Validation Engineer II: Lighting Reliability & Testing

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

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.