Staff Hardware Reliability Engineer - Drive by Wire

About the role

The Hardware Reliability team is dedicated to ensuring the robustness and dependability of hardware systems in the Aurora hardware stack. Our team is responsible for designing tests, and validating the hardware components that form the backbone of Aurora's autonomous systems, ensuring they meet the highest Automotive standards of performance and durability under our tough field conditions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee hardware reliability testing and validation for automotive drive by wire systems used in autonomous vehicles comprising ECUs, actuators, motors etc.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including external partners, as well as internal HW-systems, electrical, firmware, mechanical, software, and manufacturing teams, to ensure overall system reliability.
• Develop, implement, and monitor reliability testing protocols, including stress tests, environmental tests, and failure mode analysis.
• Analyze failure data to identify root causes of hardware reliability issues and implement corrective actions.
• Create detailed reports on reliability testing, findings, and corrective actions and present them to stakeholders to drive decisions around hardware improvements and risk.
• Drive continuous improvement in hardware design and development processes to meet automotive reliability standards.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to reliability engineers, helping drive adoption of reliability best practices across teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Robotics (preferred), Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience (5+ years) in hardware reliability engineering, preferably in the automotive, aerospace, or heavy-duty vehicle industry.
• Strong understanding of hardware design principles, reliability testing methodologies (e.g., HALT/HASS, vibration, thermal cycling, humidity), and failure analysis techniques.
• Experience working with joint development partners, systems and software development teams and HW/SW interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes (e.g., 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone) for hardware reliability issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and software (e.g., Python, JMP…) and familiarity with reliability prediction and assurance tools and methods (e.g., Weibull++, dFMEA).
• Experience with hardware requirement concepts.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of automotive safety standards and regulations (e.g., ISO 26262, ISO 16750).
• Experience with automotive electronics/ECU or compute hardware (thermal, power, connector reliability).
• Experience working with contract manufacturers or Tier-1 suppliers on quality/reliability issues (PPAP, supplier corrective actions).
• Prior experience mentoring engineers or driving reliability process adoption across teams.
• Test automation and infrastructure knowledge.

Pay

For roles based in Mountain View, CA: The salary range for this position is $181,000 - $262,000 per year. For roles based in Pittsburgh, PA: The salary range for this position is $163,000 - $236,000 per year. Aurora's pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate's starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

Schedule

We operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week.