The Reliability Engineering Specialist is responsible for planning, executing, and improving product reliability activities throughout the product lifecycle, including New Product Introduction (NPI), validation, production, forward and reverse logistics, and sustaining engineering. This role owns assigned reliability projects, develops and executes test plans, analyzes failures, drives corrective actions, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to improve product quality, reliability, and manufacturing readiness. The engineer exercises sound technical judgment while escalating complex issues when required. This role is intended for an individual currently pursuing a technical degree and focuses on hands-on testing, data collection, documentation, and process support to help ensure production and quality targets are met.
This role collaborates closely with Senior Engineers and Engineering Managers to execute product reliability initiatives throughout the product lifecycle. The Reliability Engineering Specialist is responsible for independently managing assigned projects, developing and executing reliability test plans, analyzing test results, driving corrective actions, and making sound engineering decisions within established guidelines while seeking guidance on complex technical challenges.
Life Cycle Asset Support
The associate supports reliability activities during the design verification, installation, and production phases of new and existing assets by assisting with inspections, testing, documentation, and data reporting, in alignment with established life cycle asset management (LCAM) processes.
Essential Functions:
- Owns assigned reliability projects for new and existing telecom and consumer products, ensuring testing, validation, and engineering deliverables are completed on schedule
- Drives compliance with the Life Cycle Asset Management (LCAM) process by planning, executing, and documenting engineering activities throughout the product lifecycle.
- Develops, executes, and continuously improves validation plans, installation procedures, and commissioning activities.
- Leads Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), evaluates results, and recommends corrective actions.
- Performs and owns functional, RF, cosmetic, environmental, and reliability testing while ensuring compliance with engineering specifications.
- Plans and executes destructive and non-destructive reliability testing including teardown analysis, drop testing, bend testing, vibration testing, submersion testing, and environmental validation.
- Analyzes reliability and production data to identify trends, determine root causes, and drive corrective actions.
- Partners with Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and Design Engineering to resolve technical issues and improve product reliability.
- Provides engineering leadership during production issues by evaluating failures, determining root causes, and implementing corrective actions.
- Owns asset performance monitoring and recommends improvements to maximize equipment reliability, utilization, and overall effectiveness.
Secondary Functions:
- Prepare status updates and reports for engineering and production teams as requested.
- Develops and maintains engineering work instructions, test procedures, and validation documentation.
- Leads engineering activities during New Product Introduction (NPI) build and validation events.
- Creates engineering reports, customer presentations, reliability summaries, and technical documentation.
- Drives the transition from engineering builds into production by developing standardized manufacturing processes.
- Evaluates test equipment performance and recommends improvements to increase accuracy and efficiency.
- Leads continuous improvement projects focused on reliability, quality, throughput, and cost reduction.
- Coordinates cross-functional activities to ensure project milestones and customer deliverables are achieved.
Position Type
Education/Certifications:
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a Technical Degree, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in progress (Engineering Technology, Electronics, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred)
- On-the-job training provided.
- Works independently on assigned engineering projects while collaborating with Senior Engineers on complex technical issues.
Experience:
- 0–2 years of experience in a manufacturing, testing, lab, or technical support environment
- Exposure to hardware or software testing is a plus
- Experience in a telecom, electronics, or production environment preferred but not required
Skills and Qualifications:
- Basic understanding of technical measurements, test equipment, and data recording
- Ability to follow work instructions, test procedures, and safety guidelines
- Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy
- Willingness to learn reliability, quality, and testing principles
- Basic computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Ability to work effectively in a team-based production and engineering environment
- Good written and verbal communication skills
Preferred Skills and Qualifications:
- Familiarity with SPC concepts, data charts, or quality metrics
- Experience with telecom equipment or electronics assembly/testing
- CAD or drawing review exposure a plus
- Motivated and eager to learn
- Reliable and detail-oriented
- Comfortable working in a hands-on manufacturing or lab environment
- Interested in growing into an engineering role over time
Physical Requirements: N/A
