration pipelines, design Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) test harnesses, define gatekeeping qualification criteria, and orchestrate safe over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Key Responsibilities

• Release Lifecycle Ownership: Define, optimize, and manage the end-to-end release pipeline for embedded Linux and RTOS builds powering all Verkada hardware lines.
• HIL & SIL Automation Infrastructure: Design, build, and scale automated Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) test harnesses to catch regression bugs prior to field deployment.
• Quality & Gatekeeping Standards: Establish strict go/no-go qualification criteria, monitor test flakiness, and lead bug triage alongside core firmware developers.
• Fleet OTA Rollouts: Drive staged fleet rollouts, canary deployment strategies, and automated telemetry monitoring to catch edge anomalies early and execute immediate rollbacks if needed.
• Developer Experience & Tooling: Build developer tools and CI/CD pipelines to accelerate firmware build, compilation, packaging, and local test cycles.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with firmware engineers, backend developers, and hardware teams while mentoring peers across software and validation disciplines.

Requirements

Academic & Years of Experience

• BS or graduate degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of professional experience in software/firmware build infrastructure, embedded test automation, or release engineering.

Technical Competencies & Tooling

• Strong programming proficiency in Python and Bash for automation scripting, data processing, and test framework creation.
• Working knowledge of C/C++ in embedded Linux or RTOS environments.
• Hands-on experience building or maintaining CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, TeamCity) for embedded target systems.
• Practical experience with automated test execution on physical hardware targets (HIL testbeds, UART/serial logging, JTAG/SWD debuggers, smart power switches).
• Deep understanding of version control workflows (Git branching, tagging, release trains) and build systems (Yocto/BitBake, CMake, Make, Bazel).

Logistics & Presence

• Must be willing and able to work 100% onsite (5 days/week) at headquarters in San Mateo, CA.
• Ability to travel at least 1 week per year to Verkada's international engineering office in Krakow, Poland.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of Go.
• Experience with secure boot workflows, cryptographic firmware signing, and Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) generation.
• Familiarity with over-the-air (OTA) update frameworks and dual-partition (A/B) fallback mechanisms.
• Experience monitoring fleet health telemetry (DataDog, Grafana, Prometheus, or ELK).
• Knowledge of standard embedded communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet) and Wi-Fi/cellular networking protocols.

Total Rewards & Benefits

• Compensation: $125,000 – $260,000 USD annual OTE range + equity grants in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
• Healthcare: Comprehensive nationwide medical, dental, and vision coverage (100% employer-covered premiums for employees on select plans; 80% for dependents).
• Retirement & Financial: Employer 401(k) matching program starting January 2027 (vesting on 2-year anniversary), HSA with employer contributions, and FSA options.
• Onsite Perks & Wellbeing: Healthy daily catered lunches, commuter benefits, wellness/fitness allowances, paid parental leave, and professional development stipends.