Validation Engineering Manager

Job Title: Validation Engineering Manager

Location: Franksville WI 53126

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Industry: Electronics

Compensation: $170K–210K

Relocation Assistance Available

Schedule: Onsite Monday - Friday

Acara Solutions is seeking a Validation Engineering Manager to join our client on a full-time direct hire opportunity.

About the Opportunity:

This role will own the complete validation and reliability lifecycle for industrial power electronics products, including bidirectional DC/DC converters, solar MPPT optimizers, and next-generation variable frequency drives. The ideal candidate will combine hands-on power electronics testing expertise with experience developing validation strategies, leading laboratory operations, and collaborating across engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams to deliver reliable, field-proven products.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own Design Validation Plans (DVP) for new power electronics products.
• Lead DFMEA activities and translate risk assessments into validation test plans.
• Design, execute, and analyze electrical, thermal, environmental, reliability, safety, and communications testing.
• Perform root cause analysis using structured problem-solving methodologies (8D, FTA, Ishikawa).
• Prepare technical validation reports supporting regulatory compliance and product development.
• Build, manage, and maintain the company's product validation laboratory, including equipment, safety, calibration, and testing procedures.
• Supervise laboratory technicians and establish standard operating procedures.
• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, quality, compliance, and supply chain teams to improve product reliability and transfer test methods into production.
• Develop product reliability models, analyze field failures, and drive continuous product improvements.

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering
• 7 years minimum experience in power electronics validation, test engineering, or reliability engineering.

What Sets You Apart:

• Experience developing Design Validation Plans (DVP) and leading DFMEA activities for power conversion products such as AC drives, DC/DC converters, inverters, or similar technologies.
• Hands-on experience with power electronics test equipment, including power analyzers, oscilloscopes, programmable AC/DC sources, electronic loads, thermal cameras, and high-voltage measurement equipment.
• Working knowledge of industry standards including UL, IEC, IEEE, and NFPA requirements for industrial power electronics.
• Strong data analysis skills using Excel, MATLAB, and/or Python.
• Experience supervising technicians or junior engineers in a laboratory environment.
• Excellent technical documentation and report-writing skills.
• Experience with HALT/HASS and accelerated life testing.
• Knowledge of solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS), or renewable energy products.
• Experience developing automated test systems using LabVIEW or Python.
• Familiarity with SiC MOSFET and IGBT characterization.
• Experience with end-of-line production test systems.
• CRE or CQE certification.
• Experience working within ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality management systems.