Validation Engineer

Role Overview:

Turtlebox makes products for conditions that would break most consumer electronics — rain, UV, drops, temperature swings, sand, saltwater, heavy use. Before any product ships, someone has to prove it survives all of that, repeatedly and under conditions that can be documented and defended. That's this role.

We're looking for a Validation Engineer to own the validation program end to end. This role reports to the Manager, Engineering. You'll develop DVP&Rs and test plans from scratch on every product, run validation across EVT through PVT, and make the call on whether a product is ready to ship. You'll also work directly with JDMs and suppliers to review their test plans and hold them to Turtlebox standards — because what gets reported externally needs to match what actually happened on the bench.

This is a hands-on, high-accountability role. You write the test plan, you run the test, you own the result. If something fails, you lead the root cause and drive it to closure. If a supplier's data doesn't add up, you push back.

Key Responsibilities:

Build and Own the Validation Program

• Develop DVP&Rs and validation test plans for all Turtlebox products and major engineering changes — mechanical, environmental, electrical, and 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 — test protocols, results, failure reports, and corrective action records

Execute Testing and Root Cause Analysis

• Execute test plans hands-on — you run the tests, not just write the procedures
• Use appropriate test equipment: 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 — bring-up, stress testing, edge case coverage
• Lead root cause analysis on validation failures — 5-Why, fault tree, Ishikawa — and drive corrective actions to verified closure
• Build and maintain custom test fixtures, jigs, and automated test setups where applicable

Supplier & JDM Validation Oversight

• Partner with JDMs and suppliers to align on validation plans, test coverage, and acceptance standards before builds begin
• Review, challenge, and approve supplier/JDM test plans and reports — ensure they reflect Turtlebox requirements, not just what's easy to pass
• Audit supplier and JDM test execution — remotely and onsite — to verify accuracy, consistency, and integrity of results
• Correlate internal and external test data; identify gaps and drive improvements when data doesn't align