Reliability Engineer

This role supports the development and deployment of advanced aerospace and defense systems as the reliability subject matter expert across the full product lifecycle. You will partner closely with design, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering teams to improve product robustness, predict field performance, investigate failures, and drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA) activities and facilitate cross-functional participation.
• Perform Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) to identify and mitigate system-level failure paths.
• Develop and execute reliability modeling and predictive analysis, including MTBF and MTTF calculations.
• Analyze test and field data to perform reliability trend analysis and identify emerging issues.
• Create and implement qualification, validation, environmental, life-cycle, and accelerated testing plans.
• Investigate product failures and lead structured root cause analysis and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) activities.
• Support design reviews, including Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), and manufacturing readiness assessments.
• Partner with manufacturing and quality teams to improve production reliability and yield.
• Develop maintainability models and preventative maintenance strategies to enhance system availability.
• Establish, document, and improve reliability engineering processes, tools, and infrastructure across programs.
• Drive reliability improvements throughout the entire product lifecycle, from concept development through operational deployment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations to influence technical decisions and ensure mission success.
• Contribute to the development of reliability strategies for a diverse product portfolio spanning multiple domains.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5+ years of engineering experience in reliability engineering, test engineering, design engineering, or a similar role.
• Experience working with aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, military electronics, satellite systems, UAVs, or other safety-critical products.
• Proven reliability engineering experience supporting aerospace, defense, UAS, space, aviation, or other safety-critical systems.
• Strong experience performing FMEA and FMECA with demonstrated ownership and facilitation of cross-functional reviews.
• Hands-on experience conducting Fault Tree Analysis (FTA).
• Proficiency in reliability modeling and prediction techniques, including MTBF and MTTF calculations.
• Experience with reliability trend analysis using test and field data.
• Demonstrated root cause analysis and failure investigation experience, including CAPA, RCCA, 8D, and corrective action implementation.
• Qualification and environmental testing experience, including vibration, shock, thermal, and life-cycle testing.
• Reliability prediction and statistical analysis experience, including MTBF, MTTF, and fault tree-based assessments.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and influence technical decisions without direct authority.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills suited to safety-critical, mission-focused environments.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience supporting programs from concept development through operational deployment.
• Background working with autonomous systems and AI-enabled defense technologies.
• Experience developing and implementing preventative maintenance strategies and maintainability models.
• Familiarity with design reviews such as PDR, CDR, and manufacturing readiness assessments.
• Experience establishing or improving reliability engineering processes, tools, and infrastructure.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with high ownership and accountability throughout the product lifecycle.
• Ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations organizations.
• Experience supporting mission-focused, safety-critical systems where reliability and availability are key performance drivers.

Work Environment

The role is based within a defense technology organization focused on transforming military capabilities through advanced autonomous systems and AI-enabled technologies across air, land, sea, and space domains. The environment combines the speed and innovation of a modern technology company with the rigor of mission-critical defense applications. You will work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative engineering setting with frequent, hands-on interaction with hardware systems and test activities. The reliability engineering team supports a broad product portfolio, engaging from early concept through operational deployment, and partners closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations. The culture emphasizes mission focus, high ownership, accountability, and the ability to deliver capabilities to military customers on accelerated timelines.

Schedule

This is a Contract position based out of Costa Mesa, CA, with a fully onsite work environment.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $115.00/hr.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)