Location: Toronto (Hybrid. Regular in-office presence required for hardware testing.)
A hands-on, systems-focused role responsible for validating, stress-testing, and strengthening the full hardware-software systems that power our autonomous retail platform. You act as the final validation layer before release and the escalation point for complex system issues in the field.
Micromart is building the platform for unattended retail. We empower entrepreneurs to turn any location into a retail opportunity, from offices and condos to gyms, hotels, and other shared spaces. Our focus is on giving entrepreneurs powerful tools that are simple to use, while delivering a fast, intuitive shopping experience for shoppers.
Often described as Shopify for physical commerce, Micromart provides the infrastructure that powers unattended retail in the real world.
Micromart launched just over a year ago and is now used in thousands of locations across North America. We’re a small and growing team working closely across product, platform, and smart store systems, from design through production.
Work here is end to end. That means thinking through problems, making pragmatic tradeoffs, shipping changes, and improving systems over time. As we scale, quality and reliability matter more than ever, and this role plays a key part in that.
As a System Validation Engineer, you will define what reliability means at Micromart across the full hardware and software system, and continuously raise that bar as we scale.
You will own system-level validation and release confidence for changes that impact hardware, edge devices, payments, vision systems, and connected components. When a feature crosses hardware and software boundaries, this role ensures it works reliably in the real world.
This is a systems-first role that combines hands-on validation with reliability-focused engineering work. You will spend time testing cabinets, simulating real-world conditions, reproducing failures, analyzing logs, validating Android builds and device-side changes, and working closely with engineers and external partners to drive root cause and long-term fixes.
When systems fail in the field, you are responsible for reproducing, understanding, and driving root cause across hardware, software, and integrations.
Our smart stores operate 24/7. Entrepreneurs and shoppers depend on them to work every time.
Own System-Level Validation
Own QA for features that cross hardware and software boundaries, including smart locks, payment terminals, cameras, eTags, edge devices, and Android builds that interact with physical systems
Define and enforce what “release ready” means for hardware and edge system changes
Develop and refine hardware and systems validation procedures as architecture evolves
Ensure firmware updates, BIOS changes, hardware revisions, and vendor SDK changes do not introduce regressions before rollout
Test Real-World Conditions
Test end-to-end flows across hardware, embedded Node.js services, networking infrastructure, payments, vision processing, and cloud APIs
Simulate real-world scenarios such as internet loss, degraded connectivity, Bluetooth instability, USB device failures, power interruptions, and router instability
Validate revenue-impacting systems including payment authorization flows and vision-based order processing under real-world conditions
Evaluate and Improve Hardware Systems
Test and compare different hardware components including edge computers, USB cameras, payment terminals, and networking equipment
Evaluate performance, stability, and compatibility across vendors and configurations
Propose and validate improvements to hardware selection and system architecture
Identify tradeoffs between cost, performance, and reliability in real-world deployments
Investigate and Resolve Field Issues
Reproduce customer-reported and fleet issues in a controlled environment
Investigate issues such as payment preauthorization failures, vision detection or review inconsistencies, temperature alarms, memory leaks, LCD burn-in, USB device instability, and connectivity problems
Analyze logs and fleet health data to determine root causes and quantify impact across deployments
Document findings clearly and partner with engineering to drive long-term fixes
Improve Reliability and Support Engineering
Collaborate directly with technology partners to escalate issues and validate fixes
Collect and provide structured technical evidence to support investigations
Build small tools or scripts to improve fleet visibility and diagnostics
Contribute targeted reliability improvements directly to device-side services and infrastructure, including writing and shipping code changes in TypeScript, Node.js, or related tooling when appropriate
Partner closely with engineers to design and implement long-term fixes for systemic reliability issues
You will work across a distributed system that includes:
Linux-based edge computers running Node.js services (TypeScript)
Android applications interacting with device-side services
USB cameras, Bluetooth eTags, payment terminals, routers, and other connected hardware
Cloud APIs and backend services built in TypeScript
Fleet management and remote device monitoring tools
Experience working with hardware and software systems such as IoT devices, robotics platforms, embedded Linux systems, or device fleets
Strong software fundamentals and comfort reading, understanding, and debugging production code, ideally in TypeScript or Node.js
Experience debugging issues on Linux-based devices including logs, processes, memory usage, and networking behavior
Familiarity with device-level components such as USB cameras, routers, SIM connectivity, and embedded Linux systems
Solid understanding of networking fundamentals including DNS, DHCP, NAT, and connectivity troubleshooting
Strong investigative mindset with a focus on root cause and durable solutions
Ability to reason about distributed systems where hardware, edge services, and cloud APIs interact
Comfort taking ownership in a fast-paced startup environment
Nice to have
Experience with Raspberry Pi or embedded Linux systems
Experience validating firmware updates
Experience working with payment devices or IoT fleets
Ability to write tooling in TypeScript, Bash, Python, or C
Experience working with embedded or edge computing devices with hardware acceleration or vision processing workloads
Experience in high-uptime, real-world production systems
Startup or high-growth company experience
We are driven by ambitious, mission-focused thinking and a deep commitment to earning customer trust. We value craftsmanship, simplicity, and quality, and we are intentional about how we build and the problems we choose to solve.
We are problem solvers first, builders second
We care deeply about durability and real-world reliability
We value ownership and accountability
Reliability and security are non-negotiable
We move fast, but we build to last
Quality and reliability are foundational to Micromart’s platform. Our smart stores operate continuously, and entrepreneurs and shoppers depend on them to work every time. This role directly impacts uptime, customer trust, and system resilience. You will not just test features. You will define and raise the reliability standard across thousands of real-world deployments.
We believe software should empower people to build real businesses in the physical world. Micromart exists to give entrepreneurs practical, durable tools to create opportunity where people live and work. Your work will directly support that mission.
This year marks a major growth phase for Micromart. We’ve built the core smart store product and the platform that powers it with a very small team. Now we’re focused on scaling, shipping new capabilities, and raising the bar on product quality and our technical stack. If you enjoy owning real systems and pushing them to the next level, there’s a lot to dig into.
Competitive salary and equity
Health, dental, and vision benefits for employees and dependents
Monthly fitness or wellness stipend
Hybrid work environment with access to our Toronto office
Meals provided when working from the office
Centrally located downtown office near Union Station
The opportunity to own reliability in a rapidly scaling hardware and software company
Micromart is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.
