Validation Team Lead – Embedded Systems / OTA
No C2C candidates
Columbia, IN (100% Onsite)
Long-Term Contract
$62.14/hr
Position Overview
We are seeking a Validation Team Lead to oversee validation activities for embedded and connected systems while leading a small engineering team. This role combines technical leadership, hands-on system validation, and test strategy development to ensure high-quality software and system releases.
The ideal candidate will drive end-to-end validation efforts, enhance test coverage and automation, and support OEM system integration. This role will play a key part in advancing validation capabilities including OTA testing, system-level validation, and automated test frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership
- Lead and mentor a team of 2–3 validation engineers
- Plan workloads, assign tasks, and ensure project alignment
- Provide technical guidance and support professional development
- Maintain accountability for team deliverables and validation milestones
Validation & Test Execution
- Own end-to-end validation activities including test planning, execution, and reporting
- Execute validation within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems
- Ensure comprehensive test coverage across embedded and connected systems
- Investigate and resolve complex system-level issues
Test Strategy & Process Improvement
- Design and enhance validation strategies, including OTA and data acquisition testing
- Develop reusable test artifacts, frameworks, and coverage metrics
- Establish best practices for test execution, documentation, and reporting
- Continuously improve validation processes to increase efficiency and scalability
Automation & Tool Development
- Develop automation scripts and validation tools to expand test coverage
- Utilize CAN-based simulation and diagnostic tools such as CANalyzer and PCAN
- Support integration of backend systems and digital platforms into validation workflows
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with OEM stakeholders to support system integration from development through release
- Work closely with project managers to track schedules, risks, and progress
- Communicate validation results and technical findings to cross-functional teams
Required Qualifications
Technical Experience
- Advanced experience with OTA validation and testing scenarios
- Strong background in embedded system/device validation and debugging
- Experience working with CAN-based protocols (CAN, J1939, UDS)
- Experience with automation scripting or validation tool development
- Hands-on experience with CANalyzer, PCAN, or similar tools
- Basic familiarity with cloud platforms such as Azure or AWS
Validation & Process Expertise
- Experience defining test strategies, coverage plans, and validation frameworks
- Experience working within PLM systems to manage test artifacts and results
- Familiarity with Agile development environments (sprint planning, backlog management, defect tracking)
Leadership & Communication
- Experience leading or mentoring small engineering teams
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Strong documentation, reporting, and organizational skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing validation frameworks or automated testing environments
- Experience defining validation KPIs and test coverage metrics
- Familiarity with telematics systems and cloud-to-device connectivity
- Experience building dashboards for validation reporting and quality tracking
How to Apply for This Job:
To apply for this position, please follow these steps: Apply for this job with your current resume. We’ll get back to you the same day with some feedback on your application. Next you’ll be invited to an online screening conversation so we can go over the job requirements together and you can ask questions. After this stage we’ll give you more feedback on your application and select the candidates to move forward in the process. Typically steps 1 to 4 takes less than 24 hours.
EOE (including Disability/Veterans)
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