Senior Validation Engineering Manager, Vehicle Systems

GILLIG; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

GILLIG is seeking an experienced Product Validation Manager to lead a growing validation team in Pleasanton, CA. You will operationalize methods for system V-model validation across physical and virtual environments, owning test plans, issues, and turnarounds to ensure quality and reliability of our heavy‑duty transit products.

You will mentor engineers, drive testing standards, and collaborate with design and supply teams to deliver on-time, compliant vehicle validation and releases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 8 years gradual engineering/management experience.
• Heavy-duty automotive validation and leadership required.
• Solid experience with FMVSS, ADA, SAE, NFPA, ISO standards.

Responsibilities

• Own validation execution across components and systems in physical and virtual environments.
• Lead final validation review and sign-off; escalate risks to leadership.
• Drive root-cause investigations and corrective actions with teams.
• Manage TIR process and metrics for trend analysis.
• Oversee VSR intake, triage, and data-collection requests.
• Document and maintain a lessons-learned repository.
• Support test asset strategy and resource deployment.
• Develop and deploy engineering test standards and procedures.
• Own requirements decomposition for DVP&R/RVTM.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on testing plans.
• Mentor and manage a team of test engineers.
• Plan and design test equipment and procedures.
• Report test status, risk assessments, and mitigation plans.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

8+ years in engineering and management

Automotive heavy-duty validation

Regulatory standards (FMVSS/ADA/SAE)

ISO 26262 / ISO 21434 knowledge

Validation engineering background

Leadership in cross-functional teams

Test planning and execution

V-model / DVP&R / RVTM familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Master’s degree a plus

Tools

HIL/SIL/MIL testing

DVP&R / RVTM tooling

Test management tools

Job description

GILLIG is seeking an experienced Product Validation Manager to lead a growing validation team in Pleasanton, CA. You will operationalize methods for system V-model validation across physical and virtual environments, owning test plans, issues, and turnarounds to ensure quality and reliability of our heavy‑duty transit products.

You will mentor engineers, drive testing standards, and collaborate with design and supply teams to deliver on-time, compliant vehicle validation and releases.