Validation Engineer

Blue Bird Fort Valley
402 Blue Bird Blvd
Fort Valley, GA 31030, USA

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation.

The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit

The Validation Engineer in Engineering designs develops, and executes physical verification and validation protocols to guarantee the quality, safety, and reliability of Blue Bird’s school bus and commercial vehicle platforms. This role ensures that components, subsystems, and complete vehicles adhere strictly to internal engineering targets, environmental regulations, and federal safety mandates. The Validation Engineer bridges the gap between design engineering and high-volume production, serving as the final gatekeeper for product readiness.

• DVP&R Development:
  Author, update, and manage comprehensive Design Verification Plan and Report (DVP&R) documentation for new vehicle components, sub-systems and components, including electrical and propulsion systems.
• Physical Testing Execution:
  Setup, program, and run laboratory and test-track validation procedures, including but not limited to structural durability, environmental cycling, thermal shock, electrical systems testing.
• Manage outsourced validation activities with qualified vendors.
• Instrumentation & Data Logging:
  Lead technicians to install and calibrate test sensors (e.g., strain gauges, load cells, thermocouples, and accelerometers) on prototype vehicles, managing data collection using complex data acquisition systems (DAQ).
• Regulatory Compliance Verification:
  Coordinate and oversee physical testing required to achieve compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), EPA/CARB mandates, and crash/rollover safety metrics.
• Failure Analysis & Reporting:
  Document test anomalies and component structural failures, performing root cause analysis (RCA) and collaborating with Design Engineers to implement robust engineering solutions.
• Supplier Component Validation:
  Evaluate and audit supplier test methods and validation data to verify that purchased sub-assemblies satisfy Blue Bird's strict performance and durability lifetimes.
• Lab Equipment Maintenance:
  Calibrate and maintain specialized laboratory testing infrastructure, including electrodynamic shakers, environmental chambers, and pneumatic actuators.

• Experimental Testing Mechanics
  :
  Strong working knowledge of accelerated life testing (ALT), fatigue testing, material deformation, and physical vehicle dynamics.
• DAQ & Software Literacy
  :
  Proficiency using automotive data acquisition hardware and analysis tools (such as Dewesoft, Vector CANalyzer, Somat eDAQ, or nCode Glyph Works).
• Automotive Network Communication
  :
  Familiarity with reading, capturing, and interpreting vehicle network communications via J1939, CAN, and LIN bus networks.
• Technical Report Writing
  :
  Ability to translate raw test data, sensor waveforms, and laboratory observations into highly professional, actionable validation engineering reports.
• Cross-Functional Alignment
  :
  Strong communication skills to effectively challenge or validate design assumptions with simulation (CAE), design, and manufacturing teams.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Automotive Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in experimental validation, laboratory testing, or physical verification within an automotive or heavy-duty commercial truck…