Hardware Failure Analysis Technician

Fellow•San Francisco, CA

17h•$90,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

About Fellow At Fellow, we’re on a mission to help people brew ridiculously good coffee at home. But we’re more than just beautifully designed kettles and grinders—we’re a brand built on innovation, community, and culture. We believe great coffee isn’t just about the final cup; it’s about the experience, the ritual, and the people who make it all happen. We’re looking for a Hardware Failure Analysis Technician to own our failure analysis lab and the full lifecycle of failure testing—from intake of field units to testing, reporting, and sharing conclusions. This role plays a critical part in understanding and resolving product issues by investigating failures, replicating customer-reported problems, and supporting the engineering team with data-driven insights. This role will play a key role in the launch and ongoing support of our new espresso machine. This role is based in our San Francisco, CA office and requires in-office attendance 5 days per week. Who You Are You are someone who thrives in a hands-on, investigative environment where attention to detail and clear communication are key. Someone curious and analytical—eager to get to the bottom of technical problems by testing hypotheses and documenting every finding. You are highly organized, maintain clean records of units, tests, and results while juggling multiple priorities. You are comfortable working independently in the lab but also collaborating closely with engineers to validate root causes and share learnings that drive product improvements. What You'll Do Products and Subject Matter Expertise Serve as a subject-matter expert for electromechanical & pump-driven brewing systems, independently performing diagnostics related to temperature control, steam generation, liquid-flow behavior, sensors, sealing, and mechanical/electrical failure modes. Work across Fellow’s full product portfolio — including kettles, grinders, coffee machines, and drinkware accessories. Primary focus on espresso machines (our newest product line!). Failure Review & Root Cause Analysis Receive and review failure units to understand reported issues. Replicate product failures and document observed behaviors. Perform systematic diagnostics to identify potential root causes. Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, and firmware engineers to design and execute additional validation tests. Validate hypotheses and document findings with clear supporting data and photos. Lab Organization & Inventory Management Receive, label, and track all incoming failure units; ensure proper chain-of-custody and status updates. Manage and optimize a live inventory of active issues, test status, and resolution progress. Prioritize testing schedules based on issue severity, business impact, and available resources. Manage shipments of units to and from factory partners in China. Keep the testing lab clean and well-organized Reporting & Communication Prepare concise test reports summarizing findings, data, and conclusions. Present weekly updates to the engineering and quality teams. Manage and optimize documentation in shared drives or issue-tracking systems (e.g., Linear, JIRA). Coordinate report sharing with overseas factory teams and track follow-up actions.

Requirements

3+ years of hands-on experience as a technician, ideally in failure analysis, product testing, or QA.
Strong technical troubleshooting skills across mechanical and electrical systems.
High attention to detail and methodical documentation habits.
Proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets for organizing test plans and analyzing data.
Experience with issue-tracking systems (e.g., Linear, JIRA, Zendesk, or similar).
Strong organizational and time-management skills to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Clear written communication, with the ability to summarize technical findings for non-technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

Degree, certification, or vocational training in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
Experience servicing coffee equipment, especially espresso machines, and a love for coffee!
Experience working with consumer electronics or electromechanical devices.
Familiarity with common test equipment (e.g., multimeters, oscilloscopes, power analyzers, torque gauges, environmental chambers).
Basic understanding of statistical analysis, DOE, or root cause analysis methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagram).
Experience collaborating with offshore manufacturing teams (especially in Asia).

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject-matter expert for electromechanical & pump-driven brewing systems, independently performing diagnostics related to temperature control, steam generation, liquid-flow behavior, sensors, sealing, and mechanical/electrical failure modes.
Work across Fellow’s full product portfolio — including kettles, grinders, coffee machines, and drinkware accessories. Primary focus on espresso machines (our newest product line!).
Receive and review failure units to understand reported issues.
Replicate product failures and document observed behaviors.
Perform systematic diagnostics to identify potential root causes.
Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, and firmware engineers to design and execute additional validation tests.
Validate hypotheses and document findings with clear supporting data and photos.
Receive, label, and track all incoming failure units; ensure proper chain-of-custody and status updates.
Manage and optimize a live inventory of active issues, test status, and resolution progress.
Prioritize testing schedules based on issue severity, business impact, and available resources.
Manage shipments of units to and from factory partners in China.
Keep the testing lab clean and well-organized
Prepare concise test reports summarizing findings, data, and conclusions.
Present weekly updates to the engineering and quality teams.
Manage and optimize documentation in shared drives or issue-tracking systems (e.g., Linear, JIRA).
Coordinate report sharing with overseas factory teams and track follow-up actions.