UX Validation Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Validation Lead

Company: Applied Intuition

Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Engineering / Software / UX Validation

Date Posted: 2026-07-30

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Primarily in-office, with occasional flexibility)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the foundational UX/HMI validation practice for a leading physical AI company, defining quality standards for user interfaces and experiences.

• Architect and implement robust automated UI testing infrastructure, integrating with CI/CD pipelines for efficient validation across various testing environments.

• Drive end-to-end HMI/UX validation strategy, establishing processes and methodologies from concept to production-grade software quality.

• Lead and grow a specialized team of test engineers, fostering expertise in domain-specific testing for complex AI systems.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to debug intricate UI and system issues, ensuring seamless integration and optimal user experience for cutting-edge physical AI products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "founding" lead, indicating a high degree of autonomy and responsibility in establishing the UX validation function. The emphasis on "building from the ground up" suggests a need for strategic thinking, process design, and team-building capabilities, aligning with senior-level operations or quality assurance leadership roles. The specific mention of HMI/UX validation within the physical AI domain signifies a niche but critical area of expertise.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and implement the comprehensive HMI/UX validation strategy, including the establishment of rigorous quality standards for display logic, control flows, and overall user experience across Applied Intuition's platform.

• Develop, scale, and maintain automated UI testing infrastructure, encompassing test harnesses, simulators, visual regression frameworks, and seamless CI/CD integration to support efficient validation from Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) to full-vehicle testing environments.

• Lead and mentor a team of test engineers, cultivating domain-specific expertise and fostering a culture of quality excellence within the UX validation practice.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and TPM (Technical Program Management) teams to integrate validation efforts into the product development lifecycle, ensuring timely and effective feature testing.

• Debug and resolve complex UI and system-level issues, acting as a key point of contact for troubleshooting and root cause analysis within the HMI/UX domain.

• Develop and manage detailed test plans for new features and product releases, ensuring thorough coverage and adherence to defined quality gates.

• Partner with validation teams on feature test plans, ensuring alignment and comprehensive testing strategies.

• Contribute to the definition and refinement of HMI/UX requirements from a quality and validation perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic planning, technical implementation, and team leadership. The direct involvement in building automation infrastructure and debugging complex issues points to a hands-on approach expected from a founding lead. The cross-functional collaboration aspect is critical for success, requiring strong communication and influencing skills to integrate validation into broader engineering workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related technical field. Experience:

• 7+ years of dedicated software validation experience, with a significant emphasis and depth in UI/UX, display, or Human-Machine Interface (HMI) testing.

• Proven track record of owning a validation domain, successfully defining test strategy, methodology, and automation infrastructure from inception to maturity.

• Extensive experience with automated UI testing and validation frameworks, specifically mentioning proficiency with tools like Appium.

• Demonstrated ability in end-to-end test planning, covering the entire lifecycle from initial requirements gathering through to release sign-off. Required Skills:

• UX Validation Strategy: Ability to define and articulate a comprehensive test strategy for user experience and HMI components.

• HMI/UI Testing: Deep understanding and practical experience in testing user interfaces, displays, and interactive systems.

• Test Automation Architecture: Proficiency in designing, building, and scaling automated testing frameworks and infrastructure.

• Appium Expertise: Hands-on experience with Appium for mobile and/or desktop UI automation.

• CI/CD Integration: Experience integrating automated tests into Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment pipelines.

• Linux/QNX/Android Automotive OS: Familiarity with these operating systems, crucial for embedded systems and automotive applications.

• Automotive Networking (CAN, Ethernet): Understanding of automotive communication protocols and their interaction with HMI systems.

• System Debugging: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for debugging complex software and system issues.

• Quality Standards Definition: Ability to establish and enforce quality metrics and standards for software products.

Preferred Skills:

• Android Automotive OS (AAOS) Deep Expertise: In-depth knowledge and practical experience with AAOS.

• QNX Deep Expertise: Advanced proficiency in the QNX real-time operating system.

• Visual Regression Tools: Experience with tools such as Applitools or Percy for automated visual testing.

• Modern CI/CD Tooling: Familiarity with platforms like Buildkite, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions.

• Test Harness/Simulator Development: Experience in creating custom testing environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize practical, hands-on experience in defining and implementing validation processes. The specific mention of Appium, Linux, QNX, and Android Automotive OS, along with automotive networking protocols, points to a specialized technical background. The "Nice to Have" section further refines the ideal candidate's skill set by highlighting advanced tools and platforms relevant to modern software development and testing practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Test Strategy Documentation: Examples of comprehensive test strategies developed for complex software systems, demonstrating an ability to define scope, objectives, and methodologies.

• Automation Framework Design: Showcase of architectural designs for automated testing frameworks, illustrating expertise in selecting tools, defining test patterns, and ensuring scalability.

• Process Optimization Case Studies: Demonstrations of how you have improved validation processes, reduced testing cycles, or increased test coverage and effectiveness.

• System Integration Testing Examples: Evidence of experience in testing integrated systems, particularly those involving HMI, display logic, and underlying hardware/software components.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Examples of documented workflows for HMI/UX validation, including test case management, defect tracking, and reporting procedures, highlighting any optimizations implemented.

• Automation Implementation Standards: Documentation outlining best practices for test automation development, maintenance, and integration into CI/CD pipelines.

• Measurement and Performance Analysis: Demonstrations of how test results are analyzed, performance metrics are tracked, and insights are used to drive continuous improvement in software quality and validation efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "founding" role like this, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just list skills but demonstrate the application of those skills in real-world scenarios. For UX Validation, this means showcasing how you've built processes, designed automation, and improved quality for user-facing systems. The emphasis is on tangible results and systematic approaches.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) or equivalent with potential company match.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Stock Options/Equity: Potential for equity participation in a high-growth company.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and continuous learning.

• Flexible Work Arrangements: While primarily in-office, occasional remote work flexibility is supported.

• Commuter Benefits: Support for transportation to the Sunnyvale office.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility to manage schedules responsibly, including occasional remote work or adjusted start/end times as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a senior-level, specialized role in the Sunnyvale, California tech market. The benefits listed are typical for a well-established tech company, emphasizing health, financial security, and work-life balance, with a nod to the hybrid work model mentioned in the company description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Physical AI, Autonomous Systems, Automotive Technology, Defense Technology. Applied Intuition operates at the forefront of developing digital infrastructure for physical AI, serving critical industries like automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining, and agriculture. This positions the company within a highly innovative and rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Company Size: Valued at $15 billion, Applied Intuition is a significant player in the tech industry, indicating a substantial organization with established processes and a large employee base, likely in the hundreds or thousands across its global offices.

Founded: Founded in 2017, Applied Intuition is a relatively young but rapidly scaling company, suggesting a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant impact and growth.

Team Structure:

• UX Validation Team: This is a "founding" role, meaning the UX Validation Lead will be instrumental in defining the structure and growth of this team. Initially, it may be a small, specialized unit reporting to a higher-level engineering or product leadership role.

• Reporting Structure: The lead will likely report to a Director or VP of Engineering, Quality Assurance, or Product Development, depending on the internal organizational structure.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expected to work closely with Product Managers, Software Engineers (front-end, back-end, systems), TPMs, and other validation/QA teams to ensure integrated product development and quality assurance.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Validation: Emphasis on using data from testing, user feedback, and system performance to inform validation strategies and drive improvements.

• Agile/Iterative Development: Likely operates within an agile framework, requiring continuous integration and validation of software builds.

• Automation First: A strong focus on building and leveraging automation to achieve efficiency and scalability in validation processes.

Company Website: https://www.appliedintuition.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "physical AI" and its significant valuation point to a high-stakes environment where quality and reliability are paramount. The "founding" nature of this role suggests an opportunity to shape the future of UX validation within the company, making it attractive to individuals who thrive on building and innovating.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a senior-level individual contributor or early-stage team lead position, specifically within the specialized domain of UX/HMI validation. It requires deep technical expertise and the ability to define strategic direction for a new functional area.

Reporting Structure: The UX Validation Lead will likely report to a Director or VP level within Engineering or Product, with potential to build and lead a team of Test Engineers as the function scales.

Operations Impact: The UX Validation Lead's work directly impacts the quality, usability, and reliability of Applied Intuition's core products. This has a significant downstream effect on customer satisfaction, adoption rates, and the company's reputation, particularly in safety-critical industries like automotive and defense. Effective validation ensures that the complex AI systems are intuitive and safe for end-users.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Leadership: Opportunity to build and manage a team of specialized UX validation engineers, developing management and leadership skills.

• Domain Expansion: Potential to expand expertise into broader areas of AI system validation, safety-critical systems, or product quality assurance.

• Strategic Influence: High potential to influence the direction of product development and quality standards across the organization due to the foundational nature of the role.

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in cutting-edge areas like Android Automotive OS, QNX, and advanced HMI testing methodologies.

• Career Progression: Potential pathways to Principal Engineer, Director of QA/Validation, or other senior leadership roles within Engineering or Product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "founding" aspect of this role offers significant growth potential beyond typical individual contributor roles. It's an opportunity to establish a critical function, build a team, and gain high-level visibility and influence within a rapidly growing, high-valuation company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Applied Intuition is an "in-office" company, with the expectation that employees primarily work from their designated office five days a week. However, they also recognize the importance of flexibility, allowing for occasional remote work, adjusted schedules for personal commitments, or starting the day remotely before heading to the office. This suggests a hybrid-first environment with a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary location for this role is Sunnyvale, California. Applied Intuition also has offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The in-office expectation facilitates spontaneous collaboration, team brainstorming, and direct interaction with colleagues, crucial for debugging complex issues and defining new processes.

• Access to Tools and Technology: Employees will have access to the necessary hardware, software, and testing environments required for HMI/UX validation and automation development.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for direct interaction with engineering, product, and fellow validation team members, fostering a cohesive work environment.

Work Schedule:

• A standard full-time schedule is expected, but the company acknowledges the need for flexibility. This allows operations professionals to manage their time effectively, balancing project demands with personal responsibilities, which is beneficial for deep analytical work and focused development tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on in-office presence, balanced with flexibility, suggests a company culture that values both structured collaboration and individual autonomy. For an operations role focused on building processes and infrastructure, this environment can be highly productive, allowing for focused work and direct team interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on relevant experience in UX validation, HMI testing, and automation.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect in-depth discussions on your experience with test strategy, automation frameworks (especially Appium), operating systems (Linux, QNX, AAOS), and debugging complex issues. You may be asked to walk through a past project or problem.

• Portfolio Review/Presentation: A dedicated session to present your portfolio, showcasing your approach to building validation practices, designing automation, and demonstrating impact through case studies. Be prepared to discuss your contributions and the methodologies you employed.

• Cross-functional/Team Interview: Meetings with potential team members or collaborators from engineering and product to assess cultural fit, communication style, and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team.

• Hiring Manager/Leadership Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit for the founding role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your approach (strategy, tools, processes), your specific contributions, the results (metrics, impact), and lessons learned.

• Highlight Foundational Work: Since this is a founding role, emphasize instances where you built processes, defined strategies, or established new capabilities from scratch.

• Demonstrate Technical Depth: Be ready to explain the architecture of your automation frameworks, the rationale behind tool choices, and how you integrated them into development workflows.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data to show the value of your work – e.g., reduction in bugs, improvement in test coverage, faster release cycles, enhanced user satisfaction.

• Tailor to Applied Intuition: Research their products and industry. Frame your experience in terms of physical AI, automotive, or similar complex systems where possible.

Challenge Preparation:

• Test Strategy Design: Be prepared to outline how you would approach building a UX validation strategy for a new product or feature at Applied Intuition.

• Automation Scenario: You might be asked to design an automated test for a specific HMI interaction or scenario.

• Debugging Scenario: Present a complex bug you encountered and how you diagnosed and resolved it, focusing on your systematic approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess both technical expertise and strategic capability, especially for a role that involves building a new function. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates impact and demonstrates foundational work is critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Automated UI Testing: Appium (core requirement), potentially others like Selenium for web-based HMI components.

• Test Management: Tools for test case management, execution tracking, and defect reporting (e.g., Jira with specific plugins, TestRail, Zephyr).

• Version Control: Git (essential for code management of test automation scripts).

Analytics & Reporting:

• CI/CD Platforms: Buildkite, Jenkins, GitHub Actions (preferred for modern integration).

• Dashboarding Tools: Tools for visualizing test results, performance metrics, and quality trends (e.g., Grafana, Tableau, custom dashboards).

• Reporting Frameworks: Libraries or tools that generate detailed test reports within CI/CD pipelines.

CRM & Automation:

• Operating Systems: Linux (highly relevant), QNX, Android Automotive OS (AAOS).

• Automotive Networking: Familiarity with CAN bus, Ethernet communication protocols as they relate to HMI interaction.

• Debugging Tools: System-level debuggers, performance profiling tools.

• Visual Regression Tools: Applitools, Percy (preferred).

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes tools and platforms critical for modern software validation, particularly in embedded and automotive systems. Proficiency in Appium and familiarity with CI/CD, Linux, and automotive protocols are key indicators of a strong candidate.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality Excellence: A deep commitment to ensuring the highest standards of software quality, reliability, and user experience.

• Innovation & Ownership: Taking initiative to build and improve processes, owning the validation domain, and driving forward-thinking solutions.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working effectively with cross-functional teams, sharing insights openly, and fostering a transparent feedback loop.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and metrics to inform strategies, measure success, and identify areas for improvement in validation processes.

• Customer Focus: Ensuring that validation efforts directly contribute to a superior user experience for Applied Intuition's customers.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Engagement: Actively seeking out opportunities to collaborate with product and engineering teams early in the development cycle.

• Clear Communication: Articulating technical concepts, test findings, and strategic recommendations clearly and concisely to diverse stakeholders.

• Constructive Feedback: Providing and receiving feedback in a manner that drives continuous improvement and strengthens team dynamics.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share expertise, mentor junior team members, and contribute to a collective learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values and collaboration style suggest an environment that rewards proactive individuals who can build relationships across teams and drive quality initiatives with a strong sense of ownership and a commitment to data-informed practices.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing a New Practice: As the founding UX Validation Lead, the primary challenge will be defining and building the entire validation framework, processes, and infrastructure from the ground up in a rapidly evolving company.

• Complexity of Physical AI Systems: Validating the HMI/UX for complex physical AI systems requires understanding intricate interactions between software, hardware, and the real world, demanding a robust and adaptable validation approach.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: In a fast-paced tech environment, ensuring thorough validation without becoming a bottleneck to development speed is a continuous challenge.

• Team Building and Scaling: Recruiting, mentoring, and scaling a high-performing team of specialized validation engineers while maintaining quality standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced HMI/UX Techniques: Deepen expertise in cutting-edge validation methodologies for autonomous systems and complex user interfaces.

• Industry Leadership: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in UX validation for physical AI, potentially speaking at conferences or contributing to industry standards.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gain broader experience in product development, system architecture, and quality assurance management through close collaboration.

• Mentorship: Access to senior leadership for mentorship and guidance on career development and strategic impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant but also represent substantial growth opportunities. Successfully navigating these will position the candidate for significant career advancement and provide invaluable experience in establishing critical functions within a high-impact company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and implement a comprehensive UX validation strategy for a new physical AI product at Applied Intuition, considering its unique complexities?" (Focus on phased approach, key metrics, stakeholder alignment).

• "Describe your experience building automated UI testing infrastructure from scratch. What were the key architectural decisions, and what challenges did you overcome?" (Emphasize scalability, maintainability, CI/CD integration).

• "How do you ensure the quality and usability of HMI features in safety-critical applications, such as those in the automotive or defense sectors?" (Discuss risk assessment, rigorous testing, compliance considerations). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Applied Intuition's mission and our work in physical AI?" (Research company values, recent news, and tailor your response).

• "How would you foster a culture of quality and collaboration within a new validation team and across cross-functional departments?" (Focus on communication, shared goals, and proactive engagement).

• "Given our in-office expectation with some flexibility, how do you envision managing a team and ensuring productivity?" (Discuss communication strategies, team rituals, and accountability). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the business problem or quality gap your portfolio project addressed.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use diagrams, screenshots, code snippets (if appropriate), and concise data visualizations to illustrate your work.

• Quantify Your Impact: For each project, present clear metrics on improvements made (e.g., defect reduction, efficiency gains, test coverage increase).

• Highlight Your Role: Be specific about your individual contributions, especially if you built processes or infrastructure from the ground up.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your technical choices, decision-making process, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, technical leadership, and the ability to build and scale critical functions. Understanding Applied Intuition's specific industry and challenges will be key to tailoring responses effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your experience in UX validation, HMI testing, test automation (especially Appium), and building validation frameworks from the ground up. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate examples of your test strategies, automation architecture designs, and process optimization case studies. Ensure you can articulate the impact and ROI of your work.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio and answering common interview questions, focusing on demonstrating your strategic thinking and technical depth.

• Research Applied Intuition: Understand their products, mission in physical AI, and company culture to articulate your interest and how you align with their goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.