Senior Control Algorithms Tester (Contract – Onsite – Plymouth, MN)

Senior Control Algorithms Tester (Contract – Onsite – Plymouth, MN)

Our client, a leader in innovative medical technology, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Control Algorithms Tester to join their Research and Development department. This contract position, based onsite in Plymouth, Minnesota, offers a unique opportunity to directly support cross-functional teams in bringing cutting-edge medical devices to life. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical thinking, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative spirit, all essential for successfully aligning within this dynamic and mission-driven organization.

What’s the Job? Validating Life-Saving Medical Technology

As a Senior Control Algorithms Tester, you’ll be at the forefront of ensuring the safety and reliability of critical medical devices. Your responsibilities will involve designing and executing rigorous tests for complex, real-time embedded software within a highly regulated environment.

• Develop Critical Care Tests on a State-of-the-Art Device: You will be directly responsible for developing critical care tests on the client’s state-of-the-art Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) device. This involves creating comprehensive test cases and protocols to thoroughly validate the safety and efficacy of the device’s control algorithms and overall system behavior. Your work will be conducted within an Agile (Scrum) framework, ensuring iterative development and rapid feedback cycles.
• Work with Real-Time Embedded Software Systems: You will engage deeply with a real-time embedded software system that utilizes Green Hills Integrity OS (Operating System). This software runs within a complex, multi-therapy electro-mechanical device/platform, demanding a meticulous understanding of real-time constraints, inter-component communication, and system-level interactions to ensure robust testing.
• Develop and Execute Comprehensive Software Tests: You will design detailed test protocols and thoroughly execute software tests. This includes executing scripted protocol execution (following predefined steps), performing ad hoc testing (exploring functionalities without predefined scripts), and conducting exploratory testing (investigating the system’s behavior to discover new test cases or vulnerabilities). Your testing will cover various aspects of the control algorithms and device functionalities.
• Create and Update Tests in MicroFocus ALM and Perform Peer Reviews: You will actively create and update tests in MicroFocus ALM (Application Lifecycle Management), ensuring accurate documentation and version control of test assets. Furthermore, you will perform peer reviews of test cases and protocols created by other team members, providing constructive feedback to enhance test quality, coverage, and adherence to standards. This collaborative approach strengthens the overall testing function.
• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Personnel: You will foster strong relationships and collaborate extensively with architects, developers, other testers, systems engineers, and other cross-functional personnel. This critical teamwork is aimed at proving and delivering the safest solution possible, ensuring that all aspects of the device’s design, development, and testing contribute to optimal patient safety and device reliability.

What’s Needed? Your Expertise in Control Systems Testing

To excel as a Senior Control Algorithms Tester, you’ll need a strong engineering background, significant experience in regulated industry software/algorithm testing, and proficiency with key testing and development tools.

• Educational Background and Experience: You must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, coupled with a minimum of 3+ years of professional experience in testing software or algorithms. This experience must be within a regulated industry, preferably medical devices, or other sectors with stringent safety and compliance requirements (e.g., aerospace, automotive).
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Simulink, and Python: You must demonstrate proficiency in MATLAB (for numerical computation and algorithm development), Simulink (for model-based design and simulation), and Python (for scripting, test automation, or data analysis). These tools are essential for developing, testing, and analyzing control algorithms.
• Experience with Formal, Safety-Critical Testing: You must have proven experience with formal, safety-critical testing methodologies. This is paramount for ensuring the rigorous validation of medical devices. Ideally, this experience will be in medical devices or other highly regulated industries where quality, reliability, and safety are non-negotiable.
• Defect Tracking Using JIRA: You are required to have hands-on experience with defect tracking using JIRA (or similar issue management systems). This includes creating, updating, prioritizing, and managing bug reports, ensuring that identified defects are systematically tracked and resolved throughout the development lifecycle.
• Ability to Write Test Cases Independently: You must possess the ability to write test cases independently. This indicates your capacity to analyze requirements, identify various test scenarios, and create clear, comprehensive, and executable test cases without significant oversight.
• Proficiency in Agile Development Environment: You must have strong proficiency working within an Agile development environment. This includes active participation in Scrum ceremonies, understanding iterative development cycles, and adapting to rapidly changing requirements.
• Experience with Simulink Real-Time and Related Tools: You must have hands-on experience using Simulink Real-Time, Simulink Test, Requirements Toolbox, MATLAB, Stateflow, and Embedded Coder. These specialized tools are crucial for real-time simulation, test case generation, requirements traceability, state machine modeling, and code generation for embedded systems, directly supporting the testing of complex control algorithms.
• Strong Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: You possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, enabling you to dissect complex technical problems, diagnose root causes in embedded systems, and devise effective solutions.
• Excellent Communication and Documentation Skills: You must have excellent communication and documentation skills. This is crucial for collaborating with cross-functional teams, articulating technical findings, and creating clear test protocols, reports, and other technical documentation.
• Ability to Work Independently and Collaboratively: You must demonstrate the ability to work both independently (managing your tasks and investigations) and as part of a team (collaborating with diverse engineering disciplines).

Preferred Skills (Adding Further Value):

• Familiarity with MicroFocus ALM: Familiarity with MicroFocus ALM is a plus, as it is still in use alongside JIRA, indicating adaptability to existing toolsets.
• Exposure to Automated Testing: Exposure to automated testing is highly preferred, as the team is actively transitioning from manual to automated processes.
• Background in Control Systems: A strong background in Control Systems or a related engineering discipline (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering with controls focus) is highly desirable.
• Master’s Degree (Pursuing or Completed): Currently pursuing or having completed a Master’s degree (preferred but not required) in a relevant field.

What’s In It For You? Impact, Innovation, and Growth in Medical Tech

This contract Senior Control Algorithms Tester position in Plymouth, MN, offers a compelling environment for professional growth and significant impact within a leader in innovative medical technology.

• Opportunity to Make a Real Difference in Patients’ Lives: You’ll have the profound opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of patients worldwide. Your meticulous testing directly ensures the safety and reliability of critical medical devices, contributing to improved patient outcomes and providing immense purpose to your work.
• Work with Cutting-Edge Technology and Innovative Solutions: You will work directly with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions in medical device development. This continuous exposure ensures your skills remain highly relevant and competitive in the rapidly evolving healthcare technology sector.
• Collaborative and Supportive Team Environment: You will thrive in a highly collaborative and supportive team environment. This fosters open communication, knowledge sharing, and mutual assistance among architects, developers, and other testers, allowing you to learn and contribute effectively.
• Engagement in Meaningful Projects that Push Boundaries: You will be deeply engaged in meaningful projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical technology. Your contributions will help advance the development of state-of-the-art devices, tackling complex engineering challenges.
• Professional Growth and Development Opportunities: The organization is deeply committed to your professional growth and development. You’ll be encouraged to expand your skills, explore new technologies, and pursue advanced certifications relevant to medical device testing and control systems, ensuring a clear pathway for career advancement.
• Pathway to Full-Time Opportunity: Strong performance in this contract role may lead to a full-time opportunity, providing a clear pathway for long-term career stability and growth within the organization.

Upon completion of waiting period, consultants are typically eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support their well-being and financial security. These include:

• Medical and Prescription Drug Plans: Comprehensive healthcare coverage for medical services and necessary prescription medications.
• Dental Plan: Benefits covering routine dental care and essential treatments.
• Vision Plan: Coverage for eye examinations, prescription glasses, and contact lenses.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): A tax-advantaged savings account to help pay for qualified medical expenses.
• Health Flexible Spending Account (HFSA): Allows pre-tax contributions for eligible healthcare costs.
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA): Provides tax advantages for dependent care expenses.
• Supplemental Life Insurance: Options for additional life insurance coverage for enhanced financial protection.
• Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance: Income replacement benefits during periods of temporary or prolonged incapacitation due to illness or injury.
• Business Travel Insurance: Coverage for unforeseen events or emergencies that may occur during authorized business travel.
• 401(k), Plus Match: An opportunity to save for retirement with the added benefit of employer matching contributions, enhancing your long-term financial growth.
• Weekly Pay: Consistent and regular compensation provided on a weekly basis, ensuring stable financial flow throughout your contract engagement.

If this Senior Control Algorithms Tester role in Plymouth, MN, aligns with your expertise in MATLAB/Simulink/Python, your experience with safety-critical testing in regulated industries, and your passion for innovative medical technology, we encourage you to learn more about this exciting onsite contract opportunity. This is a fantastic chance to contribute to life-saving medical devices.

Are you ready to ensure the safety and reliability of cutting-edge control algorithms in healthcare?