UX Test Engineer - New Grad (December 2026)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Test Engineer - New Grad (December 2026)

Company: Applied Intuition

Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Quality Assurance / Software Testing

Date Posted: 2026-08-25

Experience Level: 0-2 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for ensuring the high quality and exceptional user experience of Applied Intuition's software products through rigorous validation and testing.

• Focuses on the intersection of User Experience (UX) and software engineering, validating usability, accessibility, and interface performance.

• Involves the development and execution of comprehensive test plans, including both manual and automated testing strategies for UI/UX elements.

• Facilitates cross-functional collaboration with UX Designers and Product Managers to refine product requirements and provide essential feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "UX Test Engineer," the core responsibilities and required skills align with a specialized Quality Assurance (QA) role focused on the user interface and user experience aspects of software. The "New Grad" designation indicates a strong emphasis on foundational knowledge and potential for growth within the QA and validation domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and implement comprehensive validation scripts to thoroughly test user journeys, identify edge cases, and ensure visual consistency across the application.

• Develop, maintain, and execute automated UI test suites utilizing industry-standard tools such as Selenium or Appium to enhance validation throughput and efficiency.

• Collaborate closely with UX Designers and Product Managers to review and refine product requirements, providing crucial feedback on design prototypes and user flows.

• Identify, reproduce, and meticulously track UI/UX defects throughout their entire lifecycle, utilizing Jira or similar defect tracking systems.

• Conduct manual testing to validate software functionality, usability, and accessibility, ensuring adherence to design specifications and quality standards.

• Perform regression testing to confirm that new code changes have not adversely affected existing functionality.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of testing methodologies and processes within the Validation team.

• Document test results, create detailed bug reports, and communicate findings clearly to development and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of manual and automated testing, with a strong emphasis on UI/UX validation. The expectation for new graduates includes developing test plans and contributing to automation, suggesting a structured training and mentorship program within the validation team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), UX Design, or a closely related technical field, with a graduation date by December 2026.

Experience: Entry-level position (0-2 years of experience), with internship or project experience in software testing, QA, or UX strongly preferred.

Required Skills:

• Foundational knowledge of software testing methodologies, encompassing both manual and automated testing principles.

• Basic proficiency in at least one scripting or programming language, such as C/C++, Python, JavaScript, or Java.

• Understanding of fundamental UX design principles, including typography, layout validation, and user-centric design concepts.

• Familiarity with defect management processes and tools, such as Jira.

• Strong analytical thinking capabilities and an obsessive attention to detail.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for clear reporting and cross-functional collaboration. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with UI automation tools like Selenium or Appium.

• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git).

• Understanding of responsive design principles and validation.

• Exposure to Agile/Scrum development methodologies.

• Experience with accessibility testing standards (e.g., WCAG).

📝 Enhancement Note: The required programming languages are common in QA automation, particularly Python and JavaScript. The emphasis on UX fundamentals and the degree requirement in related fields suggest a role that values both technical aptitude and a user-centric mindset, bridging the gap between pure engineering and design validation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate experience in designing and executing test cases, showcasing a systematic approach to identifying defects.

• Include examples of automation scripts developed for UI testing, highlighting the tools and languages used.

• Showcase projects where user experience or usability was a key consideration and how testing validated these aspects.

• Provide documentation of any bug reports created, illustrating clarity, thoroughness, and effective tracking. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating structured test plans or test cases for software features.

• Examples of how defects were tracked and managed, including communication with development teams.

• Documentation of any automation frameworks or scripts developed, illustrating maintainability and efficiency.

• Case studies or project descriptions that highlight the impact of testing on product quality and user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a new graduate role, the portfolio should focus on academic projects, personal projects, or relevant internship work. The emphasis is on demonstrating foundational understanding of testing processes, automation concepts, and a user-focused approach, rather than extensive professional experience.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $115,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Equity (Stock Options)

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.

• Access to cutting-edge technology and tools.

• Collaborative and innovative work environment.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week. While the company emphasizes an in-office presence, flexibility is acknowledged for responsible schedule management, allowing for occasional remote work or adjustments for personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a new graduate UX Test Engineer role in the highly competitive Silicon Valley market. The inclusion of equity is a significant benefit, common in high-growth tech companies like Applied Intuition. The "in-office" expectation with acknowledged flexibility aligns with current hybrid work trends.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Applied Intuition operates within the cutting-edge field of Physical AI, specifically focusing on simulation and validation tools for autonomous systems. This places them at the forefront of the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining, and agriculture industries.

Company Size: Applied Intuition is a rapidly growing tech company, indicated by its valuation and global office presence. This suggests a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for impact.

Founded: Founded in 2017, Applied Intuition is a relatively young but highly successful company, indicating a culture of innovation, agility, and rapid scaling.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the specialized "Validation team," which acts as a crucial bridge between design and engineering.

• This team likely comprises engineers with expertise in software testing, QA methodologies, and an understanding of user experience principles.

• Collaboration is expected with UX Designers, Product Managers, and Software Engineers to ensure product quality and user-centricity. Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven validation and rigorous testing to ensure the technical integrity and exceptional user experience of their software.

• A commitment to quality is integrated into the product development lifecycle, not treated as an afterthought.

• The company utilizes modern software development and testing tools to support its innovative products.

Company Website: https://www.appliedintuition.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "Physical AI" and its rapid growth suggest a culture that values technological advancement, problem-solving, and high performance. The validation team's role is pivotal in this environment, ensuring that complex AI systems are reliable and user-friendly.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level (New Grad) position, designed for individuals starting their careers in software quality assurance and UX testing. It provides a foundational experience in testing complex software, particularly in the domain of autonomous systems.

Reporting Structure: New graduates typically report to a Senior Validation Engineer, a Validation Team Lead, or a QA Manager. This structure ensures mentorship and guidance as they develop their skills.

Operations Impact: The UX Test Engineer directly impacts the quality, usability, and user satisfaction of Applied Intuition's software products. Their work ensures that the complex systems developed are not only technically sound but also intuitive and accessible to users, which is critical for adoption and trust in the autonomous vehicle and AI space.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in UI automation, performance testing, accessibility testing, or specific testing frameworks.

• Career Advancement: Potential to progress to Senior UX Test Engineer, Test Lead, or QA Manager roles.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in areas like test automation, scripting languages, UX principles, and domain-specific knowledge (e.g., autonomous systems).

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience working closely with design, product management, and engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a new graduate, the primary growth path involves mastering testing fundamentals, automation, and understanding the product's domain. The "0-2 years" experience level suggests that foundational learning and skill acquisition are key.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Applied Intuition is an "in-office" company, meaning employees are expected to work primarily from their designated office location five days a week.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Sunnyvale, California. Applied Intuition also has offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo, indicating a global presence.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork and innovation.

• Access to modern development and testing tools, including high-performance computing resources.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with UX Designers, Product Managers, and Software Engineers, facilitating a shared understanding of product goals.

• The Sunnyvale office is likely situated in a tech hub, offering networking and industry engagement possibilities.

Work Schedule: While the expectation is primarily in-office, the company acknowledges the importance of flexibility and trusts employees to manage their schedules responsibly, allowing for occasional remote work or adjustments for personal commitments. This suggests a culture that balances structured work with individual needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "in-office" expectation is a key differentiator. Candidates should be prepared for a traditional office setup but also appreciate the stated flexibility for work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application, potentially followed by a brief phone screen with an HR representative or recruiter to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview(s): This will likely involve coding challenges (e.g., writing a small script in Python or JavaScript), problem-solving exercises related to testing scenarios, and discussions about your understanding of QA methodologies and UX principles. Be prepared to walk through your portfolio projects.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you present your academic or internship projects, focusing on your contributions to testing, automation, and UX validation. Highlight the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

• Cross-Functional/Behavioral Interview: An interview with hiring managers or team members from UX Design, Product Management, or Engineering to assess your collaboration skills, communication style, and how you approach working in a team.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader to discuss your career aspirations and overall fit with the company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or skill demonstrated. For each project, clearly state the problem, your role, the technologies/methodologies used, your specific contributions, and the outcomes or lessons learned.

• Demonstrate Process: For testing projects, clearly outline your test strategy, test cases, defect reporting, and any automation efforts. For UX-focused projects, explain how you considered user needs and how testing validated the user experience.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., "identified X critical bugs," "improved test coverage by Y%," "contributed to a Z% reduction in user-reported issues").

• Code Samples: If you have automation scripts or code snippets, ensure they are well-commented, readable, and demonstrate good coding practices.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize aspects of your portfolio that directly align with the job description's requirements for UI/UX testing, automation, and collaboration.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Exercises: Practice writing code in Python, JavaScript, C++, or Java, focusing on common data structures, algorithms, and scripting tasks relevant to automation.

• Testing Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would test a given feature or application. Think about positive/negative test cases, edge cases, usability, and accessibility.

• Defect Reporting: Be ready to describe how you would report a bug, including essential information like steps to reproduce, expected vs. actual results, severity, and priority.

• UX Principles: Refresh your understanding of core UX concepts and how to validate them through testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess both technical skills (coding, testing theory) and soft skills (communication, collaboration, problem-solving). A well-prepared portfolio is crucial for new graduates to showcase their potential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UI Automation: Selenium, Appium (expected proficiency or willingness to learn).

• Defect Tracking: Jira (or similar bug tracking systems).

• Version Control: Git (for code management and collaboration).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, expect to use reporting features within Jira and potentially internal dashboards for tracking test progress and defect trends.

• Familiarity with data analysis and visualization tools could be beneficial for understanding test results. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM mentioned for this role, but understanding how UI/UX impacts user engagement is key.

• Automation tools will primarily be focused on UI testing rather than business process automation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technologies revolve around UI automation and defect management. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate familiarity with these, or a strong aptitude for learning them quickly.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Excellence: A deep commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and user-friendly software.

• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to solve complex problems in the physical AI space.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across teams (design, product, engineering) to achieve shared goals.

• User-Centricity: Placing the user experience at the forefront of all development and testing efforts.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly refine processes, tools, and skills.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with designers and product managers to ensure testing aligns with user needs and product vision.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where feedback is shared constructively and transparently between QA, development, and product teams.

• Team-Oriented: A collaborative approach where team members support each other, share knowledge, and collectively work towards product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value innovation, quality, and collaborative problem-solving, which are essential for a fast-paced tech environment like Applied Intuition.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of Innovation: Keeping up with the rapid development cycles and evolving technologies in the physical AI and autonomous systems domain.

• Complexity of Systems: Testing sophisticated software that integrates multiple complex components and interacts with the physical world.

• Balancing Automation and Manual Testing: Effectively determining where to apply automation for efficiency and where manual testing is critical for nuanced UX validation.

• Bridging Design and Engineering: Translating abstract design concepts into testable requirements and validating the user's perception of the interface.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship: Receiving guidance from experienced validation engineers on best practices for testing, automation, and UX validation.

• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to learn and become proficient in advanced automation tools, scripting languages, and testing frameworks.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining insights into the autonomous systems industry and the specific challenges of validating AI-driven products.

• Career Pathing: Clear pathways for growth within the QA and validation domain, potentially leading to specialized roles or leadership positions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for learning and growth in a rapidly evolving and critical industry. The challenges are inherent to working at the cutting edge of technology.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach testing a new feature for an autonomous vehicle simulation software to ensure it meets user needs and is intuitive?" (Focus on breaking down the problem, identifying test types, and considering user workflows.)

• "Describe a time you encountered a challenging bug. How did you go about reproducing, documenting, and communicating it?" (Highlight your systematic approach to debugging and your communication skills.)

• "If you were asked to automate a specific UI element, what steps would you take, and what potential challenges might you anticipate?" (Discuss your understanding of automation principles, tool selection, and maintenance.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Applied Intuition and our work in physical AI?" (Research the company's mission, products, and recent news. Connect your interests to their work.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in UX design and software testing?" (Demonstrate a proactive approach to learning.)

• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a collaborative culture." (Align your response with the company's emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional collaboration.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio projects as narratives. Start with the problem or goal, detail your actions and methodologies, and conclude with the results and lessons learned.

• Visuals: Use screenshots, diagrams, or short video clips to illustrate your work, especially for UI testing and automation demonstrations.

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss the technical details of your projects, including the code you wrote, the tools you used, and the reasoning behind your choices.

• Conciseness: Respect the interviewer's time. Present key information clearly and efficiently, and be ready to elaborate on specific areas if asked.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of technical aptitude, a user-centric mindset, and strong communication skills. The portfolio is your primary tool to showcase practical application of these skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Ashby.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight any experience with software testing, QA, UI/UX principles, automation scripting (Python, JavaScript, etc.), and relevant academic projects. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 1-3 strong examples of academic projects, internships, or personal projects that showcase your testing skills, automation efforts, and understanding of UX. Be ready to present these clearly.

• Practice Interview Questions: Rehearse answers to common technical, behavioral, and situational questions, focusing on demonstrating problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a collaborative spirit. Practice explaining your portfolio projects concisely.

• Research Applied Intuition: Understand their mission, products, and recent achievements. Be prepared to articulate why you are a good fit for their specific work in physical AI and why you are drawn to an in-office environment.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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