Hardware Validation Engineer

Title: Hardware Validation Engineer

Pay: $47.00-$54.00/hour

Location: Palo Alto, CA

Schedule: 8-5 or 9-6

Duration: 12-Month Contract




This is a 12-month contract position requiring a validation engineer to serve as the primary testing partner for hardware and software design teams. The role spans test strategy development, ECU-level functional testing, silicon characterization, and failure analysis, supporting the full product lifecycle from design through validation. The schedule is 8-5 or 9-6, with overtime possible with pre-approval from the manager.




Job Responsibilities: In this role, you will manage and support a variety of projects within the Validation Engineering department. Key responsibilities include:

• Serving as the primary validation partner for HW/SW design teams, providing centralized testing services spanning the entire product lifecycle
• Developing comprehensive test plans, cases, and environmental strategies (DVP&R) that integrate Silicon Validation data into ECU-level functional testing
• Collaborating with design teams to architect and build specialized test scripts and hardware fixtures (HIL/Bench) to support validation activities
• Participating in DFMEA, PFMEA, and Bill of Design (BoD) assessments to identify and mitigate risks to project timing and customer quality

Essential Job Duties and Job Functions:

• Planning and executing Durability, Electrical, and Functional validation for component-level ECUs
• Validating Silicon-level performance (SoCs, Microcontrollers) within the ECU environment, focusing on power integrity, thermal boundaries, and signal analysis
• Leading deep-dive root cause investigations for test failures, utilizing data reproduction and fault simulation to resolve hardware/firmware issues
• Providing advanced data analytics from conducted tests to drive design improvements and ensure compliance with Component Technical Specifications (CTS)
• Maintaining and enhancing technical templates, "ADV Toolboxes," and Drawing Templates to ensure a unified validation approach across the engineering organization
• Establishing and managing end-to-end traceability between requirements and test results using JAMA, JIRA, and version control systems
• Managing "Lessons Learned" repositories to refine the Bill of Materials (BoM) and improve product performance and safety based on real-world test data

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong background in Silicon-level validation and ECU component testing
• Proficient in automotive communication protocols: CAN, CAN-FD, LIN, and FlexRay
• Working knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025 requirements for testing labs
• Hands-on experience with bench-level testing (oscilloscopes, power supply, digital multimeter) and thermal chambers
• Proficiency in JIRA and JAMA for requirement management
• LabView, TestStand, and CAPL programming skills highly preferred
• Ability to interpret complex electrical schematics and mechanical drawings
• Collaborative communicator capable of working cross-functionally in a fast-paced "Engineering Ops" service model

Education and Experience:

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
• 6+ years of experience in automotive or consumer electronics, with a strong focus on the design and development of electronics

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