Staff Hardware Reliability Engineer

About the role

You will lead the reliability program for a Waymo hardware product area, such as LiDAR, across its full lifecycle from early development and prototyping through EVT, DVT, PVT, production ramp, and field deployment. You will define and improve reliability processes, including risk analyses such as DFMEA and FTA, design verification, test and failure analysis, and cross-functional optimizations. You will work closely with US-based and international contract manufacturers, ODMs, and Tier-1 suppliers to develop reliability test and validation programs that meet Waymo's standards of reliability. You will develop, communicate, and maintain long-term reliability roadmaps and strategies for your product area while working collaboratively with technical program managers to build reliability schedules and take responsibility for all deliverables while updating senior engineering leadership. You will provide technical evaluations and strategic recommendations on designs, processes, materials, and vendor selection to teams within the Waymo Engineering organization and navigate complex vendor relationships. You will manage program-level risks related to complex, multi-dimensional reliability issues and play a key role in mitigation and continuous improvement across the hardware lifecycle.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead end-to-end reliability programs for Waymo hardware products, guiding strategy from concept design through production ramp and field deployment.
• Define, standardize, and improve reliability processes, methodologies, and tools across the product lifecycle, ensuring alignment with automotive-grade expectations.
• Own and drive risk analysis activities, including DFMEA, FTA, and fault tree development, to proactively identify and mitigate potential failure modes.
• Develop and execute comprehensive reliability test plans that validate performance under diverse real-world and operational conditions.
• Oversee design verification and validation activities, ensuring test coverage, traceability, and timely resolution of issues.
• Lead complex failure analysis investigations, working cross-functionally to determine root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with US-based and international contract manufacturers, ODMs, and Tier-1 suppliers to establish and maintain reliability standards.
• Create and maintain reliability roadmaps, defining long-term strategies, milestones, and metrics for product areas.
• Collaborate closely with technical program managers to build detailed reliability schedules and ensure on-time delivery of key milestones.
• Provide technical evaluation of designs, processes, materials, and vendor selections to support informed decision-making.
• Navigate and manage complex vendor relationships to ensure alignment with reliability objectives and program requirements.
• Drive ownership of all program-level reliability deliverables, communicating status, risks, and decisions to senior engineering leadership.
• Support the development and maintenance of a robust reliability test lab capable of handling thermal, vibration, and environmental testing.
• Champion a culture of reliability, quality, and continuous improvement across hardware engineering and manufacturing teams.

Requirements

• Hold a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Material Science, or Physics.
• Bring 10 years of experience in end-to-end management of reliability programs for complex electromechanical systems.
• Demonstrate experience in delivering reliability for 1 to 2 generations of products, from concept and prototyping through production ramp and field deployment.
• Show experience managing the DFMEA or other risk analysis process across a product line.
• Possess extensive experience developing comprehensive reliability test plans, resolving complex failure analyses, and leading root-cause resolution across functions.
• Maintain a strong technical background in the mechanics of materials and physics of failure for electronics and sensors.
• Exhibit strong understanding of automotive or sensor reliability standards, validation methods, and quality expectations.
• Communicate effectively with cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain, to drive reliability outcomes.

Nice to have

• Hold a PhD Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Material Science, or Physics.
• Bring 15 years of experience as a manager directing reliability programs at contract manufacturers, ODMs, or international vendors and suppliers for electronic components and sub-systems.
• Have experience in OEM automotive, Tier-1 supplier, autonomous vehicle, or sensor domain reliability.
• Demonstrate experience managing a reliability test lab with thermal, vibration, and environmental test equipment.
• Show product development and launch experience across multiple independent, high-volume hardware product categories.
• Exhibit strong mentorship skills with a track record of driving technical leadership within a team.

Practical notes

• This is a full-time position based in Mountain View, California, USA.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship for this role.
• No relocation assistance or visa sponsorship is provided for this position.
• Applicants are encouraged to apply promptly and ensure all required documentation is submitted by the stated deadlines, if any are specified externally.