Department: Engineering — Verification & ValidationReports To: Director of Systems Engineering / VP of EngineeringLocation: Boston | Travel Required: Up to 30%Employment Type: Full-TimeABOUT THE ROLEWe are seeking an experienced and driven Verification & Validation (V&V) Team Lead to own and lead the validation strategy for next-generation automotive sensor systems. This role is critical to ensuring our sensor products meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and reliability demanded by Tier 1 and OEM automotive customers.As the V&V Team Lead, you will be the technical authority for all aspects of sensor validation — from requirements traceability through system, subsystem, and vehicle-level testing — while ensuring full compliance with functional safety (FuSA/ISO 26262) and automotive grade standards (AEC-Q, IATF 16949). You will lead a cross-functional, geographically distributed team and serve as the primary technical interface with customers.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESLeadership & Strategy- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of V&V engineers across multiple sites and regions- Define and own the overall V&V strategy for automotive sensor products from concept through production release- Establish V&V team processes, tools, and best practices aligned with automotive industry standards- Drive a culture of rigor, repeatability, and continuous improvement within the V&V organization- Partner closely with Systems Engineering, Hardware, Software, and Systems Architecture teams to align validation efforts with product development milestonesRequirements Traceability- Own and manage requirements traceability matrices (RTM) from system-level requirements down to individual test cases- Ensure complete bidirectional traceability between customer requirements, internal specifications, and verification evidence- Work with systems engineers to review, challenge, and clarify ambiguous or incomplete requirements- Maintain traceability artifacts in tools such as DOORS, Jama, Polarion, or equivalentTest Planning & Methodology- Develop comprehensive test plans, test methodologies, and test procedures for sensors including radar, LiDAR, camera, or inertial sensors- Define test coverage strategies across unit, subsystem, system, and vehicle levels- Establish pass/fail criteria grounded in customer specs, internal requirements, and regulatory standards- Identify test gaps and drive resolution through risk-based analysisSystem, Subsystem & Vehicle Testing- Lead execution of HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop), SIL (Software-in-the-Loop), and bench-level testing for sensor subsystems- Plan and execute vehicle-level validation campaigns including track testing, public road testing, and environmental testing- Coordinate environmental and stress testing (temperature, vibration, EMC, humidity) per automotive standards- Define and manage test environments, fixtures, and configurations that are repeatable, reproducible, and well-documented- Ensure test setups meet automotive grade requirements and are suitable for regulatory and customer auditsFunctional Safety (FuSA) Compliance- Lead V&V activities in compliance with ISO 26262 including safety validation planning, safety analysis reviews, and validation reporting- Collaborate with the FuSA team to ensure all ASIL-rated requirements are fully verified with appropriate rigor and independence- Maintain and deliver safety case evidence as required for FuSA sign-off and customer approval- Support FMEA, FTA, FMEDA, and HARA activities from a validation perspectiveData Collection & Database Management- Define and oversee data collection strategies for vehicle testing, sensor characterization, and performance benchmarking- Establish and maintain a structured test data repository enabling efficient retrieval, analysis, and reporting- Ensure data integrity, version control, and traceability of all test results and datasets- Leverage data analysis tools (MATLAB, Python, SQL, or equivalent) to extract actionable insights from large test datasetsTest Automation- Champion and drive automation of test execution, data collection, and reporting workflows to accelerate validation cycles- Evaluate, select, and implement automation frameworks and tools (e.g., CANoe, LabVIEW, Python-based frameworks, Robot Framework)- Build automation infrastructure that supports regression testing and continuous validation pipelines- Reduce manual test burden while increasing test coverage and repeatabilityCustomer & Stakeholder Interface- Act as the primary technical point of contact for customers on all V&V-related topics- Present test plans, validation status, and results to customers and OEM stakeholders with clarity and confidence- Respond to customer validation requests, audit findings, and 8D corrective actions in a timely and professional manner- Support customer PPAP submissions, DVP&R (Design Verification Plan & Report), and production readiness reviewsCross-Functional & Regional Collaboration- Work effectively with cross-functional teams including Systems, Hardware, Software, Manufacturing, and Quality Engineering- Coordinate V&V activities across teams in multiple regions and time zones, ensuring alignment, clear communication, and on-time delivery- Participate in program reviews, gate reviews, and design reviews as the V&V representative- Communicate risks, issues, and escalations proactively to program management and leadershipREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field- 8+ years of experience in verification and validation in the automotive industry- 3+ years in a team lead or technical leadership role- Hands-on experience with automotive sensor systems (radar, LiDAR, camera or IMU)- Deep understanding of ISO 26262 (Functional Safety) and experience delivering FuSA-compliant validation evidence- Proven experience developing test plans, test procedures, and DVP&R documents- Strong background in requirements management and traceability using tools like DOORS, Jama, or Polarion- Experience with vehicle-level testing including test track, proving ground, and real-world drive testing- Proficiency in test automation tools and scripting (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, CANoe, or similar)- Solid understanding of automotive grade standards (AEC-Q, IATF 16949, ISO/IEC 17025)- Experience managing test databases and data pipelines for large-scale test data- Strong communication and presentation skills with experience in direct customer-facing roles- Comfortable working in a global, matrixed organization with teams across multiple regionsPREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- Experience with ADAS or autonomous driving sensor validation- Familiarity with AUTOSAR, CAN, Ethernet, or other automotive communication protocols- Knowledge of cybersecurity standards (ISO/SAE 21434) as applied to automotive sensors- Experience with HIL/SIL environments (dSPACE, NI, Vector, or similar)- Certifications in ISO 26262, Six Sigma, or ASPICE- Experience supporting PPAP and production launch activities- Prior experience working with Tier 1 or OEM automotive customers in a validation capacityWHAT WE OFFER- Competitive salary and performance-based bonus- Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401k)- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge automotive sensor technology- Collaborative and innovative engineering culture- Professional development and conference participation support- Flexible work arrangements where applicableWORK ENVIRONMENTThis role operates in a laboratory, office, and vehicle test environment. Candidates must be comfortable working in outdoor test track conditions, handling sensor hardware, and occasionally traveling to customer sites, proving grounds, or regional engineering offices.We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our workforce. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.