Validation Engineer III

Join a manufacturing leader with over 50 years of excellence, where every role contributes to building reliable transportation solutions that people depend on everyday across the United States and Canada. At ENC, we prioritize safety, quality, innovation, collaboration, and continuous growth - creating vehicles our teams can take pride in.

Founded in 1975, ENC (ElDorado National - California) is a leading U.S. transportation manufacturer specializing in design, engineering, and end-to-end production of heavy-duty buses, shuttles, and cargo vehicles through a custom-build, mixed-model assembly process. Each vehicle is produced in our purpose-built facility in Riverside, California supporting public agencies and private transportation providers nationwide. We offer one of the industry’s widest portfolios of power options, including 100% battery-electric, diesel-electric hybrid, CNG, and clean diesel.

ENC is committed to revitalizing American manufacturing through innovation, customer focus, and the delivery of high-quality vehicles that keep communities connected, supported, and moving forward.

Validation Engineer III

Location: Riverside, CA

Salary Range: $110,000 - $130,000

Position Summary

The Validation Engineer III will be responsible for planning, executing, and managing test and validation activities for an innovative medium-duty vehicle platform. This role will ensure that all vehicle systems, mechanical, electrical, and software, meet design intent, performance requirements, and regulatory standards.

This position is based at the Company's headquarters in Riverside, California, and will require active collaboration with engineering and supplier teams in China, as well as coordination of U.S. and international test and certification programs. The ideal candidate will have strong technical understanding of vehicle systems and validation processes, experience with EV platforms or complex mobility products, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, startup-like development environment.

Key Responsibilities

This list of essential duties is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties, as management may deem necessary from time to time. The team member must be able to perform each essential job duty identified below satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of this position unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

• Develop and manage Design Verification Plans and Reports (DVP&R) for vehicle systems and components.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute validation activities including functional, durability, thermal, vibration, NVH, and environmental testing.
• Oversee data acquisition, instrumentation setup, and test execution for mechanical and electrical systems.
• Analyze test data, identify performance deviations, and lead root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Work cross-functionally with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to resolve issues and improve design robustness.
• Coordinate with internal and external test labs in the U.S. and abroad to ensure test coverage and compliance.
• Support FMVSS, EPA, and CARB validation and documentation requirements in collaboration with homologation teams.
• Support prototype builds, vehicle instrumentation, and system debugging activities.
• Travel to China and other test sites as required to oversee validation activities and collaborate with international teams.
• Maintain detailed test documentation, traceability, and reporting aligned with program milestones.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Automotive, or related Engineering field (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years of validation or test engineering experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, or EV development.
• Proven experience in vehicle or system-level validation, including test planning, execution, and reporting.
• Hands-on experience with data acquisition systems (e.g., NI, Vector) and test instrumentation.
• Knowledge of regulatory and safety standards such as FMVSS, EPA, and CARB.
• Familiarity with thermal, vibration, environmental, and EMC testing methodologies.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with experience in root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally, including frequent travel to China.

Preferred Qualifications

• Validation experience with EV-specific systems, such as batteries, e-axles, VCUs, and BMS (a plus).
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and test automation (a plus).
• Familiarity with ISO 26262, functional safety, and validation best practices (a plus).
• Previous collaboration with international suppliers or engineering teams (a plus).
• Experience supporting prototype-to-production transition and design maturity tracking (a plus).

Work Environment

This is an onsite position based in Riverside, CA and requires being onsite.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package: Medical (including FSA & HSA), dental, vision, life and disability insurance, EAP, mental health, and wellness programs
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid time off and twelve (12) paid holidays
• Employee referral program
• Career growth and development opportunities

Career Growth at ENC

We believe great careers and leaders are built from within. Many of our team members have advanced into roles that lead or into specialized technical positions. We invest in hands-on training, skill development, and long-term career pathways within manufacturing operations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ElDorado National California Inc. (ENC) is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class under applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected.

ENC takes affirmative action to employ and advance employment opportunities for minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We actively encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join our team.

ENC is also committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to opportunities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact HR Department for assistance.

In accordance with California's wage transparency law (Senate Bill 1162), we are committed to pay equity and transparency. The salary range reflected on the job positing is our good faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this role at the time of posting. While we do not typically hire at the top of the salary range, initial offers are based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience, with opportunities for growth and increases over time.