Autonomous Virtual Validation Manager

Fortescue is a dynamic technology, energy and metals group who is leading Innovation, development and industrialisation of heavy industry to achieve Real Zero decarbonisation - rapidly, profitably and globally.

At Fortescue, the autonomous program is pushing boundaries beyond Level 4 deployment, uniquely as developer and customer for core production capability. It is already operating at scale across multiple active mine sites with plans for global expansion. Virtual validation is critical to safety, deployment readiness, and rapid expansion.

Reporting to the Managing Director Autonomous Fleet Solutions, the Autonomous Virtual Validation Manager will own the strategy and execution of full system-level validation across perception, planning, control and vehicle integration. This is a highly hands‑on technical leadership role with genuine end‑to‑end ownership — from shaping validation architecture and tooling, through to influencing system design and supporting live deployment. If you want to define what best‑in‑class autonomous system assurance looks like at scale — this is your opportunity.

• Own and lead the SIL and HIL validation strategy for autonomous systems.
• Design validation frameworks that enable rapid iteration while maintaining safety and system assurance.
• Ensure validation outcomes are aligned with on‑vehicle behaviour, safety cases, and deployment readiness.

• Validate autonomous systems at a full system and vehicle level, not isolated modules.
• Understand and assess interactions between perception, planning, control, and infrastructure systems.
• Support integration decisions through data‑driven validation insights.

• Provide hands‑on technical leadership in simulation, test automation, and system diagnostics.
• Lead and mentor engineers delivering validation code, tooling, and infrastructure.
• Identify failure modes and gaps in system behaviour through advanced testing techniques.

• Maintain a strong understanding of overall autonomous system architecture and dependencies.
• Work closely with system architects and development teams to influence design for testability.
• Contribute to system integration discussions with a validation‑first perspective.

• Build and grow a high‑performing virtual validation team.
• Develop validation processes, standards, and best practices.
• Support skills development and succession within the validation function.

• Communicate validation outcomes, risks, and system readiness clearly to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Support executive and operational decision‑making through evidence‑based insights.

• Engineering degree in a relevant discipline. Post‑graduate studies well regarded.
• 5‑8+ years in autonomous systems validation, simulation or system integration, including experience in the development and implementation of virtual validation strategy and methodologies.
• Strong hands‑on experience with SIL and HIL validation environments.
• Experience working within Agile development teams, with exposure to full system‑level autonomous development.
• Strong programming capability and ability to elevate validation tooling.
• Solid understanding of full autonomous system architecture.
• Awareness of emerging technologies, standards and Ai/ML trends relevant to validation.
• Clear, structured communication style with a demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and influence outcomes.
• Adaptable mindset with a strong problem‑solving orientation.

• Strong hands‑on experience with SIL and HIL validation environments.
• Strong programming capability and ability to elevate validation tooling.
• Clear, structured communication style with a demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and influence outcomes.

• Experience working within Agile development teams, with exposure to full system‑level autonomous development.
• Awareness of emerging technologies, standards and Ai/ML trends relevant to validation.

Fortescue reserves the right to close applications early should a suitable pool of candidates be identified.