Staff Hardware Reliability Engineer

Shield AI•Boston, MA

About The Position

As a Hardware Reliability Engineer at Shield AI, you will be responsible for ensuring the robustness and long-term performance of our VBAT flight hardware. Youâll work closely with design, manufacturing, and supplier chain to implement design-for-reliability best practices and perform reliability verification from concept through production. You will lead environmental and stress testing efforts, including temperature cycling, vibration, HALT, and HASS, conduct failure analysis and materials characterization, and analyze root cause investigations for manufacturing non-conformances and field returns. Youâll participate in design reviews and FMEA activities, shape material selection and manufacturing requirements, analyze test and field data using reliability modeling tools, and help develop corrective actions and process improvements that elevate hardware reliability across the program.

Requirements

Technical background in materials science, electronics manufacturing processes (PCB fabrication and assembly), hardware reliability concepts, and environmental test practices.
Candidate must be self-starting and come with a growth mindset, with excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering preferred. Degrees in Mechanical OR Reliability Engineering also are acceptable.
Familiarity with electronics (PCBs, PCBAs, electronic components) and moving mechanical assemblies.
Team-player with clear and concise written and oral communication skills.
Experience working with interdisciplinary teams to execute product design from concept to production.
Experience with the project management of technical projects.
Proficiency in Python, including NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, Plotly, and Matplotlib.
Familiarity with relevant industry standards, including IPC, JEDEC, AIAA, AEC, MIL, and SMC standards.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Materials Engineering preferred. Degrees in Mechanical OR Reliability Engineering also are acceptable.
3+ years of experience in hardware reliability engineering, preferably with a focus on aerospace or automotive applications.
Proficiency in failure analysis techniques and materials characterization methods
Experience with environmental testing, including temperature cycling, vibration, highly accelerated limit testing (HALT), and highly-accelerated stress screening (HASS).
Familiarity with PCB fabrication, SMT, and polymerics application manufacturing processes
Significant knowledge of reliability engineering principles, methods, and tools

Responsibilities

Developing and implementing design-for-reliability best practices
Conducting rigorous testing
Shaping manufacturing requirements
Selecting materials
Analyzing field data to enhance the robustness of VBAT hardware
Perform stress screening, environmental testing, and drive failure analysis to ensure flight hardware meets reliability and performance targets
Analyze designs and test results to identify potential failure modes and mitigations
Collaborate with design engineers to implement design for reliability best practices early in design
Act as a key stakeholder in reviewing and approving designs for release
Participate in design reviews and failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) to assess potential reliability issues
Investigate manufacturing non-conformances and field hardware failures to determine root cause
Travel as needed to perform deep dives into supplier processes
Develop and recommend corrective actions to address identified reliability issues
Utilize reliability modeling and simulation tools to predict system performance and lifespan
Stay current with industry trends, advancements, and best practices in hardware reliability engineering
Propose and implement process improvements to drive improvements in reliability across the program