BILAL AHAMAD
Systems Validation Architect
Sunnyvale, CA · bilal.ahamad@gmail.com · bilalahamad.com · linkedin.com/in/bilalahamad · github.com/bilalahamad0 · Phone on request
Summary
Systems validation architect with 18+ years building embedded validation ecosystems for safety-critical systems — firmware, IoT, wearables, AI video, and autonomous driving. Takes products from NPI bring-up to enterprise release through test automation, SIL environments, and test strategy.
Core Skills
Languages & Automation: Python, Shell, C/C++, JavaScript · Pytest, Selenium, Appium
Embedded, OS & Protocols: Embedded Linux, RTOS, QNX, Android/AAOS, ARM, ESP32, Raspberry Pi · BLE, LTE/Wi-Fi, WFA certification, RTSP/RTP, TLS, UART/SPI/I2C, CAN FD, Automotive Ethernet, V2X, Wireshark/PCAP
Infrastructure & Observability: CI/CD (GitLab, GitHub Actions, Buildkite, Jenkins) · SIL (Docker/QEMU), HIL benches · Splunk, Grafana, Datadog
Experience
System Architect & Technical QA Lead — Stealth Mode
Sep 2025 - Aug 2026 · Remote / Sunnyvale, CA- Built a LiDAR/Radar bring-up platform in Python with Docker/QEMU SIL (virtual-ECU) environments and a pre-validated ARM/ESP32 compatibility layer, cutting bring-up cycles by 70%.
Senior Firmware Quality Lead — Samsara Inc
Dec 2023 - Jul 2025 · Remote / San Francisco, CA- Cut the regression cycle from two weeks to five days and post-launch firmware escapes by 30% across the Dash Cam product line.
Senior Automation Architect — Cruise LLC
Oct 2022 - Jun 2023 · San Francisco, CA- Engineered a Python framework stress-testing autonomous driving compute workloads across CPU/GPU integration, AI/ML performance, V2X and PCAP replay, reaching 75% automation coverage.
Test Lead & Senior System Test Engineer — Rivian Automotive LLC
Jun 2021 - Sep 2022 · Palo Alto, CA- Reduced production-blocking navigation and connectivity issues by 40% before first customer ship, coordinating 3+ squads on a bi-weekly release train.
Senior Product Quality Lead & QAE II — Amazon Lab126
Jun 2018 - Jun 2021 · Sunnyvale, CA- Engineered a reusable automation library of AVS test primitives, reducing manual testing cost by $3.0M.
Senior Test Engineer — Tech Mahindra / Google Inc
Jan 2016 - Jun 2018 · Mountain View, CA- Designed and built a 3DOF robotic motion-stimulus fixture (Arduino, servo motors) automating motion-fidelity, IMU sensor-fusion and spatial-tracking validation, cutting manual execution hours by 80%.
Earlier (2008–2016): Cognizant Technology / Cisco · Wistron Mobile Solutions Corp · L&T Infotech / Motorola Mobility · Luminous Infoways
Selected Projects
US Live Layoff Monitoring Dashboard · Adhan Caster — Cross-Browser Extension · Smart-Home IoT Media Caster — shipped, open-source; details at bilalahamad.com/projects
Certifications & Education
Certifications: Google AI Professional (2026) · Google Project Management Professional (2026) · ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL)
B.Tech, Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering — Biju Patnaik University of Technology, 2004 – 2008