Palo Alto Principal Test Engineer 

United States, California 

702829236

Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.

Your Impact

• Lead the design and development of manufacturing test automation frameworks for complex firewall and security appliance products, ensuring high reliability, scalability, and ease of deployment across global sites
• Drive Design for Testability (DFT) and manufacturing excellence by influencing product architecture early in the development cycle—actively participating in PRD discussions, system and diagnostic design, schematic and layout reviews
• Architect and implement modular, extensible, and maintainable test automation software for new hardware platforms, with integration into remote instrumentation, data acquisition, and measurement systems
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers, and act as a key liaison between R&D, manufacturing operations, and Contract Manufacturers (CMs)
• Lead root cause analysis and provide advanced debugging tools and strategic guidance to CMs to resolve systemic manufacturing issues
• Work cross-functionally with Program Management, Hardware, Software, and Operations teams to align test coverage with product requirements and delivery timelines
• Drive the standardization of test platforms and promote best practices in automation, code reuse, and continuous improvement
• Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies or test methodologies to ensure the team stays ahead of evolving manufacturing and diagnostic needs
• Operate autonomously with minimal oversight, demonstrating strong ownership, strategic thinking, and execution capability across multiple projects or product lines
• Represent manufacturing test engineering in executive or technical reviews, providing insights into product readiness, risk mitigation, and coverage metrics

Your Experience

• Extensive hands-on experience in programming, with a strong emphasis on automated test development and validation in a manufacturing environment
• Proficient in multiple programming languages, including C/C++, Python, Node.js, and Tcl/Tk, with the ability to architect scalable and maintainable test frameworks
• Solid understanding of software development best practices, including the use of version control systems such as Perforce and SVN
• Experience with relational database design and management, particularly MySQL; ability to store, query, and analyze test data effectively
• Proven track record in defining, designing, and documenting manufacturing test requirements for complex hardware products
• Strong familiarity with network protocols (e.g., Ethernet, TCP/IP) and hardware bus protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, and PCIe
• Comfortable working in a Linux-based environment; scripting and automation in shell/bash is a plus.
• Experience integrating and using instrumentation APIs and device drivers (e.g., SCPI, VISA, USB, GPIB) for automated control of test equipment
• Familiar with bootloaders and system initialization processes, including U-Boot and BIOS/UEFI.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, layout files, and system block diagrams, and use this information for test development and debug
• Demonstrated strong debugging and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to isolate hardware, software, and firmware issues in a fast-paced environment
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams (HW, SW, Ops) and providing technical leadership in a product development or manufacturing setting
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline or equivalent military experience required
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to document test procedures and interface effectively with global teams and contract manufacturers

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/commissioned roles) is expected to be between $133000/YR - $215500/YR. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found .

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.