Senior Validation Engineer - DCE

Ford Motor • Palo Alto, CA

25d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford’s Advanced EV Design Concept Engineering team is seeking a Senior Hardware Validation Engineer to define validation strategies and technical roadmaps for complex mechatronic hardware across multiple vehicle product lines. The role oversees bring-up of sophisticated test environments and helps establish design-for-testability and reliability practices across the enterprise. It bridges mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering to ensure hardware architectures are robust, scalable, and rigorously validated.

The position is hybrid and requires onsite work four or more days per week. Business travel of up to 20% domestically and internationally is required to support product development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of experience in hardware validation, mechatronic system design, or product development.
• At least 4 years of experience in test-equipment architecture, including designing custom electrical/mechanical test rigs and automated stations.
• Proven track record of defining test limits and pass/fail criteria for high-reliability hardware.
• Experience leading technical projects spanning multiple product families or global platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
• Expert-level proficiency in automated test frameworks such as Python, LabVIEW, or C++, and hardware communication protocols such as Automotive Ethernet, CAN-FD, and PCIe.
• Deep understanding of ISO 26262 (Functional Safety), ISO 16750 (Environmental Testing), and EMC/EMI compliance standards.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and correlating physical test data with virtual simulations.
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical risks to executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop validation requirements and DVP&R strategies across multiple product lines, ensuring consistency and technical excellence for mechanical-electrical modules.
• Approve complex test specifications, including high-fidelity pass/fail criteria, to support long-term reliability in diverse global environments.
• Design scalable test-platform architectures that can be used across multiple hardware variants to increase testing efficiency.
• Lead bring-up of high-complexity test stations and serve as the primary technical escalation point for challenging hardware/software integration issues.
• Partner with hardware design teams during architecture development to influence PCB and mechanical designs for design-for-testability and design-for-manufacturing, including validation and end-of-line production testing.
• Perform failure-mode analysis using advanced detailed-analysis tools to drive root-cause diagnosis.
• Direct technical requirements for external Tier 1 suppliers and independent test labs to ensure outsourced validation meets Ford’s internal benchmarks.
• Manage vendors implementing validation tools, plans, and infrastructure.
• Travel domestically and internationally, up to 20%, to support product development.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new-parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized backup childcare.
• Family-building benefits, including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Established and active employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior