Validation Engineer
About Us
At Dabster , we specialize in connecting high-calibre professionals with leading global organizations. We are currently seeking an experienced Vehicle Software Test & Validation Engineer to join our client’s team in Gaydon, UK (Onsite) . Our mission is to be a trusted recruitment partner, delivering exceptional talent to innovative and technology-driven clients worldwide.
Who Will You Work With
Our client is a global leader in automotive engineering and vehicle software innovation , delivering advanced vehicle platforms and connected systems. You will work closely with software engineers, validation teams, release managers, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure high-quality, reliable software releases across vehicle and offboard environments.
About the Role
As a Vehicle Software Test & Validation Engineer , you will play a critical role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and successful deployment of software releases across vehicle platforms. This hands-on role spans vehicle-level testing, in-vehicle test campaigns, log analysis, configuration management, and defect resolution . You will be responsible for executing tests, analysing complex vehicle data, and collaborating with engineering teams to drive continuous quality improvement.
This is an onsite contract position based in Gaydon, UK .
Key Responsibilities
Vehicle-Level Testing
- Plan and execute in-vehicle and offboard test campaigns to validate software functionality and release readiness.
- Perform hands-on testing across vehicle platforms, including vehicle-level and HIL environments .
Test Planning & Execution
- Develop, maintain, and execute test plans, test cases, and test scripts to identify defects and validate release quality.
- Manage and execute multiple test sequences in parallel across different vehicle software updates.
Release & Configuration Management
- Perform configuration and release management activities , including version control and change management.
- Install software builds on vehicles and initiate OTA campaigns for testing and validation.
Log Analysis & Defect Triage
- Analyse and triage logs to identify and root-cause issues using:
- CAN traces and dumps
- Ethernet / PCAP files
- ECU logs and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs)
- Drive defect resolution by working closely with development and integration teams.
Tooling & Automation
- Support and enhance test automation frameworks and tooling .
- Work within CI/CD pipelines to improve testing efficiency and release confidence.
Required Skills & Experience
- 2+ years of experience in automotive software testing and validation (vehicle-level and HIL).
- Strong experience in test planning, execution, and defect management .
- Hands-on experience analysing CAN, Ethernet, ECU logs, and diagnostics data .
- Experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins or GitLab.
- Proficiency with version control systems (Git) and issue tracking tools (Jira) .
- Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
- Valid UK driving license with at least 2 years of pre-validity (mandatory) .