Software Development Engineer in Test, Car Key, Wireless Technologies & Ecosystems
Software Engineering
Cupertino, CA, USA
USD 150,400-225,300 / year + Equity
Posted on Aug 12, 2026
The WTE Quality team is looking for a Software Development Engineer in Test who combines strong programming and debugging instincts with a forward-thinking approach to AI-assisted engineering. This role is at the center of Apple's Car Key validation efforts -- where critical thinking, tight collaboration, and modern tooling converge to ship features that millions of people rely on every day.
As a Software Development Engineer in Test on the Car Key team, you will write, debug, and maintain the automation that validates Apple's Digital Car Key features across embedded systems and wireless protocols. You will work closely with development and quality engineers to identify issues, isolate root causes, and ensure that Car Key functionality meets Apple's quality bar. This role places a strong emphasis on leveraging LLM-based tools like Claude Code to accelerate development workflows, improve test coverage, and solve problems more efficiently. You will be expected to think critically about complex system behavior, collaborate effectively across teams, and continuously push for better ways to validate software at the embedded level.
- Write and maintain Python-based test automation that validates Car Key features across NFC, BLE, and UWB protocols
- Debug complex issues across embedded systems, isolating failures at the hardware/software boundary
- Leverage LLM tools (e.g., Claude Code) to accelerate test development, improve code quality, and streamline engineering workflows
- Analyze test results to identify regressions, patterns, and areas requiring deeper investigation
- Collaborate closely with development and quality engineers across multiple teams to drive issue resolution
- Engage with Objective-C and Swift codebases to understand system behavior and inform test strategies
- Contribute to continuous improvement of test infrastructure, tooling, and processes
- Participate in team planning and execution to meet quality milestones for iOS and watchOS releases
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of experience in software engineering with a focus on test automation, debugging, or system validation
- Strong programming skills in Python
- Proficiency in Objective-C and/or Swift
- Demonstrated experience using AI/ML tools and LLMs (e.g., Claude Code, coding assistants) to enhance engineering productivity
- Strong critical thinking and analytical skills with the ability to isolate issues in complex systems
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional team environments
- Experience testing or validating embedded systems
- Experience with automation frameworks for hardware/software integration testing
- Deep familiarity with wireless protocols including NFC, BLE, and UWB
- Experience with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) Digital Key specification
- Proficiency with git, CI/CD systems, and development integration lifecycles
- Familiarity with prompt engineering and the ability to design effective LLM workflows for engineering tasks