Senior Level Validation Lead Jobs
Senior level validation lead jobs place experienced professionals in charge of validation strategy, protocol ownership, and the cross-functional teams that execute qualification programs. Openings are concentrated in Technology & Software, Consulting & Professional Services, and Automotive, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote positions, and employers like Motional Ad, PsiQuantum, and Stellantis hiring at this level now.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 9+ Senior Level Validation Lead jobs











INTRODUCTION
seeking an experienced Lead Validation Engineer to support a major SCADA and Environmental Monitoring System modernization project at a regulated manufacturing facility in Southern California. This role will lead Computer System Validation (CSV), commissioning, qualification, and release activities for SCADA, PLC, environmental monitoring, virtual infrastructure, databases, historian interfaces, and manufacturing system integrations. The project will follow a Waterfall SDLC and risk-based validation approach within a GxP environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead validation activities for SCADA, PLC, and Environmental Monitoring System upgrades.
- Develop and execute validation documentation, including Validation Plans, URS, risk assessments, IQ/OQ/PQ protocols, Traceability Matrices, and Validation Summary Reports.
- Lead qualification of control systems, virtual infrastructure, servers, SQL databases, historian interfaces, and operator workstations.
- Develop and execute risk-based testing for alarms, audit trails, user access, data integrity, backup/recovery, and system interfaces.
- Support data migration, UAT, PQ, discrepancy resolution, and system release.
- Coordinate validation activities across Quality, Automation, Engineering, IT, Operations, and external vendors.
- Maintain project schedules and communicate validation status, risks, and issues to project leadership.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Computer Science, or related technical field.
- Strong validation experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other GxP-regulated manufacturing environments.
- Experience leading Computer System Validation or automation validation projects.
- Hands-on experience with IQ/OQ/PQ, risk assessments, requirements, traceability, deviations, and validation reporting.
- Experience validating SCADA, PLC, Environmental Monitoring, historian, database, or manufacturing control systems.
- Strong understanding of GxP, data integrity, audit trails, electronic records, and risk-based validation.
- Ability to work on-site in Southern California.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- GE Digital iFIX or similar SCADA platforms.
- Rockwell PLCs and industrial control systems.
- VMware, Windows Server, and SQL Server.
- Process historians and data migration.
- Kneat or similar electronic validation systems.
- Previous experience leading complex automation or computerized system validation projects.
See All 9 Senior Level Validation Lead Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Level Validation Lead Job Market
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Automotive
Senior Level Validation Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level validation lead job?
Employers hiring at this level look for candidates who have owned end-to-end validation programs, not just contributed to them. Demonstrating that you have authored and approved validation master plans, led cross-functional teams through regulatory inspections, and mentored junior engineers will set you apart. A history of driving process improvements and resolving complex deviations independently signals the ownership these roles require.
Which companies hire senior level validation leads?
Companies hiring senior level validation leads right now include Motional Ad, PsiQuantum, and Stellantis, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to concentrate in large regulated manufacturers, contract development and manufacturing organizations, and medical device firms with active facility expansion or product launch pipelines.
Are there remote senior level validation lead jobs?
Yes, though many roles require on-site presence for equipment qualification and audit support. About 60% of senior level validation lead openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid arrangements most common in companies where validation activities are paired with centralized quality or engineering oversight teams.
What makes a validation lead role senior level?
Senior level validation lead roles are defined by program ownership rather than task execution. These positions involve setting validation strategy, authoring and approving master validation plans, leading regulatory inspections, and mentoring junior staff. The technical scope typically covers complex systems such as computer system validation, process validation across full product lifecycles, and cross-site or multi-product programs.
Which industries hire the most senior level validation leads?
Senior Level validation lead roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Consulting & Professional Services, and Automotive, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive demand because they operate under strict regulatory frameworks requiring validated processes, documented quality systems, and experienced professionals who can defend those systems during FDA or other agency inspections.