Staff Hardware Reliability Engineer (R5142)

As a Hardware Reliability Engineer at Shield AI, you will be responsible for ensuring the robustness and long-term performance of our VBAT flight hardware. You’ll work closely with design, manufacturing, and supplier chain to implement design-for-reliability best practices and perform reliability verification from concept through production. You will lead environmental and stress testing efforts, including temperature cycling, vibration, HALT, and HASS, conduct failure analysis and materials characterization, and analyze root cause investigations for manufacturing non-conformances and field returns. You’ll participate in design reviews and FMEA activities, shape material selection and manufacturing requirements, analyze test and field data using reliability modeling tools, and help develop corrective actions and process improvements that elevate hardware reliability across the program.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement design-for-reliability best practices; Perform stress screening, environmental testing, and drive failure analysis to ensure flight hardware meets reliability and performance targets; Analyze designs and test results to identify potential failure modes and mitigations; Collaborate with design engineers to implement design for reliability best practices early in design; Act as a key stakeholder in reviewing and approving designs for release; Participate in design reviews and failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) to assess potential reliability issues; Investigate manufacturing non-conformances and field hardware failures to determine root cause; Travel as needed to perform deep dives into supplier processes; Develop and recommend corrective actions to address identified reliability issues; Utilize reliability modeling and simulation tools to predict system performance and lifespan; Stay current with industry trends, advancements, and best practices in hardware reliability engineering; Propose and implement process improvements to drive improvements in reliability across the program

Requirements

Technical background in materials science, electronics manufacturing processes (PCB fabrication and assembly), hardware reliability concepts, and environmental test practices; Self-starting with a growth mindset, excellent problem-solving skills, and attention to detail; Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering preferred, degrees in Mechanical or Reliability Engineering acceptable; Familiarity with electronics (PCBs, PCBAs, electronic components) and moving mechanical assemblies; Team-player with clear and concise written and oral communication skills; Experience working with interdisciplinary teams to execute product design from concept to production; Experience with project management of technical projects; Proficiency in Python, including NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, Plotly, and Matplotlib; Familiarity with relevant industry standards including IPC, JEDEC, AIAA, AEC, MIL, and SMC standards

Nice to have

Ability to obtain S//SAR level security clearance desired; Master's degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Reliability Engineering; 3+ years of experience in hardware reliability engineering, preferably with a focus on aerospace or automotive applications; Proficiency in failure analysis techniques and materials characterization methods; Experience with environmental testing, including temperature cycling, vibration, highly accelerated limit testing (HALT), and highly-accelerated stress screening (HASS); Familiarity with PCB fabrication, SMT, and polymerics application manufacturing processes; Significant knowledge of reliability engineering principles, methods, and tools

Benefits

Bonus; Benefits; Equity