Validation Engineer at Turtlebox Audio in Houston, TX

Job description

• Turtlebox makes products for conditions that would break most consumer electronics — rain, UV, drops, temperature swings, sand, saltwater, heavy use. Before any product ships, someone has to prove it survives all of that, repeatedly and under conditions that can be documented and defended. That's this role.
• We're looking for a Validation Engineer to own the validation program end to end. This role reports to the Manager, Engineering. You'll develop DVP&Rs and test plans from scratch on every product, run validation across EVT through PVT, and make the call on whether a product is ready to ship. You'll also work directly with JDMs and suppliers to review their test plans and hold them to Turtlebox standards — because what gets reported externally needs to match what actually happened on the bench.
• This is a hands-on, high-accountability role. You write the test plan, you run the test, you own the result. If something fails, you lead the root cause and drive it to closure. If a supplier's data doesn't add up, you push back.

Responsibilities

• Build and Own the Validation Program
• Develop DVP&Rs and validation test plans for all Turtlebox products and major engineering changes — mechanical, environmental, electrical, and audio
• Own the validation schedule and coordinate test activities across EVT, DVT, and PVT build cycles
• Define acceptance criteria and make clear pass/fail recommendations based on test results
• Maintain validation documentation — test protocols, results, failure reports, and corrective action records
• Execute Testing and Root Cause Analysis
• Execute test plans hands-on — you run the tests, not just write the procedures
• Use appropriate test equipment: environmental chambers, drop fixtures, IP ingress setups, audio analyzers, oscilloscopes, and standard lab instruments
• Validate electrical and firmware system behavior at the board and system level — bring-up, stress testing, edge case coverage
• Lead root cause analysis on validation failures — 5-Why, fault tree, Ishikawa — and drive corrective actions to verified closure
• Build and maintain custom test fixtures, jigs, and automated test setups where applicable
• Supplier & JDM Validation Oversight
• Partner with JDMs and suppliers to align on validation plans, test coverage, and acceptance standards before builds begin
• Review, challenge, and approve supplier/JDM test plans and reports — ensure they reflect Turtlebox requirements, not just what's easy to pass
• Audit supplier and JDM test execution — remotely and onsite — to verify accuracy, consistency, and integrity of results
• Correlate internal and external test data; identify gaps and drive improvements when data doesn't align
• Travel domestically and internationally (~10–20%) for supplier audits, build support, and issue resolution
• Support Regulatory and Compliance Testing
• Support PS&C Manager in coordinating third-party lab testing for regulatory certifications — FCC, CE, UL, and applicable IEC standards
• Work with the PS&C Manager to ensure product designs meet safety and compliance requirements before certification submission
• Support documentation and sample preparation for certification testing
• Drive Quality Into Development
• Participate in design reviews and flag validation risk areas early — before they become expensive problems at EVT
• Maintain field failure data and feed findings back into validation protocols so the same failure modes don't repeat
• Identify test method improvements that catch failures faster and earlier in development

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 4+ years of product validation, test engineering, or reliability engineering experience in consumer hardware
• Experience developing and executing DVP&Rs and validation test plans from scratch
• Hands-on with environmental and mechanical testing: IP ingress, drop, vibration, thermal cycling
• Solid electrical and firmware validation experience — PCBA bring-up, system-level testing, lab equipment fluency
• Proven ability to lead root cause analysis: 5-Why, fault tree, Ishikawa
• Experience working directly with suppliers, OEMs, or JDM partners — comfortable reviewing their data and holding them accountable
• Direct communicator — you say when something failed and why, and you push back when external data doesn't hold up
• Operates independently in a fast-moving, low-structure environment — figures things out without waiting for direction
• Experience with ruggedized or outdoor consumer electronics
• Background in audio products, battery-powered systems, or wireless devices
• Familiarity with IEC 60529 (IP ratings), IEC 62133 (battery), or other applicable consumer electronics standards
• Experience with reliability testing methodologies — HALT/HASS
• Background in audio performance testing: frequency response, THD, SPL
• Familiarity with statistical analysis tools — JMP, Minitab, or equivalent
• Experience with embedded systems and firmware debugging tools

Skills

Required

• DVP&R development
• Validation test plan development
• Mechanical testing
• Electrical validation
• Firmware validation
• PCBA bring-up
• System-level testing
• Lab equipment fluency
• Supplier/OEM/JDM collaboration
• Data review and accountability
• Direct communication

Preferred

• Reliability testing (HALT/HASS)

Benefits

• Be part of a fast-growing premium outdoor audio brand with strong momentum in wholesale and D2C.
• Coworkers who are as passionate about music and adventure as you are.
• Thrive in an entrepreneurial culture with room for creativity, ownership, and innovation.
• Complimentary lunch every day.
• 12 annual holidays plus Paid Time Off.
• Comprehensive health benefits & 401k matching.
• Awesome discounts to complete your Turtlebox collection!