Product Reliability Engineer

Royal Switchgear Manufacturing•Bessemer, AL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Take your next career step at Royal Switchgear Manufacturing Company with a US based team that is developing responsive solutions for an evolving grid. RSMC is a leader in the engineering, design, and manufacturing of critical componentry for electrical substations and the broader grid. Our pride lies in our long-standing partnership with utilities companies, the reliability of our products, and the technical and hands-on capabilities of our team. The company is at an exciting inflection as we continue to expand our existing brand portfolio and deepen relationships with new and existing customers. The Product Reliability Engineer will focus on improving product reliability, durability, and field performance of Royal Switchgear products. Lead design and execution of product-level reliability tests, develop test apparatus, analyze failure modes, and drive design improvements to reduce field failures and warranty costs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Reliability Engineering, or related discipline.
3+ years' experience in product reliability, test engineering, or design validation-preferably with switchgear, breakers, relays, or power distribution equipment.
Proven experience designing test apparatus, fixtures, and setting up/operating reliability test rigs.
Strong knowledge of reliability methods (FMEA, RCM, Weibull), environmental and electrical testing standards.
Hands‑on proficiency with data acquisition systems, instrumentation, environmental chambers, and test automation.
Ability to interpret electrical/mechanical drawings, specify components, and prototype fixtures.
Strong analytical skills (Excel, Minitab, or equivalent) and experience writing clear test reports.
Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with HALT/HASS, accelerated aging, and accelerated life test design.
Familiarity with relevant standards (IEC, IEEE) for switchgear and insulation testing.
Experience with LabVIEW, Python, or test automation tools.
Six Sigma or reliability-centered maintenance exposure.

Responsibilities

Lead product reliability strategy: set reliability targets, perform FMEA, Weibull and life‑data analysis (MTBF/MTTR) for switchgear products and components.
Design test programs for components and complete assemblies (HALT/HASS, accelerated life test, thermal cycling, vibration, electrical endurance, dielectric/insulation tests).
Specify, design, and build custom test apparatus, fixtures, and jigs required to replicate field stresses and validation scenarios.
Set up, commission, and operate test rigs and instrumentation (data acquisition, environmental chambers, power supplies, relays, load banks).
Develop test procedures, protocols, and pass/fail criteria; ensure repeatability, traceability, and calibration of test equipment.
Execute tests, capture and analyze test data, produce detailed test reports, and translate findings into actionable design changes.
Lead root-cause analysis on product failures and field returns; recommend design, material, or process changes and verify fixes via testing.
Collaborate closely with design engineering, product validation, and manufacturing to incorporate DfR/DfM practices and plan design verification.
Maintain reliability documentation: test plans, life‑cycle predictions, reliability databases, and validation evidence for product sign-off.
Support new product introduction with reliability verification, test campaigns, and acceptance criteria.
Train engineering and lab technicians on test setups, safety, and data collection best practices.
Manage external test labs and vendor testing when needed; oversee third‑party test contracts and coordinate sample logistics.