Hardware Test Infrastructure Technician

Role:

Hardware Test Infrastructure Technician Location:

Palo Alto, CA (Onsite)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Install, configure, and maintain embedded hardware platforms and server infrastructure used for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. Monitor the overall health of test devices and infrastructure; perform basic network/power troubleshooting, maintain device logs, and escalate complex hardware issues. Configure and manage embedded devices via Linux CLI, following technical playbooks to execute multi-step provisioning sequences. Install, configure, and maintain test infrastructure, including server racks, custom test fixtures, Ubuntu-based test servers, managed network switches, and verifying Ethernet cabling and ssh connection status. Coordinate the fabrication and rework of custom wiring harnesses and electro-mechanical assemblies with supporting lab technicians. Verify and document software-to-hardware mappings (e.g., matching device IP addresses or configs to physical ports and power switches) to ensure accurate device routing and power control. Operate lab tools (multimeters, bench power supplies, networked power controllers) to verify power, measure voltage, and safely manage remote device power states. Daily Monitoring & Proactive Triage (~40% of time)

Proactive Health Monitoring:

Actively monitor test run dashboards and results to identify offline or failing test devices before engineers report them.

First-Line Triage:

Diagnose and resolve common test bench blockers, such as performing remote power cycles, clearing disk partitions, and verifying physical connections.

Device Health Verification:

Run basic checks (e.g., verifying system services, ping diagnostics, and checking local status logs) to confirm a device is healthy and ready for testing before releasing it back to the fleet.

Remote Power Management:

Verify that the logical power control address aligns exactly with the target physical hardware to avoid disrupting adjacent setups during troubleshooting.

Issue Escalation:

Log and escalate persistent failures to engineers, including relevant telemetry and logs. Provisioning & Fleet Onboarding (~30% of time)

Fleet Expansion:

Coordinate the physical setup and initial provisioning of new test devices to support a near-term onboarding push.

Initial Inception:

Perform initial device inception in backend systems using standard SOP's through the Linux CLI.

Mapping Verification:

Verify physical-to-logical mappings (matching target device IDs to specific host interfaces and power ports) to prevent accidental disruption of neighboring test runs during triage.

Host & Tool Configuration:

Maintain local host configurations, including updating helper scripts and shell alias configuration files. Physical Lab Support & Infrastructure (~20% of time)

Rack & Fixture Assembly:

Install server racks, mount test devices to fixtures, and manage physical lab space to accommodate new hardware.

Cabling Coordination:

Define requirements and coordinate with supporting technicians for custom serial, power, and coaxial harness fabrication. Documentation & Maintenance (~10% of time)

Setup Documentation:

Maintain clear documentation of test setups, network cabling layouts, and physical device mappings.