Test Engineer – Validation

About the opportunity

eShepherd is looking for a practical, curious engineer to join a fast-moving team creating smart livestock technology used by farmers globally. The role sits at the intersection of embedded systems, firmware, and hardware validation, with direct impact on how products behave in manufacturing and out in the field.

This position offers broad exposure to the full product journey, from early prototypes through production. It is well suited to someone who wants hands-on experience, guidance from experienced engineers, and a path toward a global career in IoT and hardware engineering. The business is supported by Gallagher, giving the team access to the scale of a global engineering organisation while still retaining a startup-style pace.

Work environment

The team blends Gallagher’s long-standing focus on reliability and service to farming communities with an agile, ambitious mindset. Success here tends to suit people who enjoy practical engineering, real-world problem-solving, and close collaboration across disciplines.

What you will be doing

• Check embedded hardware and firmware so they function as expected across the product lifecycle.
• Partner with firmware engineers to test, observe, and resolve behaviour on physical devices.
• Use lab equipment including oscilloscopes, multimeters, and debugging tools to diagnose issues.
• Help shape test strategies for embedded systems built on microcontrollers.
• Create and run test cases to confirm firmware features and behaviour.
• Support manufacturing test setup and contribute to improved production test procedures and SOPs.
• Work alongside production and NPI teams to strengthen testing reliability and scalability in manufacturing.
• Help deliver products that are robust, dependable, and ready for real-world use.

What you need

• Background in hardware testing, embedded firmware validation, or mechatronics rather than purely software QA.
• Familiarity with MCU-based platforms such as ESP32, STM32, Renesas, or Arduino.
• Working knowledge of C#, C++, and/or Python in embedded or test settings.
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and soldering tools.
• Ability to debug issues that span both hardware and firmware.
• Exposure to production testing, manufacturing testing, or NPI environments.
• Practical problem-solving approach with a preference for working close to hardware.
• Good collaboration skills for working with engineering and production teams.
• Experience documenting work in Confluence and Jira.

Nice to have

• Experience with test automation or CI tools such as Jenkins in embedded environments.
• Background with IoT or connected-device products.
• Hardware prototyping or soldering experience.

Benefits and perks

• Competitive pay with performance incentives.
• Startup-style energy combined with Gallagher’s global support and scale.
• Genuine opportunity for career growth as products expand internationally.
• Modern tools, technology, and equipment.
• A collaborative, hands-on engineering team.
• KiwiSaver contributions.
• Boost App access plus staff discounts across New Zealand.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Hamilton office benefits including free parking, a subsidised café, and nearby local food options.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support.

Additional information

Applications are scheduled to close at 5:00pm on 10 July 2026. The employer may keep the listing open until the right candidate is found, or close it earlier if a suitable applicant is identified. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply promptly.