Validation Engineer II

Sunco.com; Santa Clarita (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

FSAs

Time off policy (vacation/holidays)

EAP

Team-building activities

Job summary

Sunco Lighting Inc. in California seeks a Validation Engineer II to develop, validate, and support lighting products from concept to production.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure performance, safety, reliability, and compliance, with emphasis on validation and testing. Responsibilities include designing validation protocols, running electrical, thermal, photometric tests, applying ALT and HAST, and driving continuous improvement through data‑driven analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 3-6 years of experience in hardware product engineering, validation, or reliability testing, ideally in the lighting industry or related electronics sector.
• Hands‑on experience with lighting test equipment (e.g., integrating spheres, goniophotometers, thermal chambers, oscilloscopes).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with expertise in root‑cause analysis methods.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, or similar); circuit/PCB exposure a plus.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment with multiple active projects.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent teamwork, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to understand technical concepts, interpret schematics, and provide informed design recommendations.
• Proficiency with Project Management tools and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrates responsibility, initiative, problem‑solving ability, and critical thinking.
• Quick learner with a proactive approach to challenges.

Responsibilities

• Develop products that meet UL-certified safety standards, customer specifications, and internal quality requirements while ensuring on‑time launch and adherence to budget.
• Manage projects and programs with accurate forecasting of timelines, resources, and deliverables.
• Maintain daily communication with suppliers to ensure objectives are clearly understood and consistently met.
• Validation & Reliability Testing
• Plan, design, and execute validation protocols for lighting products (LED, drivers, controls, fixtures).
• Perform electrical, thermal, photometric, mechanical, and environmental tests to ensure compliance with performance specifications and applicable safety standards
• Apply accelerated life testing (ALT) and highly accelerated stress testing (HAST) to validate long‑term reliability.
• Test Method Development & Automation
• Create test setups, fixtures, and automated procedures to improve efficiency and repeatability of validation processes.
• Implement data acquisition and analysis tools to monitor performance and identify failure modes.
• Maintain calibration and integrity of testing equipment.
• Failure Analysis & Continuous Improvement
• Conduct root cause analysis for test failures and field returns, applying methods such as FMEA, 8D, and DOE.
• Translate findings into actionable design, process, or supplier changes to enhance product quality and reliability.
• Track KPIs for validation cycles, yield, and reliability performance, driving continuous improvement in testing processes.
• Documentation & Reporting
• Create installation manuals, product labels, and verify engineering specifications on retail packaging.
• Prepare comprehensive validation reports, summarizing methodology, results, risks, and recommendations.
• Maintain test databases and ensure traceability of all validation activities for internal and external audits.
• Perform additional related duties as assigned.

Skills

Electrical Eng

Hardware testing

Root cause analysis

CAD tools

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree (Electrical Eng)

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

Oscilloscopes

Goniophotometer

Integrating spheres

Job description

Who We Are

Sunco is one of the largest and fastest-growing online lighting retailers in the U.S.—and we’re just getting started. Headquartered in sunny Valencia, CA, we’re powered by an amazing team of people who bring passion, purpose, and innovation to everything they do.

What We Do

We light up the world—literally
Millions of customers have trusted Sunco for our energy-efficient LED lighting and our commitment to quality, value, and customer care. Whether it’s a home renovation or a large-scale commercial project, our mission is to deliver top-tier lighting solutions with unbeatable service and eco-conscious impact.
At Sunco, we don’t just sell lights—we help our customers see things in a whole new light.

Overview

As a Validation Engineer II in the lighting industry, you will be responsible for developing, validating, and supporting innovative lighting products from concept through production. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that new lighting solutions meet performance, safety, reliability, and compliance standards. This role places a strong emphasis on validation, reliability testing, and continuous improvement, making it ideal for an engineer with hands‑on hardware and testing experience.

What You'll Do

• Develop products that meet UL-certified safety standards, customer specifications, and internal quality requirements while ensuring on‑time launch and adherence to budget.
• Manage projects and programs with accurate forecasting of timelines, resources, and deliverables.
• Maintain daily communication with suppliers to ensure objectives are clearly understood and consistently met.
• Validation & Reliability Testing
• Plan, design, and execute validation protocols for lighting products (LED, drivers, controls, fixtures).
• Perform electrical, thermal, photometric, mechanical, and environmental tests to ensure compliance with performance specifications and applicable safety standards
• Apply accelerated life testing (ALT) and highly accelerated stress testing (HAST) to validate long‑term reliability.
• Test Method Development & Automation
• Create test setups, fixtures, and automated procedures to improve efficiency and repeatability of validation processes.
• Implement data acquisition and analysis tools to monitor performance and identify failure modes.
• Maintain calibration and integrity of testing equipment.
• Failure Analysis & Continuous Improvement
• Conduct root cause analysis for test failures and field returns, applying methods such as FMEA, 8D, and DOE.
• Translate findings into actionable design, process, or supplier changes to enhance product quality and reliability.
• Track KPIs for validation cycles, yield, and reliability performance, driving continuous improvement in testing processes.
• Documentation & Reporting
• Create installation manuals, product labels, and verify engineering specifications on retail packaging.
• Prepare comprehensive validation reports, summarizing methodology, results, risks, and recommendations.
• Maintain test databases and ensure traceability of all validation activities for internal and external audits.
• Perform additional related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 3-6 years of experience in hardware product engineering, validation, or reliability testing, ideally in the lighting industry or related electronics sector.
• Hands‑on experience with lighting test equipment (e.g., integrating spheres, goniophotometers, thermal chambers, oscilloscopes).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with expertise in root‑cause analysis methods.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, or similar); circuit/PCB exposure a plus.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment with multiple active projects.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent teamwork, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to understand technical concepts, interpret schematics, and provide informed design recommendations.
• Proficiency with Project Management tools and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrates responsibility, initiative, problem‑solving ability, and critical thinking.
• Quick learner with a proactive approach to challenges.

Essential Physical Demands

• Ability to sit or stand at a computer workstation for extended periods.
• Comfortable performing hands‑on testing of prototype products.
• Ability to lift and carry over 50 pounds.
• Ability to push and pull heavy objects as needed.
• Capable of performing essential physical tasks including standing, bending, kneeling, sitting, and reaching.
• Comfortable working independently or as part of a team.
• Able to use protective equipment during physical tasks.
• Maintains a safe and clean working environment.

Benefits & Perks

At Sunco, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well‑being and professional growth of our team members, our offering include:

• Comprehensive Health and Wellness Coverage: Enjoy peace of mind with our extensive health insurance plans, which include medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) with Company Match: Secure your financial future with our 401(k) plan, featuring a competitive company match to help you save for retirement.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): Take advantage of FSAs to manage out‑of‑pocket healthcare and dependent care expenses efficiently.
• Time Off Policy: We believe in the importance of work‐life balance and provide a generous time off policy, including paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access confidential counseling and support services for personal and professional challenges.
• Team Building Activities: Engage in weekly challenges, weekly Wellness Walks, regular team‑building activities, and quarterly company outings to foster a strong sense of community.

Job Type

Full‑time , Exempt (Non‑Exempt)

Compensation

$90,000 - $100,000

DISCLAIMER

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to accurately reflect the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

Sunco Lighting Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and complies with Ban the Box laws, which prohibit us from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made. We also prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Sunco values privacy as a top priority. To understand more about the data we collect and process as part of our application, please view our Sunco Privacy Notice