Senior Staff Test Engineer - Reliability

Apptronik•Austin, TX

About The Position

Apptronik is seeking a Senior Staff Test Engineer - Reliability to own the definition, testing, and demonstration of reliability for complex electromechanical systems. The role sets product reliability targets, allocates top-level MTBF requirements to subsystems and components, and determines the test quantity, duration, and confidence needed to demonstrate those targets. Testing should focus on the areas of highest risk. This is a technical leadership role that directs and advises engineers on test plans, methods, and rigor. The engineer leads root-cause investigations across mechanical, electrical, and firmware domains and manages a closed-loop failure reporting process that uses test, manufacturing, and field data to inform design. The role partners with design, manufacturing, and quality teams, and communicates reliability risks, test-investment tradeoffs, and progress toward MTBF targets to engineering and program leadership.

Requirements

Experience leading reliability programs for complex electromechanical products, including allocating top-level MTBF to subsystem and component targets and planning sample size, test duration, and confidence levels.
Hands-on experience designing and conducting reliability tests, including life, accelerated, HALT/HASS, thermal, and environmental testing.
Experience interpreting reliability test results using statistical methods such as Weibull analysis and reliability growth models.
Demonstrated ability to lead root-cause investigations across mechanical, electrical, and firmware domains and drive corrective actions to completion, including operation of a FRACAS process.
Experience technically leading and mentoring engineers, directing their test plans, and advising on test methods and rigor.
Ability to communicate reliability risks and tradeoffs to leadership.
BS in Engineering or a related field with 15 years of relevant experience, or MS with 13 years, or PhD with 12 years.

Responsibilities

Define product reliability targets and roadmaps; allocate top-level MTBF targets to subsystem and component requirements.
Influence product design through design reviews, derating guidance, and component and supplier qualification.
Lead and advise engineers on reliability test plans, methods, and rigor.
Determine test sample sizes, durations, and confidence levels needed to demonstrate MTBF targets, focusing on high-risk components and subsystems.
Plan and lead life, stress, HALT/HASS, thermal, and environmental reliability testing.
Lead root-cause investigations into failures from testing, manufacturing, and field use across mechanical, electrical, and firmware domains; coach engineers and drive corrective actions to closure.
Run a closed-loop failure reporting and corrective action system (FRACAS) that feeds test, manufacturing, field, and returns data into design.
Guide development of life and failure-rate models, including Weibull models, FMEA inputs, fault trees, and reliability block diagrams.
Aggregate component test results into system-level MTBF estimates with confidence bounds and track reliability growth against targets.
Mentor and develop engineers, collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality teams, and present reliability risks, test-investment tradeoffs, and MTBF progress to leadership.