Validation Engineer - Windows

Sustainable Talent is partnering with Nvidia a global leader who's been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for over 25 years. We are looking for a Validation Engineer to support our client's team onsite in Santa Clara, CA. 

This is a full-time (W-2) 6 month contract role. We offer competitive pay $50/hr - $80/hr based on factors like experience, education, location, etc. and provide full benefits, PTO, and amazing company culture!

In this role you will be responsible for test and analysis of issues across internal and OEM Windows platform configurations. The role ensures CI/CD quality, Windows driver compliance, OEM readiness (HLK/WHQL where applicable), and release readiness across system-level builds.

Key Responsibilities:

• Device Setup & Configuration: Flash Windows OS builds onto boards and OEM devices; install and validate SoC, GPU, USB, display, and platform drivers; configure Windows debugging tools (e.g., WinDbg/KDNET); enable and collect crash dumps and system logs.

• Perform Windows system-level and driver-level validation across functional, stress, power management (Modern Standby, S3/S4), and performance scenarios.

• Investigate Windows system crashes (e.g., BSOD), analyze memory dumps and Windows event logs, and support root cause analysis in collaboration with driver and platform teams.

• Develop and execute automated and manual test plans across internal and OEM Windows configurations, validating multiple driver and software build versions.

• Conduct exploratory testing to identify subsystem-level issues (USB, display, PCIe, power management, etc.).

• Triage internal and OEM defects; reproduce failures, collect logs and crash dumps, document findings, and track issue resolution through release readiness.

• Work closely with BSP, driver, OEM QA, and automation teams to ensure CI/CD build stability, validation coverage, and certification readiness (HLK/WHQL where applicable).

• Prepare detailed test execution reports and communicate validation results to internal and external stakeholders.

Skillset:

• 5–8 years of Windows system-level or driver-level testing experience (application-level QA experience alone is not sufficient).

• Hands-on experience with Windows platform validation, driver installation, and driver debugging.

• Proficiency using Windows debugging tools such as WinDbg or KDNET; experience analyzing crash dumps, memory dumps, and Windows event logs.

• Strong understanding of Windows power management, including Modern Standby, ACPI, and S3/S4 sleep states.

• Experience configuring UEFI/BIOS settings and flashing Windows OS builds onto hardware platforms.

• Demonstrated experience in defect triage, log analysis, reproduction of issues, and root cause support.

• Experience working with CI/CD pipelines supporting Windows builds and regression validation.

• Familiarity with Windows Driver Kit (WDK), HLK/WHQL certification processes, or OEM device validation is strongly preferred.

• Experience validating USB4, DisplayPort (DP) tunneling, PCIe, or platform drivers is a plus.

Sustainable Talent is a M/F+, disabled, and veteran equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.