Field Test Engineer (Smartphones) at Fairphone

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

30 Aug, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

01 Jun, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Smartphone Field Testing, Mobile Network Engineering, 4G LTE, 5G NR, IMS, VoLTE, VoWiFi, Qualcomm Diagnostic Tools, QXDM, QCAT, Android Telephony Stack, ADB, Python, JavaScript, ISTQB Foundation, Technical Documentation

Industry

Computers and Electronics Manufacturing

Description

About Fairphone Fairphone is more than just a company - we are a global leader in sustainable, modular electronics, on a mission to change the electronics industry from the inside out. Built on strong social and environmental values, we are a diverse and inclusive team from all walks of life creating market consumer electronics that make a real impact. At Fairphone, you will find a supportive and safe space where everyone can be themselves, collaborate openly, and have the freedom to learn and grow - because that’s how we innovate and drive change together! So… are you a proactive, self-motivated team player who loves taking initiative and bringing positive energy? Do you thrive in a fast-moving start-up or scale-up environment? Are you a great communicator who values collaboration and embraces different perspectives? And most importantly, do you feel a strong connection to Fairphone’s mission and values? If you're nodding along and thinking, “Yes, that’s me!”, then check out our vacancy below! Please know that we acknowledge that we are living in a time where the use of AI can bring many efficiencies and support. However, we want to know the real YOU. Please try to limit the use of AI tools to generate answers to the application; we value authenticity and encourage you to use your creativity! Location: Amsterdam-based position Hours: 40 hours per week Start: ASAP, preferably 01.07.2026 Contract duration: The 1st 12-month employment contract with the possibility of extension to permanent Deadline to apply: We review applications on a rolling basis. Please apply as soon as possible. About your role The Field Test Engineer is a vital role within the Quality Assurance team, ensuring that Fairphone devices meet the highest standards of functionality and performance on the live network. This position acts as the central technical expert bridging between engineering execution, external testing partners, and operator technical account managers. You will lead the end-to-end validation of mobile connectivity and device performance on the network throughout the product lifecycle, from early development and operator onboarding to post-launch maintenance releases. This role is split between Field Test Management & Planning and Hands-on Technical Testing & Triage. Key Responsibilities & Objectives Key Objectives Define tailored testing suite for every software build by analyzing release notes to identify technical risks and priority areas. Guarantee a superior user experience by measuring and optimizing key performance indicators (KPIs) like audio quality (MOS) and call reliability. Act as the primary technical interface for external testing partners and labs, ensuring test results are delivered according to software release schedules. Support engineering teams and our development partners by isolating field issues, identifying reproduction scenarios, and providing comprehensive documentation to drive issue resolution. Key Responsibilities Field Test Management & Planning Own and maintain comprehensive test plans and test cases for smartphone connectivity and hardware performance. Define and map testing scopes for software releases (product introductions, maintenance, OS upgrades) by analyzing release notes to prioritize high-risk code changes. Lead incidental troubleshooting efforts during field trials to help isolate environmental variables and provide complete issue documentation to support the investigation and resolution process. Manage the technical relationship with external certification and testing labs for live network testing and telco operator certifications, defining scopes and auditing the quality of their deliverables. Partner with the Software Delivery Manager to align validation milestones with release schedules and provide risk-based recommendations. Build and manage a scalable network of global testing partners to support our long term testing strategy. Hands-on Field Testing & Triage Execute functional test cases and exploratory testing techniques to verify and document the end-user experience and behaviour of telephony/modem-related features in the field. Execute specialized field tests to validate the performance of the device on the real network (Covering from Battery drain, Audio MOS to call completion rates). Lead first-level analysis of field failures using troubleshooting techniques to isolate failures and Qualcomm diagnostic tools (QXDM, QCAT) to identify protocol-level issues. Develop specific scenarios to reproduce defects; provide our development partners and engineering teams with complete Issue documentation (ie. issue logs, environment data, steps) to expedite fixes. Conduct rigorous field validation of software fixes and modem configurations provided by the development partners to ensure zero regressions. Assist Technical Account Managers (TAMs) by executing network-specific test scripts and self-certification programs required for network operator technical acceptance. Core Activities Analyzing new release notes from the development partner to define and plan the testing scope. Build field test plans for OS upgrades. Conducting field testing to measure audio MOS and call reliability in different signal conditions. Reviewing field test reports and validating fixes in the lab or field. Documenting complex connectivity issues in GitLab / Jira, attaching filtered logs and reproduction steps. Plan the weekly testing activities with our field testing partners. Aligning with the software delivery manager on test progress and reporting any "Blocker" issues that could affect the delivery timeline. Your Skills & Experience Must-Have Skills You have a minimum of 4-7 years of experience in smartphone field testing, mobile network engineering, or a similar QA role. You have a Bachelor's or a Master's degree in Computer Science, Telecommunications Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field. You have a deep understanding of 4G LTE, 5G NR, and IMS (VoLTE/VoWiFi) technologies and smartphone architecture. You have strong problem-solving skills to turn ambiguous field reports into structured technical data for engineers. You have a proven ability to manage deliverables from external partners and coordinate with cross-functional teams under strict timelines. You are able to work independently and as part of a team. You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Nice-to-Have Skills Proficiency in capturing and performing initial analysis of diagnostic logs using Qualcomm tools. Familiarity with the Android telephony stack, RIL, and debugging tools (ADB). Knowledge of scripting (Python, JavaScript) for data analysis or automated test scripts. ISTQB Foundation or similar. What Fairphone can offer you? The opportunity to create an impact on the electronics industry around the world. A diverse work environment full of international, passionate, warm-hearted team members. 25 paid holidays per year (based on a full-time contract) next to the other public holidays in the Netherlands. You’ll also get a day off on your birthday! Additionally, the longer you stay, the more holidays you get! Daily, healthy lunch, organic FairChain coffee, and many more tasty things. You will join Fairphone’s collective pension scheme, and we will contribute to building your pension. You will receive a MacBook, Fairbuds, and a Fairphone as working devices. Hybrid working model: We are remote-friendly and also contribute up to €250 toward your home office set-up. Public transport allowance – we fully cover your 2nd-class commute from your home to the office Bike allowance – We support you with a bike purchase of up to €300, and you’ll also have a yearly repair budget of up to €100! We also cover 23 cents per km for your biking distance from home to the office (or train station) and back! Grow with us! We encourage you to develop at Fairphone. In addition to €500 for L&D, we’ll support your career goals with coaching (Inuka), workshops, or courses that you can join with your development budget. You will get access to Udemy with unlimited courses and trainings. Kitchen with beautiful views to the IJ waterfront. There’s a gym in the building where you can build healthy habits, stay active and have fun with your colleagues, as well as a subscription to our mental & physical well-being services (Inuka & Urban Sports) About us DEI @Fairphone At Fairphone, we care about people, planet and you. It’s natural that we see diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as an essential part of how we work together and do business. We support and further strengthen our inclusive work environment and culture by more formally implementing various DEI efforts to ensure all Fairphoners feel included, respected, and supported.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end validation of mobile connectivity and device performance on live networks throughout the product lifecycle. This includes managing external testing partners and performing hands-on technical triage using diagnostic tools to resolve field issues.