The Hardware Reliability Engineer is a critical role in a cross-functional team building next-generation lidar systems for industrial, consumer, and automotive applications. This is a high-ownership, hands-on role spanning test methodology, qualification, failure analysis, and manufacturing quality practices. This role reports to the Sr. Director of Hardware Engineering.

You will work closely with optical, electrical, mechanical, systems, software, and test engineering teams across the full product development lifecycle – from early requirements and design reviews through prototype builds and design qualification. You will personally set up test equipment, execute test plans, analyze data, and perform failure analysis. This role requires clear technical communication with cross-functional teams, external test labs, suppliers, and customers.

• Develop, set up, and execute reliability test plans for lidar modules and systems, including environmental stress tests (temperature cycling, thermal shock, humidity), accelerated life testing, and mechanical shock/vibration.
• Analyze test results, identify failure mechanisms, and produce reliability assessment reports with quantitative findings and clear recommendations.
• Perform failure analysis on defective units, engineering test escapes, and customer-returned units using in-house tools; define scope and technically direct external test labs for advanced failure analysis.
• Author customer-facing failure analysis reports and drive CAPA/8D to verified closure.
• Own reliability risk assessment for lidar modules and systems throughout the product development lifecycle, from concept through qualification – leading design and process FMEAs and tracking risk mitigation actions to closure in collaboration with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Own the reliability and quality sections of product requirements documents; define reliability targets, qualification test requirements, and acceptance criteria.
• Represent reliability, quality, and manufacturability in hardware design reviews and product performance reviews; identify risk early and drive design changes that improve robustness and reduce manufacturing complexity.
• Own manufacturing quality and reliability processes for in-house prototype builds and NPI builds at contract manufacturers. Define workmanship acceptance criteria, drive nonconformance resolution, and maintain quality records and trend data across build iterations.

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, optical engineering, or related fields. Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on industry experience in a hardware reliability engineering role for complex electronic or optoelectronic hardware at the module or system level.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience planning, setting up, and executing hardware reliability test plans, including environmental stress, accelerated life, and mechanical testing.
• Demonstrated experience writing FA reports and driving CAPA/8D to closure.
• Experience with design and/or process FMEAs, reliability risk assessments, and product reliability and quality specifications.
• Experience providing DFM, DFA, and DFT feedback during hardware design reviews.
• Experience owning manufacturing quality processes for prototype or NPI hardware builds, including workmanship standards, in-process inspection, and nonconformance management.
• Working knowledge of module- and system-level reliability and quality standards, such as JEDEC JESD22, ISO 16750, IEC 60068, or AEC-Q102/Q104.
• Experience with lidar, optical sensing, or photonics hardware development.
• Experience with statistical reliability data analysis, lifetime data analysis, MTBF/FIT estimation, and HALT methodology.
• Experience managing quality processes at contract manufacturers or external partners.