Sr. Director, V&V Engineering

Nextpower; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 265,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Nextpower in California seeks a Senior Director of Verification and Validation to lead the strategy, organization, and execution of end-to-end testing across products, systems, and integrated solutions. This role ties requirements and design intent to objective evidence, ensuring safety, reliability, and readiness for customer use.

You will build scalable V&V capabilities, expand automation and data analysis, and partner with Product, Systems, Engineering, Quality, Certification, and partners to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field with 15+ years of relevant experience.
• 7+ years leading multidisciplinary engineering or test teams.
• Proven success leading end-to-end V&V for complex hardware and software products.
• Strong command of requirements-based testing, risk analysis, design of experiments, reliability methods, and evidence-based release decisions.
• Experience designing and operating lab, test-yard, field, or pilot programs with focus on safety, data quality, and scheduling trade-offs.
• Ability to build trust across technical and business teams and communicate test evidence, risk, and recommendations to executives.

Responsibilities

• Set the end-to-end V&V strategy spanning requirements, design, development, qualification, launch, and field learning.
• Translate product requirements and use cases into test plans, traceability, coverage goals, acceptance criteria, and ownership.
• Lead product verification and qualification testing for functional, reliability, environmental, electrical, and safety needs.
• Own system integration and integrated-solution validation across Nextpower offerings.
• Build scalable test capability, expand automation, data capture, and traceability across tests.
• Guide release decisions with evidence-based readiness reviews and clear communication to leadership.
• Partner across Product, Systems, Engineering, Quality, Certification, Software, NPI, Operations, Service, suppliers, and customers to resolve cross-functional risks.

Skills

Leadership

Requirements-based testing

Risk analysis

Communication

Test management

Project planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering

Job description

Job Description

Senior Director V&V Engineering

Nextpower | Reports to SVP, Engineering

Role Overview

The Senior Director, Verification and Validation (V&V) Engineering leads the strategy, organization, and execution of end-to-end testing across Nextpower products, systems, and integrated solutions. This leader connects requirements and design intent to objective evidence, from component and product verification through system integration, qualification, and field validation. In close partnership with engineering and business teams, the role ensures solutions are safe, reliable, performant, and ready for customer use.

Key Responsibilities

Set the end-to-end V&V strategy

Establish a risk-based V&V strategy, standards, methods, and lifecycle gates that span requirements, design, development, qualification, launch, and field learning.

Translate product requirements, system use cases, hazards, and design inputs into test plans, requirement traceability, coverage goals, acceptance criteria, and clear ownership; engage early enough to influence architecture and design.

Lead product verification and qualification

Direct component, subsystem, and product testing for functional and performance behavior, reliability and durability, environmental exposure, mechanical and structural integrity, electrical and thermal behavior, controls and software, and safety or EMC needs as applicable.

Own system integration and integrated-solution validation

Define and lead integration testing for solutions that combine Nextpower products and interfaces, including mechanical structures, eBOS, power conversion, controls, software, and third-party equipment as applicable.

Validate interfaces, interoperability, system performance, safety, resilience, and customer workflows across normal, fault, boundary, and recovery conditions, progressing from simulation and bench testing through labs, test yards, pilots, and field deployments.

Confirm that system configurations and test environments represent installation, operating, and service conditions customers will encounter.

Build scalable test capability

Develop a high-performing, globally connected V&V organization and the lab, test-yard, instrumentation, test-rig, and field-validation capabilities needed to support the product roadmap.

Expand automation, data capture and analysis, requirements-to-test traceability, reusable test assets, and simulation, software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop methods where appropriate.

Maintain safe test practices, calibrated equipment, repeatable procedures, and reliable data.

Guide release decisions and continuous learning

Set evidence-based readiness reviews and communicate coverage, test results, open issues, residual risks, and release recommendations clearly to engineering and executive leaders.

Lead failure triage, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and regression testing; turn test, pilot, customer, and field findings into design and process improvements.

Partner across Product, Systems, Engineering, Quality, Certification, Software, NPI, Operations, Service, suppliers, and customers to resolve cross-functional risks.

Lead people, planning, and partnerships

Set organization priorities, staffing plans, budgets, equipment investments, and external lab or supplier partnerships; align test capacity to program timing and business needs.

Coach leaders and technical staff, strengthen engineering judgment, and create clear accountability for test quality, execution, and timely escalation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field, with 15 or more years of relevant engineering experience, including substantial responsibility for verification, validation, test, or reliability.
• Seven or more years leading multidisciplinary engineering or test teams, including responsibility for managers, organizational capability, or major cross-functional programs.
• Demonstrated success leading end-to-end V&V for complex hardware and software products, system-level integration, and customer-facing integrated solutions.
• Strong command of requirements-based testing, risk analysis, design of experiments, reliability and qualification methods, failure analysis, and evidence-based release decisions.
• Experience designing and operating lab, test-yard, field, or customer-pilot programs, with sound judgment about test coverage, safety, data quality, and schedule trade-offs.
• Ability to build trust across technical and business teams and communicate test evidence, technical risk, and recommendations clearly to executives and customers.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master's degree in engineering or a related technical field.
• Experience in utility-scale solar, renewable energy, power electronics, eBOS, electromechanical products, industrial automation, or other complex energy systems.
• Familiarity with product certification and compliance programs, including relevant UL, IEC, IEEE, NRTL, or grid-interconnection requirements.
• Experience with test automation, requirements or test-management platforms, simulation, data analytics, software-in-the-loop, or hardware-in-the-loop environments.
• Experience leading globally distributed teams and working with contract manufacturers, suppliers, independent laboratories, and field partners.

Success Measures

• A traceable V&V program covers requirements and risks from product components through complete systems and integrated solutions.
• Cross-discipline integration issues are found earlier, and launch decisions are supported by clear, repeatable test evidence.
• Lab, test-yard, automation, and field-validation capabilities are matched to program priorities and operated safely.
• Test, pilot, and field findings consistently produce corrective actions, regression coverage, and measurable product improvements.

Pay is based on market location and may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education and other job-related reasons. The annual salary range for this position is $265,000 to $285,000 (eligible in California).

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we're building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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