Lead Validation Engineer | Dayton, OH
Long-term contract-to-hire role 12+ months | Full-time with full benefits | Onsite

Kelly® Engineering is seeking a Lead Validation Engineer for a long-term contract-to-hire position at our industrial technology client in Dayton, OH.

Overview 
We are seeking a Lead Validation Engineer to champion the reliability and performance of electronic sensing products such as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) and angle sensors. In this technically central role, you’ll develop and drive the product validation strategy – from simulation to real-world field testing – and ensure that each product meets strict performance, reliability, and quality standards before release. You’ll work hands-on with cross-disciplinary teams throughout the product lifecycle, helping shape essential testing processes and decisions that impact global off-highway infrastructure solutions.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage comprehensive verification & validation plans tailored to product risk and requirements.
  

• Translate technical requirements and risks into clear, testable validation strategies.
  

• Plan, organize, and oversee testing efforts (simulation, lab, HIL, field/machine-level).
  

• Coordinate test execution with both internal teams and external test facilities.
  

• Review and analyze test results, providing clear feedback for development and release decisions.
  

• Document and archive validation outcomes to ensure traceability.
  

• Represent validation status in program milestone reviews, including recommendations for release readiness based on risk.
  

• Collaborate daily with product managers, engineers, manufacturing, and project leaders to align validation with program schedules and priorities.
  

• Contribute to the improvement of validation processes, capturing lessons learned, and supporting best practice standardization.

Required Qualifications / Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  

• Solid grounding in the electronic product development process across multiple engineering areas.
  

• Demonstrated experience with validation planning, test strategy, and risk-based testing (DVP&R, FMEA).
  

• Familiarity with a range of test environments, such as lab, virtual simulations, environmental, and on-machine/field testing.
  

• Working understanding of reliability, durability, functional safety, and the basics of cybersecurity as they relate to hardware validation.
  

• Proven ability to coordinate projects across various programs, teams, and testing sites.
  

• Strong communication skills, including generating clear technical reports and presenting findings to stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications / Skills

• Direct experience with IMUs, MEMS sensors, or sensor systems in automotive or off-highway equipment.
  

• Background in reliability or durability testing.
  

• Hands-on experience in structured validation processes (e.g., DVP&R frameworks, gated development).
  

• Strong troubleshooting, analysis, and independent project execution skills.

This role is a full-time, fully benefited position. As a KellyOCG employee, you will be eligible for Medical, Dental, and a variety of other benefits to choose from. You will also be eligible for paid time off, including holiday, vacation, and sick/personal time. All KellyOCG employees receive annual performance reviews. 

All applicants applying for this job opening must be legally authorized to work in the United States and are required to have US residency at the time of application. Client is not able to provide sponsorship.

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