What we're looking for
The Hardware Team at Smartex is committed to revolutionize the textile industry through the development of cutting-edge electronic solutions. We are a diverse and international company with a strong mission to make a positive impact on both our industry and the planet. We are looking for a highly-skilled & experienced Senior Hardware Test Engineer to join our talented team. The ideal candidate will lead the validation and verification strategy of Smartex’s hardware platforms across all development and production stages. You’ll be responsible for defining methodologies, mentoring junior engineers, and ensuring every Smartex system meets the highest reliability and certification standards before reaching the field. Your work will directly shape how we test, qualify, and scale our hardware at industrial level.
Responsibilities
- Define and lead hardware validation strategies across EVT, DVT, PVT, and production stages, ensuring test coverage, repeatability, and traceability of results.
- Design, review, and maintain AQL-based test and validation frameworks, balancing statistical rigor with practical execution.
- Architect test jigs and fixtures (mechanical, electrical, and software) that enable scalable and automated validation in both R&D and manufacturing lines.
- Oversee development of test automation software (Python, LabVIEW, Jenkins, C/C++ embedded agents), establishing best practices for automation, logging, and analytics.
- Plan and execute qualification test campaigns: functional, stress, accelerated life, environmental (thermal, vibration, humidity), burn-in, and endurance testing.
- Lead certification readiness and compliance: interface with CE, EMC, LVD, and other regulatory bodies; define pre-compliance procedures; ensure lab coordination and documentation.
- Conduct and mentor others in root cause failure analysis (RCFA) and FMEA; drive CAPA processes and reliability improvement programs.
- Develop and maintain a reliability metrics dashboard (yield, MTBF, defect density, regression coverage) and use it to guide design feedback loops.
- Collaborate with design, firmware, optical, and operations teams to embed Design for Testability (DFT) and Design for Reliability (DFR) principles early in product architecture.
- Support manufacturing and production test strategy: define in-line and end-of-line (EOL) test procedures, assist contract manufacturers in fixture setup, and lead factory validation ramp-up.
- Establish and maintain QA documentation systems, ensuring process control, traceability, and readiness for audits or certifications.
- Mentor and develop QA engineers, spreading best practices and raising the technical bar across the organization.
- Define and lead hardware validation strategies across EVT, DVT, PVT, and production stages, ensuring test coverage, repeatability, and traceability of results.
Skills & Experience
- 10+ years of experience in hardware validation, reliability engineering, or quality assurance, preferably in embedded or industrial product companies.
- Proven experience leading QA or validation teams, managing test campaigns, and defining validation strategy.
- Deep technical knowledge of electronics, test engineering, and measurement tools (oscilloscopes, logic/spectrum analyzers, power analyzers, environmental chambers, vibration tables).
- Strong proficiency in test automation and scripting (Python, Bash, LabVIEW, Jenkins pipelines, or equivalent).
- Solid understanding of embedded systems interfaces and protocols (SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN, Ethernet) and hardware/firmware integration debugging.
- Expertise with statistical quality control (AQL, DOE, SPC) and reliability testing (ALT, HALT, HASS, MTBF modeling).
- Experience managing compliance and certification testing (EMC, LVD, CE, FCC, UL, RoHS, REACH).
- Strong command of root cause analysis, FMEA, and CAPA methodologies, with hands-on experience leading resolution cycles.
- Excellent documentation, analytical, and communication skills – you write validation reports others can build standards from.
- Familiarity with hardware reliability standards (IPC-A-600, IPC-610, IPC J-STD-001) and environmental test standards(IEC 60068, IEC 61000 series).
- 10+ years of experience in hardware validation, reliability engineering, or quality assurance, preferably in embedded or industrial product companies.
- Nice-to-haves:
- Experience designing and scaling manufacturing test systems (ICT, FCT, EOL).
- Experience working with contract manufacturers or OEM/ODM partners.
- Knowledge of reliability qualification programs (JEDEC JESD22, MIL-STD-810, or equivalent).
- Exposure to APQP, PPAP, ISO 9001, and other structured quality systems.
- Strong ability to define validation metrics, dashboards, and process KPIs.
- Experience in regulated or high-reliability domains (automotive, medical, aerospace, industrial automation).
- A systems-level thinker: able to connect component failures to architectural design decisions.
Our Perks
Career Progression
Opportunities for growth and
advancement in your career
Employee Stock Options
Gain company shares and
benefit from its success
Diverse and Talented Team
Work with an inspiring,
multicultural, and talented team
Fast-Paced Environment
Thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment within a rapidly expanding company
Impact on the World
Contribute to making a significant impact and shaping the future of the industry
Hybrid Work
Work closely with our Portugal-based team
Work with Senior
Management
Be at the forefront alongside top management
