Senior Design Validation Engineer, Intelligence Systems

Hardware FYI; Reston, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 146,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Reston, VA is seeking a Senior Design Validation Engineer to lead end-to-end validation of custom hardware designs. You will plan campaigns, build test fixtures, write software/firmware, and execute tests in a hardware lab to prove designs meet requirements before shipment.

The role requires a U.S. Secret clearance and 7+ years in validation, with hands-on test equipment experience and strong collaboration across hardware, firmware, and systems teams.

Qualifications

• Active U.S. Secret security clearance is required and must be maintained.
• 7+ years in hardware design validation, test engineering, or hardware product development with substantial validation responsibility.
• Experience authoring and executing design validation plans (DVPs) against written requirements.
• Hands-on proficiency with electronic test equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum/network analyzers, power supplies/loads, data acquisition).
• Ability to read and interpret schematics and PCB layouts to plan validation coverage.
• Experience developing custom hardware test fixtures and supporting software/firmware (Python, C/C++, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with interfaces such as Ethernet, CAN, I2C, SPI, PCIe, USB, etc.
• Familiarity with MCU/CPU/FPGA devices and bringing them up on the bench.
• Knowledge of modern analog and digital electronics and related failure modes.
• Ability to prioritize work per management direction and collaborate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Partner with cross-functional hardware, firmware, FPGA, and systems teams to plan and execute validation of custom hardware designs.
• Develop validation plans mapping design requirements to tests, pass/fail criteria, and applicable standards.
• Design and build custom hardware fixtures and write accompanying software/firmware to exercise designs under test.
• Identify, specify, and configure electronic test equipment for each validation campaign.
• Execute design verification and qualification activities in a hardware lab (high-speed digital, analog, RF, high-power).
• Drive root cause analysis on validation failures and coordinate corrective actions with design teams.
• Participate in peer reviews, representing testability and validation considerations.
• Document validation results and author reports for program milestones and customer deliverables.
• Work in a fast-paced environment with multiple concurrent validation efforts across projects.

Skills

Active clearance

Hardware design validation

Validation plan execution

Test automation (Python/C++)

Schematics/PCB literacy

Interfaces knowledge (Ethernet/CAN/I2C

FPGA/MCU experience

Communication skills

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Spectrum/Network analyzers

Power supplies/loads

Data acquisition systems

Environmental chambers

Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril Intelligence Systems (AIS) is focused on positioning Anduril as a lead provider of specialized engineering and products for Intelligence Community (IC) customers. We work within the IC to understand their requirements, shape their concepts of operation, and deliver exquisite capability across their problem set. We aim to develop and deploy critically needed capabilities that address our customers’ most pressing national security requirements.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for a Senior Design Validation Engineer to join our rapidly growing team in Reston, Virginia. In this role, you will take custom hardware designs from our electrical engineering teams and own the validation effort end-to-end - planning the validation campaign, designing and building custom hardware test fixtures, creating test scripts, selecting the right electronic test equipment, identifying the applicable electrical standards, and executing validation activities in a hardware lab to prove our designs meet their requirements before they ship.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Partner with cross-functional hardware, firmware, FPGA, and systems teams to plan and execute validation of custom hardware designs
• Develop validation plans that map design requirements to specific tests, pass/fail criteria, and applicable electrical standards
• Design and build custom hardware fixtures and write the accompanying software/firmware needed to exercise designs under test
• Identify, specify, and configure electronic test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum/network analyzers, power analyzers, environmental chambers, etc.) for each validation campaign
• Execute design verification and qualification activities in a hardware lab - high-speed digital, precision analog, RF, and high-power domains
• Drive root cause analysis on validation failures and close the loop with design teams on corrective action
• Participate in peer-level and cross-discipline design reviews, representing testability and validation considerations
• Document validation results and author reports that support program milestones and customer deliverables
• Work in a fast-paced environment, juggling multiple concurrent validation efforts across projects and customers

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
• 7+ years of professional experience in hardware design validation, test engineering, or hardware product development with substantial validation responsibility
• Demonstrated experience authoring and executing design validation plans (DVPs) against written requirements
• Hands-on proficiency with electronic test equipment - oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum/network analyzers, power supplies/loads, and data acquisition systems
• Ability to read and interpret schematics and PCB layouts and use them to plan targeted validation coverage
• Experience developing custom hardware test fixtures and the supporting software/firmware (Python, C/C++, or equivalent) to automate measurements
• Familiarity with standard interfaces such as Ethernet, CAN, I2C, SPI, PCIe, USB, etc., and the tooling used to validate them
• Familiarity with common MCU, CPU, and FPGA devices and how to bring them up and exercise them on the bench
• Knowledge of modern analog and digital electronics and the failure modes that validation needs to catch
• Ability to determine work priorities based on broad direction from management
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with others
• Ability to work within our company and team culture

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience validating designs with high volume production requirements
• Experience executing qualification test campaigns to MIL-STD-810 (environmental) and familiarity with the test methods involved
• Experience executing EMI/EMC test campaigns to MIL-STD-461 and working with accredited EMC labs
• Experience with signal integrity and power integrity validation (eye diagrams, jitter analysis, PDN measurements)
• Experience with test automation frameworks and instrument control (SCPI, VISA, python based test frameworks)
• Experience validating designs intended for harsh or deployed environments (ruggedized, airborne, or space)

US Salary Range

$146,000

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$194,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

Benefits

At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next.

For more information, Explore Our Benefits.