Reliability Engineer

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

. Drive product reliability for vehicle control, connected car, and self-driving systems from concept through production .

Posted 10/23/2026full-timeIrvine • California • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $107,000 - $147,050 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in product reliability for vehicle control and self-driving systems, with a strong focus on DFMEA and PFMEA processes, failure analysis techniques, and validation strategies. Proficient in collaborating with engineering teams and suppliers to enhance design standards and mitigate risks.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Design-For-Reliability ExpertiseDFMEA/PFMEA ProcessesFailure Analysis TechniquesStatistical Reliability SoftwarePython Programming

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Reliability Specification DevelopmentFailure Mode AnalysisAccelerated Testing MethodsElectronics Thermal ManagementRoot-Cause Failure InvestigationHighly Accelerated TestingWeibull AnalysisOptical MicroscopySEMX-Ray

Soft Skills

Cross-Functional Team LeadershipCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

JMPReliaSoftCTEDSTDR

Industry Keywords

Vehicle Control SystemsConnected CarSelf-Driving SystemsElectronic Failure ModesFleet Data Analysis

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonRay

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Drive product reliability for vehicle control, connected car, and self-driving systems from concept through production
Serve as the primary Design-for-Reliability expert for hardware design and architecture teams
Establish design guidelines, identify electronic failure modes, and define standard countermeasures
Develop validation strategies, physics-of-failure-based reliability specifications, and accelerated testing methods
Lead root-cause failure investigations using first-principles thinking
Collaborate with internal engineering teams, suppliers, and failure analysis laboratories to define and verify corrective actions
Audit Contract Manufacturers on-site during development phases
Ensure DFMEA and PFMEA recommendations are properly implemented
Analyze fleet and field data to detect emerging risks
Use fleet and field insights to inform design standards for future ECU programs

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor of Science in an engineering discipline or equivalent
Technical understanding of PCBA, electronics, or control systems
Knowledge of failure modes, reliability specification development, design guidelines, electronics thermal management, and interconnects
Understanding of DFMEA/PFMEA processes
Willingness to facilitate FMEAs and lead cross-functional teams
Working knowledge of a coding language, preferably Python
Working knowledge of statistical reliability software such as JMP or ReliaSoft, including Weibull analysis
Understanding of Highly Accelerated Testing methods and governing equations for different failure mechanisms
Experience with accelerated-life-test development methods is a plus
Working knowledge of failure analysis techniques including optical microscopy, SEM, CT, X-Ray, EDS, and TDR
Authorization to work in the United States

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual company performance bonus program
Equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Health coverage
Retirement savings
Time off
Family planning programs
Hybrid work arrangement