A leading global automotive OEM is seeking an experienced Vehicle Validation Engineer to join its engineering team in Gaydon. This is an exciting opportunity to work on the validation and verification of cutting-edge vehicle systems, ensuring they perform flawlessly from development through to production.

You will play a key role in investigating, diagnosing, and resolving vehicle-level issues, working closely with cross-functional engineering teams to deliver robust, high-quality automotive systems. This position is ideal for an engineer with strong systems engineering knowledge, diagnostic expertise, and hands-on experience with vehicle communication networks.

The Role

As a Vehicle Validation Engineer, you will be responsible for validating vehicle systems and supporting issue investigation activities across multiple domains. Acting as a key point of contact between engineering teams, you will analyse complex technical issues, identify root causes, and ensure effective handovers and resolutions.

The role requires a strong understanding of automotive communication protocols, diagnostic technologies, and structured problem-solving methodologies to support vehicle integration and validation activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform vehicle-level validation and verification activities across a range of automotive systems.
• Investigate, analyse, and diagnose complex vehicle issues identified during development and testing.
• Work closely with issue reporters, engineering teams, and domain specialists to coordinate investigations and resolutions.
• Support system integration activities and ensure successful validation against requirements.
• Analyse CAN, LIN, Ethernet, and DoIP communications to identify system behaviours and faults.
• Use logging and diagnostic tools to capture, analyse, and interpret vehicle network data.
• Support defect management, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
• Produce clear technical reports and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Facilitate effective technical handovers between teams during issue investigations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of validation processes and methodologies.

What You'll Bring

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience within automotive validation, testing, systems engineering, or related vehicle development activities.
• Strong understanding of Systems Engineering principles and processes.
• Experience in System Verification & Validation (V&V) activities.
• Excellent knowledge of CAN, LIN, and DoIP (Diagnostics over IP) technologies.
• Understanding of UDS (Unified Diagnostic Services) and automotive diagnostics.
• Experience analysing communication networks including CAN, LIN, and Ethernet protocols.
• Highly developed analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience working within cross-functional automotive engineering teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Technical Expertise

• CAN, LIN, Ethernet Protocol Analysis
• Diagnostics over IP (DoIP)
• Unified Diagnostic Services (UDS)
• Vehicle Network Diagnostics
• System Verification & Validation
• Issue Investigation & Root Cause Analysis
• Systems Engineering Methodologies

Tools & Methods

Experience using industry-standard diagnostic and logging tools including:

• Vector Tool Suite
• CANoe
• CAN/LIN/Ethernet Logging and Analysis Tools
• Network Trace Analysis
• Diagnostics and Communication Testing Tools

Problem-Solving Skills

You will be comfortable applying structured investigative techniques, including:

• Root Cause Analysis
• Is / Is Not Analysis
• Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagrams
• Fault Investigation and Escalation Processes

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a vehicle integration, validation, or electrical systems environment.
• Knowledge of manufacturing, plant diagnostics, or production support activities.
• Understanding of connected vehicle architectures and modern automotive communication systems.
• Valid UK Driving Licence preferred.