About the roleAs the Staff V&V Systems Lead, you will serve as the master architect of Gatik's overall Verification & Validation framework. You will oversee the complete V&V lifecycle-orchestrating how requirements flow into testing across SIL, HIL, Closed Course, and Public Road pillars. You will own the Verification Traceability Matrix (VTM), drive driverless release sign-off decisions, and synthesize empirical testing evidence to continuously prove Gatik's safety cases.
This role is onsite 5 days a week at our Santa Clara, CA office!
What you'll doKey Responsibilities- End-to-End V&V Strategy: Architect and govern the multi-pillar validation methodology (SIL -> HIL -> Track -> Public Road), ensuring optimal allocation of testing efforts to maximize safety verification efficiency.
- Safety Case Evidence Synthesis: Own the empirical evidence layer of Gatik's safety case (UL 4600 / ISO 26262), proving that system requirements are fully verified and validated.
- Requirements Traceability (VTM): Build and enforce direct end-to-end traceability between top-level safety requirements, HAZOP/STPA mitigations, test procedures, and test execution results in Jama/Jira.
- Driverless Release Gatekeeping: Serve as a technical sign-off authority for software and fleet updates bound for driverless commercial operations.
- Cross-Pillar Governance: Align testing strategies across Simulation, HIL Bench, Track, and Field Deployment teams to ensure zero gaps in edge-case coverage.
- Regulatory & Audit Readiness: Prepare comprehensive V&V summary packages and present audit-ready validation evidence to internal safety boards and third-party auditors.
Minimum Qualifications- Education: B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or Aerospace Engineering.
- Experience: 8+ years leading systems verification and validation programs for safety-critical autonomous systems, aerospace, or automotive platforms.
- Leadership & Standards:
- Mastery of the system V-model development lifecycle and safety standards (ISO 26262, UL 4600, ISO 21448).
- Proven track record leading release gate sign-offs for safety-critical commercial products.
- Mastery of requirement management platforms (Jama, DOORS) and test execution tools.
- Strategic Architecture: Deep understanding of how to balance virtual testing (SIL/HIL) with physical testing (Track/Fleet) to achieve statistical confidence in system safety.
Preferred Qualifications- Direct experience leading the V&V sign-off for a fully commercialized, uncrewed autonomous vehicle system.
- Background managing cross-functional technical teams across hardware, software, and field operations.
Salary Range - $180,000- $260,000
