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Lead Validation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Validation Engineer

Saint Paul, MN · On-site

$45 - $50/hr

Lead validation projects of moderate scope and provide technical guidance to junior team members. * Mentor less experienced engineers and support continuous improvement initiatives. * Prioritize ...

Validation Engineer

Ottawa, IL · On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

Lead equipment qualification and process validation projects from planning through implementation. * Support engineering change controls and assess validation impact for equipment and process changes.

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Lead validation projects and coordinate engineering activities to ensure projects are completed on schedule. * Support continuous improvement initiatives by developing and implementing process ...

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Lead Validation Engineer information

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$42.5K

$123.8K

$180.5K

How much do lead validation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead validation engineer in the United States is $123,784.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,500.00 and $135,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Lead Validation Engineer vs Validation Engineer?

AspectLead Validation EngineerValidation Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or related field; certifications like ISTQB or Six Sigma are commonSame as Lead Validation Engineer, often with similar certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads validation projects, manages teams, and collaborates with cross-functional departmentsPerforms validation tasks, executes test plans, and documents results under supervision
Industry UsageUsed in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and software industries for quality assuranceCommonly used in similar industries for ensuring product and process quality

The main difference is that the Lead Validation Engineer oversees validation projects and manages teams, while the Validation Engineer focuses on executing validation tasks. Both roles require similar credentials and are integral to quality assurance processes across industries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead Validation Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead Validation Engineer, you need expertise in test planning, validation methodologies, and a degree in engineering or a related technical field. Familiarity with validation tools (like LabVIEW or MATLAB), regulatory standards (such as FDA or ISO), and quality management systems is typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills set top candidates apart in overseeing teams and complex projects. These competencies are vital to ensure products meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards while guiding teams to successful project outcomes.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, data engineering, and validation engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and working in high-demand industries or companies. Roles often require advanced certifications, leadership responsibilities, or expertise in complex systems and tools.

What are some common challenges faced by Lead Validation Engineers when coordinating cross-functional validation activities?

Lead Validation Engineers often encounter challenges in aligning timelines and expectations among diverse teams such as design, manufacturing, and quality assurance. Balancing compliance requirements with project deadlines can be demanding, as validation activities frequently depend on input and deliverables from multiple stakeholders. Strong communication and project management skills are essential to ensure smooth collaboration and to proactively address issues like resource constraints or shifting priorities. Overcoming these challenges not only strengthens the validation process but also enhances product quality and team cohesion.

What engineers make $500,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering can reach or exceed a $500,000 annual salary, especially with experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing, particularly in technology and energy sectors.

Do validation engineers make good money?

Validation engineers typically earn competitive salaries that vary by industry, experience, and location. They often require knowledge of testing tools, quality standards, and regulatory compliance, which can influence compensation levels. Overall, validation engineering is considered a well-paying profession within engineering and quality assurance fields.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Lead Validation Engineers in fields such as software, hardware, or systems engineering can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, or working in high-demand industries like aerospace or technology. Salaries vary based on location, company size, and expertise, with senior roles often reaching or exceeding this level.

What are Lead Validation Engineers?

Lead Validation Engineers are professionals responsible for overseeing the validation processes in manufacturing or product development environments. They ensure that systems, equipment, or products meet regulatory standards, quality requirements, and function as intended. Their role typically involves developing validation protocols, managing a team, coordinating testing activities, and documenting results. Lead Validation Engineers often work in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, automotive, or electronics. They play a critical role in maintaining product safety, compliance, and reliability.
More about Lead Validation Engineer jobs
Infographic showing various Lead Validation Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,784 per year, or $59.5 per hour.

Lead Validation Engineer

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Bristol Myers Squibb rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 51 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

31st of 86 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

At RayzeBio, every day is an opportunity to ignite meaningful change. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bristol Myers Squibb, RayzeBio blends the nimble, pioneering spirit of an emergent biotech with the global expertise and resources of a leading innovator in oncology. Our mission is to develop transformative radiopharmaceutical therapies that offer new hope for patients living with cancer. Here, you'll join a multidisciplinary team where your ideas are valued, your expertise is amplified, and collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. From day one, expect to make an immediate impact-on our science, on our teams, and most importantly, on patients. Learn more about RayzeBio: https://careers.bms.com/rayzebio/
Summary
The Lead Validation Engineer will support the Radiopharmaceutical facility and GMP operations in Indianapolis and serve as a technical leader for commissioning, qualification, and validation activities. This role is responsible for leading the drafting, review, and execution of commissioning, qualification, and validation documents and protocols supporting highly specialized facility, utility, analytical, and process equipment. The position applies broad engineering and GMP knowledge to support the transition from construction to clinical development and commercial operations, while also providing leadership in process improvement, deviation investigation, CAPA management, new technology implementation, and future expansion initiatives.
Job Responsibilities
Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
  • Lead cross-functional validation activities for facility, utility, equipment, analytical, computerized systems, cleaning, and process validation programs.
  • Develop, implement, and continuously improve commissioning, qualification, and validation strategies for GMP and non-GMP spaces including office, warehouse, development, quality control, sterility/microbiology, and production areas.
  • Partner with project teams, consultants, contractors, Quality, Engineering, QC, and Operations to deliver validation milestones aligned with business and compliance objectives.
  • Provide technical leadership for day-to-day development and GMP manufacturing support, including troubleshooting, risk assessments, and validation impact assessments.
  • Own and manage complex validation programs and ensure timely execution of protocols, reports, and lifecycle documentation.
  • Review and approve validation documents including SOPs, forms, protocols, technical reports, deviations, CAPAs, change controls, and summary reports.
  • Lead deviation investigations and support root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive actions related to validation and manufacturing systems.
  • Drive continuous improvement projects that enhance compliance, efficiency, and operational readiness.
  • Mentor, coach, and develop validation engineers and cross-functional team members.
  • Support regulatory inspections and internal audits by presenting validation strategies, rationale, and supporting documentation.
  • Track and communicate departmental KPIs, project status, risks, and resource needs to leadership.
  • Support onboarding of new technologies, facility modifications, and expansion projects as required.
  • undefined
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Education and Experience
  • BS or MS in a scientific or engineering discipline, or equivalent work experience.
  • 5+ years of experience in a radiopharmaceutical, injectable, or other regulated GMP manufacturing environment.
  • 5+ years of validation experience within a GMP-regulated environment.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex validation programs and cross-functional initiatives.
  • Prior experience mentoring engineers or leading project workstreams is strongly preferred.

Skills and Qualifications
  • Strong technical writing and document review skills.
  • Deep understanding of regulatory expectations for validation, lifecycle management, and risk management.
  • Strong leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work independently while effectively influencing cross-functional teams.
  • Excellent communication, organization, and project management capabilities.
  • Proven ability to prioritize multiple initiatives in a fast-paced GMP environment.
  • Broad validation knowledge across areas such as process validation, cleaning validation, computer system validation, equipment qualification, and QC assets.
  • High level of professional ethics, integrity, and ability to maintain confidential information.
  • Applies AI to improve team execution and decision-making

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. This position requires working in a GMP cleanroom environment, wearing protective clothing, and handling radioactive materials.
Work Environment
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn't perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.
Compensation Overview:
Indianapolis - RayzeBio - IN: $124,449 - $150,803
The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee's work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience.
Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:
  • Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
  • Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
  • Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.

Work-life benefits include:
Paid Time Off
  • US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)
  • Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays

Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.
All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.
*Eligibility Disclosure: The summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.
RayzeBio and Bristol Myers Squibb
RayzeBio was acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) in 2024 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMS; however, RayzeBio will continue to operate as a standalone organization.
Supporting People with Disabilities
BMS and RayzeBio are dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.
Candidate Rights
BMS and RayzeBio will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.
If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/
Data Protection
We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection/
Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.
If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at TAEnablement@bms.com. Please provide the Job Title and Requisition number so we can review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email and you will not receive a response.
R1604504 : Lead Validation Engineer

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About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a world-renowned global Biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York, NY, US. Established in 1887, the company has more than 130 years’ worth of history dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. The company operates in the healthcare industry and thrives on providing a range of pharmaceutical products and services for various medical fields, like oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and immunoscience. Notably, Bristol-Myers Squibb is known for its commitment to relentless research and innovative drug development, which has led to breakthroughs like Opdivo, one of the first immunotherapies.

Industry

Scientific research and development services and pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

New York, NY, US