How to hire a validation engineer

How to hire a validation engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step validation engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a validation engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new validation engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a validation engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your validation engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a validation engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect validation engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents validation engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Validation Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Validation Engineer	A Validation Engineer is a qualified engineer who tests the systems used to develop or manufacture products such as pharmaceuticals or automobiles. Another role is documenting and reporting engineering tests.	$29-51
   Project Engineer	A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation... Show more	$26-48
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • FDA
   • GMP
   • Medical Devices
   • Test Results
   • Data Analysis
   • Process Validation
   • Summary Reports
   • Cleaning Validation
   • IQ/OQ/PQ
   • Iq Oq Pq
   • Risk Assessments
   • ISO
   • Computer System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the DFMEA and risk assessment/mitigation as development are on-going.
   • Manage a team of 15 technicians testing Intel's wireless products across all Microsoft's OS offerigns.
   • Coordinate a division of labor and manage next steps to validate SVM on Broadwell (BDW) client CPU.
   • Manage CSV quality compliance by meeting factory, corporate, federal and foreign inspections demonstrating regulatory control with no major findings.
   • Work with end users from different departments, possess strong analytical and risk assessment skills and managing multiple GLP system projects.
   • Coordinate and manage daily CIP validation testing activities.

   More validation engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your validation engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A validation engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, validation engineers' average salary in kansas is 44% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level validation engineers earn 42% less than senior-level validation engineers.
   • Certifications. A validation engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a validation engineer's salary.

   Average validation engineer salary

   $82,004yearly

   $39.42 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level validation engineer salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average validation engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$105,249	$51
   2	Texas	$92,724	$45
   3	Massachusetts	$90,547	$44
   4	New Jersey	$86,876	$42
   5	Colorado	$85,332	$41
   6	Illinois	$77,502	$37
   7	Minnesota	$76,900	$37
   8	North Carolina	$75,903	$36
   9	New York	$75,229	$36
   10	Ohio	$73,918	$36
   11	Oregon	$73,235	$35
   12	Michigan	$72,926	$35
   13	Indiana	$56,056	$27

   Average validation engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$130,283	$62.64	26
   2	Apple	$125,255	$60.22	147
   3	Google	$123,011	$59.14	7
   4	Microsoft	$116,686	$56.10	39
   5	NVIDIA	$111,455	$53.58	13
   6	Cisco	$109,568	$52.68	38
   7	Zoox	$108,395	$52.11	1
   8	Cruise Automation	$106,401	$51.15
   9	Western Digital	$106,255	$51.08
   10	Texas Instruments	$106,182	$51.05	15
   11	Varian Medical Systems	$105,380	$50.66
   12	Neuralink IT Solutions	$105,340	$50.64	1
   13	Intuitive Surgical	$104,795	$50.38	4
   14	Genentech	$104,603	$50.29	7
   15	Biogen	$104,330	$50.16
   16	AbbVie	$103,825	$49.92	23
   17	Novartis	$103,634	$49.82	3
   18	Renesas Electronics	$103,505	$49.76
   19	Novo Nordisk	$103,367	$49.70
   20	Amd	$103,090	$49.56	30

4. Writing a validation engineer job description

   A good validation engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a validation engineer job description:

   Validation engineer job description example

   Please Note:
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   Job Description:
   
   An R&D Test Engineer, internally referred to as an IC Validation Engineer or Systems Engineer, is responsible for defining, developing and utilizing test tools to ensure that the products designed by the Broadcom DCSG (Data Center Solutions Group) meet all applicable industry standards and operate completely in their intended applications. IC Validation engineers work with the development engineering departments (hardware and software) in validating and debugging new products in a lab environment. This team is continually working with state of the art equipment on leading edge storage silicon spanning across the pre (emulation) and post silicon validation cycle.
   
   Responsibilities can include:
   Construct, review, and execute robust validation test plans on emulation platforms and prototype silicon Develop C/C++ based embedded firmware and or/host software tools and applications for low level system validation Develop test scripts to control protocol exercisers and automate various validation tools and equipment Work in parallel with the software development, FPGA Emulation, and IC Design teams as part of the pre/post silicon validation process Work with the board development team on validation and reference board designs and new product requirements Drive technical debug and resolution of issues encountered at the complete system level. Propose creative workarounds and implement solutions to complex problems.Work with external customers on initial silicon bring-up and system level integration/troubleshooting Effectively present technical information to teams of engineers. Educate Field Application Engineers (FAEs) on new product features and operation Work with the Technical Publications group on engineering notes, data sheets, and architectural manuals
   
   Education/Experience:
   Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field and 0-2 years of experience.
   
   Additional Job Description:
   Compensation and Benefits
   
   The base salary range for this position is $51,000 - $85,000 annually.
   
   This position is also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus in accordance with the relevant plan documents and equity in accordance with equity award agreements.
   
   Broadcom offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to the following: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401(K) participation including company matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company paid holidays, paid sick leave and vacation time. The company follows all national and state requirements for Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence.
   
   The foregoing information is provided in compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and is the company's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation range and benefits offered for this position. The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, location, and other job-related reasons.
   
   Broadcom is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability status, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We will also consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records consistent with local law.
   
   If you are located outside USA, please be sure to fill out a home address as this will be used for future correspondence.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find validation engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your validation engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit validation engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit validation engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new validation engineer

   Once you've selected the best validation engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a validation engineer?