Validation Engineer

Turtlebox Audio•Houston, TX

12h•Onsite

About The Position

Turtlebox makes products designed to withstand harsh conditions such as rain, UV exposure, drops, extreme temperatures, sand, and saltwater. The Validation Engineer will be responsible for proving that these products can survive these conditions repeatedly and under documented, defensible circumstances. This role involves owning the validation program from start to finish, developing DVP&Rs and test plans, running validation tests from EVT through PVT, and making the final decision on product readiness for shipment. The engineer will also collaborate with JDMs and suppliers to review their test plans and ensure they meet Turtlebox standards. This is a hands-on role with high accountability, requiring the engineer to write test plans, execute tests, lead root cause analysis for failures, and push back on inadequate supplier data.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
4+ years of product validation, test engineering, or reliability engineering experience in consumer hardware.
Experience developing and executing DVP&Rs and validation test plans from scratch.
Hands-on experience with environmental and mechanical testing: IP ingress, drop, vibration, thermal cycling.
Solid electrical and firmware validation experience: PCBA bring-up, system-level testing, lab equipment fluency.
Proven ability to lead root cause analysis: 5-Why, fault tree, Ishikawa.
Experience working directly with suppliers, OEMs, or JDM partners.
Comfortable reviewing supplier data and holding them accountable.
Direct communicator, able to clearly state failures and reasons, and push back when external data is insufficient.
Ability to operate independently in a fast-moving, low-structure environment and figure things out without waiting for direction.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ruggedized or outdoor consumer electronics.
Background in audio products, battery-powered systems, or wireless devices.
Familiarity with IEC 60529 (IP ratings), IEC 62133 (battery), or other applicable consumer electronics standards.
Experience with reliability testing methodologies (HALT/HASS).
Background in audio performance testing: frequency response, THD, SPL.
Familiarity with statistical analysis tools (JMP, Minitab, or equivalent).
Experience with embedded systems and firmware debugging tools.

Responsibilities

Develop DVP&Rs and validation test plans for all Turtlebox products and major engineering changes (mechanical, environmental, electrical, audio).
Own the validation schedule and coordinate test activities across EVT, DVT, and PVT build cycles.
Define acceptance criteria and make clear pass/fail recommendations based on test results.
Maintain validation documentation, including test protocols, results, failure reports, and corrective action records.
Execute test plans hands-on, utilizing appropriate test equipment such as environmental chambers, drop fixtures, IP ingress setups, audio analyzers, oscilloscopes, and standard lab instruments.
Validate electrical and firmware system behavior at the board and system level, including bring-up, stress testing, and edge case coverage.
Lead root cause analysis on validation failures using methodologies like 5-Why, fault tree, and Ishikawa, and drive corrective actions to verified closure.
Build and maintain custom test fixtures, jigs, and automated test setups as needed.
Partner with JDMs and suppliers to align on validation plans, test coverage, and acceptance standards.
Review, challenge, and approve supplier/JDM test plans and reports to ensure they meet Turtlebox requirements.
Audit supplier and JDM test execution (remotely and onsite) to verify accuracy, consistency, and integrity of results.
Correlate internal and external test data, identifying gaps and driving improvements when data doesn't align.
Support the PS&C Manager in coordinating third-party lab testing for regulatory certifications (FCC, CE, UL, IEC standards).
Ensure product designs meet safety and compliance requirements before certification submission.
Participate in design reviews to identify validation risk areas early.
Maintain field failure data and feed findings back into validation protocols to prevent recurring failure modes.
Identify test method improvements to catch failures faster and earlier in development.