UX Validation Lead

The Robot Age; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking a founding UX Validation Lead to bridge HMI concepts with production software quality. You will define test strategy, build validation infrastructure, and grow a team focused on UX and HMI validation for safety-critical autonomy software.

This is hands-on leadership: you’ll validate interfaces, drive automation, collaborate with design, product, and engineering, and shape how we prove usability translates to reliable operation before releases.

Qualifications

• Experience validating complex user interfaces, HMI systems, or safety-critical software.
• Ability to design test strategy and build practical validation infrastructure.
• Comfort leading hands-on work while developing a team and practice area.
• Strong collaboration with designers, engineers, product managers, and test specialists.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end HMI and UX validation methods for products.
• Build test approaches and automation infrastructure for interface quality.
• Turn early HMI concepts into validated production-ready product surfaces.
• Grow test engineers into domain specialists for UX and HMI validation.
• Work across design, product, and engineering to close gaps before release.

Skills

HMI validation

UX validation leadership

Test strategy design

Automation infrastructure

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

What the role actually is

Applied Intuition is hiring a founding UX Validation Lead to build the bridge between HMI concepts and production software quality. The role defines test strategy, creates validation infrastructure, and develops a team around UX and HMI testing.

This is not a conventional qualitative research role. It is closer to a hands-on validation lead for interfaces where usability, automation, and product reliability all matter because the software is tied to vehicles and autonomy workflows.

What you would work on

• Define end-to-end HMI and UX validation methods for Applied's products
• Build test approaches and automation infrastructure for interface quality
• Turn early HMI concepts into validated production-ready product surfaces
• Grow test engineers into domain specialists for UX and HMI validation
• Work across design, product, and engineering to close gaps before release

What they are asking for

• Experience validating complex user interfaces, HMI systems, or safety-relevant software
• Ability to design test strategy and build practical validation infrastructure
• Comfort leading hands-on work while developing a team and practice area
• Strong collaboration with designers, engineers, product managers, and test specialists

Why this one is worth a look

The most interesting part is the "founding" angle. Applied appears to be formalizing how it proves that autonomy interfaces are understandable and production-ready, which is a useful niche for someone who cares about the gap between UX intent and operational reality.