Reliability & Failure Analysis Engineer

About the role

Sesame believes in a future where computers are lifelike - with the ability to see, hear, and collaborate with us in ways that feel natural and human. With this vision, we're designing a new kind of computer, focused on making voice agents part of our daily lives. Our team brings together founders from Oculus and Ubiquity6, alongside proven leaders from Meta, Google, and Apple, with deep expertise spanning hardware and software. Join us in shaping a future where computers truly come alive.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute reliability test plans, including Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT), Accelerated Life Testing (ALT), and environmental stress testing.
• Conduct comprehensive failure analysis (FA) on failed units from development, production, and field returns, using advanced analytical techniques and equipment.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams (Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware) to implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Influence product architecture and design by implementing Design for Reliability (DFR) principles during early development phases.
• Manage reliability lab operations, including equipment maintenance, calibration, and safety protocols.
• Partner with internal and external teams to standardize reliability testing methodologies and validation criteria.
• Support product lifecycle management, from early prototype evaluation through mass production and beyond.
• Develop and maintain technical reports, reliability dashboards, and documentation on product performance trends.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of relevant experience in reliability engineering or failure analysis within the consumer electronics industry.
• Hands-on experience with failure analysis tools and techniques, such as X-ray, cross-sectioning, SEM, or optical microscopy.
• Deep understanding of industry-standard reliability testing methodologies and environmental standards.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical findings to diverse teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in consumer electronics, with a focus on reliability and failure analysis.
• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering or a related field.
• Proven experience with wearable devices or small form factor, high-density products.
• Experience with statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Minitab) and data-driven reliability modeling (e.g., Weibull analysis).
• Demonstrated success in influencing design decisions to improve product robustness and yield.