Software Release Engineer / Autonomous Vehicle Validation (HIL) Test Engineer

Software Release Engineer Duration: 3-6 month contract Location: Must be local to Palo Alto, CA or Ann Arbor, MI Schedule: Hybrid 2-3 days onsite Client: Toyota Max Pay Rate: $50/hr Job Description: We are seeking a detail-oriented and technically skilled Software Release Engineer to support the validation, testing, and release readiness of autonomous vehicle software. In this role, you will execute Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and simulation-based testing to evaluate software releases before deployment to vehicle testing environments. Responsibilities Software Release Validation & Testing Execute Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and simulation tests to evaluate autonomous driving software releases prior to vehicle deployment. Validate software performance against defined quality thresholds and release criteria. Review test results, identify regressions, and ensure issues are properly documented and investigated. Partner with software, vehicle operations, and validation teams to support successful software releases. Simulation & Scenario Development Support the creation, evaluation, and maintenance of simulation-based driving scenarios used for software validation. Help curate challenging test scenarios, including night-time driving conditions and edge-case scenarios. Analyze simulation results to identify software performance issues and areas for improvement. Vehicle Validation Support Provide technical support for vehicle-based validation testing. Assist teams in evaluating nearly completed software releases before deployment to new Operational Design Domains (ODDs) and public road testing. Support troubleshooting efforts by analyzing test results, logs, video data, and sensor information. HIL Testing Infrastructure & Release Operations Maintain and provide technical updates to HIL testing pipelines and validation environments. Support release operations activities, including test execution tracking, reporting, and communication of release status. Escalate testing failures, blockers, and delays to appropriate engineering teams. Required Qualifications 3+ years of experience in software testing, validation engineering, release engineering, or related technical roles. Hands-on experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing or simulation-based validation. Experience analyzing complex technical data, including: software logs, video recordings, sensor data, test execution results. Experience identifying software regressions and supporting root-cause investigations. Experience working with Git/version control systems. Experience with simulation and visualization tools such as Foxglove Studio, SUMO, CARLA, or similar autonomous driving simulation platforms. Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work across multiple engineering teams. Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements.