Senior Validation Engineer

Diamond Mowers, LLC•Sioux Falls, SD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Diamond Mowers is seeking an experienced and results-driven Senior Validation Engineer to lead product validation efforts for our industry-leading vegetation management and mowing equipment. This role is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive validation strategies that ensure products meet performance, durability, reliability, safety, and customer expectations throughout the product development lifecycle. The Senior Validation Engineer will collaborate closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Product Management, and Supply Chain teams to validate innovative equipment solutions under real-world operating conditions. This individual will serve as a technical leader, driving robust validation processes, mentoring team members, and helping ensure Diamond Mowers continues to deliver best-in-class products to the market.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
7+ years of engineering experience with at least 3 years focused on product validation, testing, durability, reliability, or quality engineering in a regulated industry.
Experience developing and executing validation plans for mechanical, hydraulic, and electro-mechanical systems.
Strong knowledge of engineering fundamentals, testing methodologies, and product development processes.
Experience with instrumentation, sensors, data acquisition systems, and test equipment.
Demonstrated proficiency in root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements.
Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced product development environment.
Ability to travel up to 20% to support field testing, customer visits, and validation activities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in off-highway equipment, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, forestry equipment, or heavy machinery industries.
Knowledge of hydraulic systems, power transmission systems, structural validation, fatigue testing, and durability engineering.
Experience with DVP&R, DFMEA, PFMEA, APQP, and product risk management methodologies.
Familiarity with CAD software, data analysis tools, statistical methods, and engineering test systems.
Experience leading cross-functional engineering projects and product development initiatives.
Active participation in industry standards organizations, technical committees, or professional engineering associations.
Experience contributing to the development, interpretation, or implementation of industry standards through organizations such as SAE International, ASABE, ANSI, AEM, ISO, or similar bodies.
Demonstrated ability to represent the organization in technical working groups, industry forums, and standards committees.
Professional Engineer (PE) license and/or advanced engineering degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute comprehensive validation plans for new product development, product enhancements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Define validation requirements and acceptance criteria based on product specifications, customer requirements, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
Lead laboratory, field, durability, reliability, environmental, and performance testing activities.
Develop and maintain Design Verification Plans and Reports (DVP&R) to ensure product requirements are fully validated.
Design and oversee test procedures, instrumentation setups, data acquisition systems, and validation methodologies.
Conduct structural, hydraulic, mechanical, and system-level testing to evaluate product performance and reliability.
Analyze test data and identify trends, root causes, failure modes, and opportunities for product improvement.
Lead root cause analysis investigations and work cross-functionally to implement corrective actions and validate solutions.
Support DFMEA, PFMEA, risk assessment, and design review activities throughout product development.
Coordinate and manage field testing programs with customers, dealers, and internal stakeholders.
Ensure validation activities are completed within project timelines and budgets.
Prepare comprehensive test reports and provide recommendations to engineering leadership.
Mentor engineers and technicians in validation processes, testing methodologies, and best practices.
Support product launches by ensuring validation objectives and quality targets are achieved.
Drive continuous improvement of validation processes, equipment, and testing capabilities.
Promote and maintain a strong culture of safety, quality, innovation, and accountability.