Staff Hardware Validation Engineer

Ford • Palo Alto, CA

22h • $146,520 - $276,600 • Hybrid

About The Position

In this high-impact role, you will define the validation strategy and technical roadmaps for complex mechatronic hardware across multiple vehicle product lines.
You will not only oversee the "bring-up" of sophisticated test environments but also influence the foundational design for testability (DFT) and reliability across the enterprise.
You will bridge the gap between mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering, ensuring that our hardware architectures are robust, scalable, and validated to the highest rigorous standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in hardware validation, mechatronic system design, or product development.
• 5+ years of experience in test equipment architecture, including the design of 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 that span 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 (Python, LabVIEW, or C++) and hardware communication protocols (Automotive Ethernet, CAN-FD, 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 with the ability to distill complex technical risks for executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of validation requirements and DVP&R strategies that span multiple product lines, ensuring consistency and technical excellence across different mechanical-electrical modules.
• Define and approve complex test specifications, including high-fidelity pass/fail criteria, to ensure long-term reliability in diverse global environments.
• Lead architectural design of scalable test platforms that can be leveraged across multiple hardware variants to increase testing efficiency.
• Spearhead bring-up of high-complexity test stations. Act as the primary technical escalations point for the most challenging hardware/software integration issues.
• Partner with hardware design teams at the architecture phase to influence PCB and mechanical designs, ensuring systems are designed for test (DFT) and manufacturing (DFM), optimized for validation and end-of-line production testing.
• Performing failure mode analysis with advanced detailed analysis tools to drive root cause diagnosis.
• Direct the technical requirements for external Tier 1 suppliers and independent test labs to ensure outsourced validation meets Ford’s stringent internal benchmarks.
• Managing vendors to implement validation tools, plans and infrastructure
• Business travel (up to 20% domestic and international travel) to support product development is required

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• 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
• A generous schedule of 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: Mid Level