Test and Validation Engineer - Body Engineering

Test and Validation Engineer – Body Engineering

Position Details

• Location: Newark, CA (Onsite)

• Employment Type: Contractual

Role Overview

The Test and Validation Engineer – Body Engineering will own and drive hardware testing and validation for vehicle body systems and components. This role partners closely with Design, Quality, Manufacturing, Tier-1 suppliers, and external test labs to ensure components meet performance, quality, and regulatory requirements throughout the product development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and execute hardware testing and validation for body systems and components including:

  • Instrument panel, center console, door trims

  • Soft trims, hard trims

  • DMS (Displays, mechanisms, switches)

  • Vehicle accessories

• Coordinate testing from setup through execution and reporting, including:

  • Test planning and development

  • Execution and inspections

  • Root cause analysis and data processing

• Design and fabricate custom test fixtures for complex bench test setups

• Ensure test findings are well documented, rapidly communicated, and support root cause investigations with Design, Quality, and Manufacturing teams

• Track test schedules and timelines with external test houses and Tier-1 suppliers to ensure on-time execution and accurate results

• Define test part quantities and manage parts logistics coordination

• Create and maintain Lucid validation documentation, including:

  • DVPRs

  • Test specifications

  • Test protocols

  • Test reports

• Participate in root cause analysis with Design Release Engineering (DRE) teams

• Coordinate and manage internal OEM high-level tests

• Review test reports and prepare test result summaries for DRE communication

• Drive DVP sign-off for PPAP / LQP to enable product salability (SOP)

• Travel to internal and external test sites as required

Top Skills / Experience

• Automotive interior and/or exterior validation and testing expertise

• Strong understanding of body systems and trim components

• Hands-on experience with custom test fixture design and fabrication

• Excellent documentation, communication, and cross-functional coordination skills

• Strong schedule tracking and supplier coordination capability

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

• 5+ years of experience in automotive interior or exterior validation and testing at:

  • OEM

  • Tier-1 supplier

  • Accredited test lab

• Experience with CAD tools such as CATIA, 3DX, or SolidWorks

• Experience with interior materials:

  • Plastics, polymers, fabrics, foams

• Knowledge of interior design and assembly strategies:

  • Clips, adhesives, fasteners, welding

• Experience with automotive manufacturing and finishing processes, including:

  • Plastic injection molding

  • Press lamination

  • Hand wrapping

  • Back injection

  • Painting, chrome plating

  • IMD / IML

• Understanding of validation milestones across the Product Development Process

• Hands-on experience using standard lab test equipment, such as:

  • Environmental chambers

  • Shaker tables

  • Power supplies and DAQs

  • Force and torque transducers

  • Pneumatic / servo-electric actuators

  • Thermocouples, strain gages, LVDTs

• Working knowledge of FMVSS and international regulatory requirements for interior components

• Experience using Atlassian Jira and Confluence

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

Keywords

Automotive Validation, Body Engineering, Interior & Exterior Trim, DVPR, DVP, PPAP, FMVSS, CATIA, SolidWorks, Test Fixtures, Tier-1 Suppliers, OEM Testing