Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Staff Audio Test Automation Engineer to lead the automated validation of next-generation In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) audio systems. In this role, you will design, build, and maintain scalable test suites using Python and pytest to validate multi-channel audio routing, DSP pipelines, external sound systems (AVAS), hands-free calling, and onboard amplifier performance.
Responsibilities
What you'll do...
• Framework Development: Develop and scale automated test libraries in Python (pytest) running on Linux/Ubuntu to interface with multi-channel audio hardware (e.g., Behringer UMC series, AudioControl line converters, DAQs).
• Audio Analysis & DSP Validation: Implement signal-processing algorithms to validate frequency response, channel separation, ducking, mixing, and dynamic gain control.
Feature & Platform Testing:
• Validate IVI media playback across multi-channel vehicle configurations (e.g., 3-channel, multi-speaker surround, subwoofers).
• Validate Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) pitch/frequency modulation tied to vehicle telemetry.
• Validate Hands-Free Profile (HFP/VoIP) voice quality, downlink/uplink routing, and acoustic behavior.
• Execute platform-level amplifier and DSP stress tests, monitoring diagnostics, clipping, and fault handling.
• HIL Bench Integration: Setup, calibrate, and maintain bench-level audio hardware, signal routing, gain staging, and electrical isolation.
• CI/CD Integration: Integrate audio test suites into automated build and regression pipelines.
Qualifications
You'll have...
Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Audio Engineering, Acoustics, or related field.
• Experience with automotive communication buses (CAN, CAN-FD, Automotive Ethernet) and automotive audio buses (Analog, A2B).
• Prior experience with automotive IVI systems (Android Automotive OS, QNX, or Automotive Grade Linux).
• Familiarity with speech quality standards (PESQ, POLQA, 3GPP/ITU-T loudness specs).
• Experience with professional audio test instruments (Audio Precision, SoundCheck/Listen Inc., or Rohde & Schwarz).
• Familiarity with AVAS (UN ECE R138 / FMVSS 141) acoustic safety regulations.
Even better, you may have...
Test Automation: 3+ years of professional experience building automated test frameworks in Python using pytest.
• Audio Signal Processing: Strong theoretical and practical foundation in digital signal processing (DSP) using Python scientific libraries (numpy, scipy, sounddevice, PyAudio).
• Audio Hardware & Instrumentation: Hands-on experience with multi-channel audio interfaces, line-output converters, microphone/speaker calibration, and gain staging.
• Audio Metrics: Deep familiarity with core acoustic and audio measurements:
• Frequency analysis / FFT spectral analysis
• THD / THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise)
• Dynamic range, SNR, and crosstalk/isolation
• RMS / Loudness / Audio ducking ratios
• Platform & OS: Strong experience working in Linux (Ubuntu) environments, including ALSA/PulseAudio/PipeWire audio routing and configuration.
You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a leadership level 6 and ranges from $150,200-$283,500.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6
Visa sponsorship is available for this position.
This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid
#LI-SL1
#UEV
