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Validation Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Guidehouse

Model Validation Lead

Mclean, VA · On-site

You will work closely with data scientists, MLOps engineers, system owners, risk stakeholders, and government counterparts to define validation standards, execute reviews, and ensure alignment with ...

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Validation Engineer information

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$23

$54

$81

How much do validation engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for validation engineer in Reston, VA is $54.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.01 and $65.77 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is a Validation Engineer?

A validation engineer is responsible for testing equipment and electrical systems used in the manufacturing process. As a validation engineer, your primary duty is to work with the other members of the validation team to ensure that these systems measure up to company and industry standards. Skills needed for a validation engineer job include the ability to accurately test, measure, and calibrate manufacturing equipment for maximum efficiency and quality.

What is the difference between Validation Engineer vs Quality Assurance Engineer?

AspectValidation EngineerQuality Assurance Engineer
CertificationsGMP, ISO, Six SigmaISO, Six Sigma, CQA
Work EnvironmentRegulated industries like pharma, biotech, medical devicesManufacturing, software, and product development
Primary FocusEnsuring products meet specifications through validation processesPreventing defects through process and system improvements
Common UsageRegulatory compliance, validation protocolsProcess audits, quality systems

Validation Engineers focus on verifying that products and processes meet regulatory standards through validation protocols, especially in regulated industries. Quality Assurance Engineers concentrate on maintaining overall product quality by implementing and auditing quality systems. While both roles aim to ensure product safety and efficacy, Validation Engineers are more involved in validation activities, whereas QA Engineers focus on process improvement and defect prevention.

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

To thrive as a Validation Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance, typically backed by a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with validation protocols, statistical analysis tools, and industry-specific regulations such as FDA, GMP, or ISO standards is essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication set top performers apart in this role. These skills ensure that products and processes meet stringent quality and safety standards, minimizing risks and ensuring regulatory approval.

What are some common challenges Validation Engineers face when working cross-functionally with other departments?

Validation Engineers frequently collaborate with teams such as manufacturing, quality assurance, and research & development. One common challenge is aligning differing priorities and timelines between departments, which can sometimes delay validation projects. Effective communication skills and flexibility are crucial to navigating these cross-functional interactions, ensuring that all regulatory and quality requirements are met without hindering production schedules. Building strong working relationships and proactively addressing potential concerns can help Validation Engineers facilitate smoother project execution.

What are Validation Engineers?

Validation Engineers are professionals responsible for ensuring that systems, processes, or equipment meet regulatory standards and function as intended. They typically work in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, manufacturing, and medical devices. Their duties involve creating validation protocols, conducting tests, analyzing data, and documenting results to ensure compliance with industry regulations and quality standards. Validation Engineers play a critical role in maintaining product safety and efficacy, as well as helping companies pass audits and inspections.
More about Validation Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Validation Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Validation Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What are popular job titles related to Validation Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? For Validation Engineer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Validation Engineer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Validation Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Validation Engineer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Validation Engineer job openings:
Validation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Validation Engineer job openings in Reston, VA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,517 per year, or $54.1 per hour.
Model Validation Lead

Model Validation Lead

Guidehouse

Mclean, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 23 days ago

Guidehouse rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 26 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

37th of 58 rated business consultants

Job description

Job Family:
Data Science Consulting
Travel Required:
Up to 25%
Clearance Required:
Active Secret
What You Will Do
As a Model Validation Lead, you will provide technical and programmatic leadership for the independent validation, governance, and risk management of advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI models deployed in federal environments. You will lead model validation efforts supporting mission-critical use cases across defense and federal financial domains, ensuring models are sound, explainable, compliant, and operationally fit for purpose.
You will work closely with data scientists, MLOps engineers, system owners, risk stakeholders, and government counterparts to define validation standards, execute reviews, and ensure alignment with federal, DoD, and financial governance expectations.
Key responsibilities include:
  • Lead end-to-end model validation activities for ML, AI, and advanced analytical models
  • Define and oversee validation frameworks covering conceptual soundness, data integrity, methodology, performance, bias, and stability
  • Review and challenge model assumptions, feature engineering, training approaches, and performance metrics
  • Assess model robustness, sensitivity, and limitations across operational scenarios
  • Evaluate model explainability, transparency, and interpretability for technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Partner with MLOps and engineering teams to ensure models are production-ready and compliant with governance requirements
  • Establish validation documentation standards, review artifacts, and approval processes
  • Support audits, reviews, and governance forums related to AI/ML risk and compliance
  • Advise clients on model risk management, AI governance, and responsible AI practices
  • Mentor junior staff and serve as a technical authority within analytics and AI engagements
What You Will Need
  • An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance.
  • Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, or a related quantitative field
  • FIVE (5) or more years of experience in model validation, model risk management, data science, quantitative analysis, or advanced analytics
  • Experience validating ML, statistical, and predictive models in regulated or high-risk environments
  • Experience in Python and analytics tooling used to assess, test, and challenge models
  • Experience working with large-scale datasets and complex analytical pipelines
  • Experience leading small teams or workstreams and interfacing directly with senior stakeholders

What Would Be Great to Have
  • Strong understanding of model risk management concepts, including governance, documentation, and independent review
  • Experience supporting the Department of Defense, including exposure to Advana or enterprise analytics platforms
  • Hands-on experience validating models using federal financial, budgetary, accounting, or audit data
  • Experience validating models deployed on Databricks (e.g., Spark, MLflow)
  • Ability to translate technical findings into clear, defensible conclusions for government and executive audiences
  • Exposure to models developed or operationalized in Palantir Foundry
  • Familiarity with MLOps practices and how validation integrates into CI/CD pipelines
  • Experience in Azure Government, AWS GovCloud, or other regulated cloud environments
  • Knowledge of Responsible AI, fairness, bias detection, and explainability techniques
  • Experience supporting internal or external audits of AI/ML systems
  • Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative or technical discipline

What We Offer:
Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.
Benefits include:
  • Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
  • Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
  • Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Basic Life & Supplemental Life
  • Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
  • Student Loan PayDown
  • Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
  • Skills Development & Certifications
  • Employee Referral Program
  • Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
  • Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
  • Mobility Stipend

About Guidehouse
Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer-Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.
Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.
All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or guidehouse@myworkday.com. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.
If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse's Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact recruiting@guidehouse.com. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant's dealings with unauthorized third parties.
Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.

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