Validation Engineer

About Turtlebox Audio

The first Turtlebox was born out of necessity. After breaking every “loud” product on the market through routine outdoor use, the idea of the Turtlebox was created in a garage for personal use. Most portable speakers aren’t actually meant for the outdoors and can’t withstand the elements; the ones that can aren’t loud enough. When you’re at the beach or on an ATV, you need sound to carry over wind, waves, and boat engines— you need a Turtlebox. The company quickly realized a huge need among likeminded adventurers and set out to make the world’s loudest, most rugged outdoor portable speaker.

Role Overview

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 must prove it survives all of that, repeatedly and under documented conditions. This role is the Validation Engineer who will own the validation program end‑to‑end, reporting to the Manager, Engineering. You will develop DVP&Rs and test plans from scratch on every product, run validation across EVT through PVT, and decide whether a product is ready to ship. You will also work directly with JDMs and suppliers to review their test plans and hold them to Turtlebox standards.

Key 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 test plans hands‑on, using 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.
• 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 to ensure they reflect Turtlebox requirements.
• 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; coordinate third‑party lab testing for FCC, CE, UL, and applicable IEC certifications.
• 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 by participating in design reviews and flagging validation risk areas early.
• Maintain field failure data and feed findings back into validation protocols to prevent repeat failures.
• Identify test method improvements that catch failures faster and earlier in development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a 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 experience 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 using 5‑Why, fault tree, Ishikawa methods.
• Experience working directly with suppliers, OEMs, or JDM partners; comfortable reviewing their data and holding them accountable.
• Direct communicator—clearly reports failures and pushes back when external data doesn’t hold up.
• Operates independently in a fast‑moving, low‑structure environment; figures things out without waiting for direction.

Preferred Experience

• 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.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This position involves working in a traditional office environment, five days a week.

• Occasional lifting and carrying of up to 30 lb.
• Willingness to travel ~10–20%, including internationally, for supplier audits and build support.

Why Join Turtlebox?

• 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.
• Entrepreneurial culture with room for creativity, ownership, and innovation.
• Complimentary lunch every day.
• 12 annual holidays plus paid time off.
• Comprehensive health benefits and 401(k) matching.
• Awesome discounts to complete your Turtlebox collection.