Reliability Engineer

About the role

You will define and flow down reliability requirements at system and module levels, including government-driven specifications that dictate strict performance boundaries. You will lead stress characterization efforts and define realistic usage conditions alongside critical edge cases that challenge product limits. You will conduct and document FMEA to proactively identify and mitigate risks before they escalate into field failures. You will develop acceleration models and design robust accelerated life tests that simulate long-term degradation in compressed timeframes. You will create reliability test plans, specifications, and procedures that ensure comprehensive coverage of failure modes. You will apply Design of Experiments (DOE) to optimize test efficiency and maximize insight generation from limited samples. You will investigate failure mechanisms through deep technical research and analysis, connecting electrical, mechanical, and thermal behaviors. You will perform and support failure analysis to determine root cause using appropriate methodologies and cross-functional inputs. You will own reliability validation and testing across the full product lifecycle, from prototype to mature production units. You will deliver rigorous statistical analysis and clear, actionable insights that guide design decisions and trade-offs. You will produce concise, high-quality reliability reports for internal and external stakeholders, translating complex data into compelling narratives. You will partner cross-functionally with hardware, software, manufacturing, and quality teams to implement reliability improvements and effective mitigations.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Define and flow down reliability requirements at system and module levels, including government-driven specifications.
• Lead stress characterization and define realistic usage conditions and edge cases that probe product limits.
• Conduct and document FMEA to proactively identify and mitigate risks before they affect field performance.
• Develop acceleration models and design accelerated life tests that replicate long-term stress in compressed timelines.
• Create reliability test plans, specifications, and procedures that ensure thorough coverage of potential failure modes.
• Apply Design of Experiments (DOE) to optimize test efficiency and extract maximum insight from each test iteration.
• Investigate failure mechanisms through deep technical research, correlating electrical, thermal, and mechanical behaviors.
• Perform and support failure analysis to determine root cause using established methodologies and cross-functional collaboration.
• Own reliability validation and testing across the full product lifecycle, from early prototypes to high-volume production.
• Deliver rigorous statistical analysis and clear, actionable insights that drive design improvements and risk reduction.
• Produce concise, high-quality reliability reports for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clarity and precision.
• Partner cross-functionally with hardware, software, manufacturing, and quality teams to implement reliability mitigations.
• Support the development of reliability models that predict field performance under varied environmental and operational conditions.
• Champion a data-driven mindset, using evidence to guide decisions and validate reliability claims over assumptions.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of reliability processes, tools, and standards across the product organization.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or possess equivalent experience.
• Bring 5+ years of experience in reliability engineering or a closely related discipline within industrial or defense contexts.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of mechanical design, material behavior, and failure mechanisms, especially within electronics or complex systems.
• Show hands-on experience developing and executing reliability tests, including mechanical, shock, vibration, environmental, and lifecycle testing.
• Exhibit familiarity with industry standards such as ASTM, MIL, JEDEC, and IEC that govern reliability and performance validation.
• Possess experience with failure analysis tools and techniques, such as optical microscopy, X-ray inspection, CT scanning, SEM, and EDX or FTIR analysis.
• Prove ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver reliable results in a fast-paced, evolving, and mission-focused environment.
• Maintain eligibility to obtain and maintain U.S. Person status as defined by law and company policy upon hire.
• Be prepared to provide documentation verifying U.S. Citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) when required.
• Commit to working in accordance with Rivet policies, including security, compliance, and operational procedures that support defense and industrial customers.
• Apply rigorous analytical thinking to interpret test data, identify trends, and communicate findings to diverse stakeholders.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability requirements are integrated into product designs and manufacturing processes.
• Support the translation of customer and regulatory requirements into test plans, validation strategies, and acceptance criteria for critical systems.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of reliability engineering best practices, standards, and documentation within the organization.

Nice to have

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Practical notes

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