About the roleWe're looking for a Hardware Reliability Test Engineer to own environmental and durability qualification for LyteVision modules and the custom silicon inside them (LyteCore SoC, analog front-end, laser control chip). You'll design and run the test programs that prove our sensors survive vibration, thermal cycling, humidity, shock, and years of field duty - and you'll turn failures into root causes the design team can act on.
This is a hands-on role: you'll be in the lab running HALT/HASS chambers as often as you're in front of a laptop analyzing failure data.
What you'll do- Design, execute, and analyze HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Testing) and HASS (Highly Accelerated Stress Screening) programs for LyteVision modules and subassemblies
- Build and run test plans for vibration, mechanical shock, thermal cycling, thermal shock, humidity/condensation, dust/ingress (IP rating validation), and EMI/EMC
- Characterize optical and sensor performance drift under environmental stress
- Define accelerated life test models and translate chamber results into field-life reliability predictions (e.g., MTBF/MTTF estimates, Weibull analysis)
- Lead failure analysis (FA) on units that fail in test or in the field - coordinate with silicon, optics, and mechanical teams to drive root cause and corrective action
- Own reliability test fixtures and chamber infrastructure; work with contract labs when internal capacity is constrained
- Contribute reliability requirements and DFR (Design for Reliability) input early into new module and PCB designs, alongside the hardware and silicon teams
- Maintain test documentation, qualification reports, and traceability suitable for customer and regulatory review
- Support functional safety and durability claims for robotics, automotive-adjacent, and industrial deployment environments
Required Qualifications- 3-6 years of experience in hardware reliability engineering, environmental test engineering, or product qualification - ideally on sensors, optics, consumer electronics, or automotive-grade hardware
- Hands-on experience running HALT/HASS chambers, vibration tables, and thermal chambers
- Working knowledge of reliability statistics: MTBF/MTTF, Weibull analysis, accelerated life testing models (Arrhenius, Coffin-Manson, etc.)
- Experience with failure analysis techniques or close partnership with FA labs
- Familiarity with relevant standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, IEC 60068, IPC/JEDEC, ISO 16750, or automotive/industrial equivalents)
- Comfort working with optical or MEMS-based sensing hardware, or strong appetite to learn - our modules combine photonics, analog electronics, and custom silicon
- Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
- Strong instincts for root-causing ambiguous failures and communicating findings clearly to cross-functional hardware and silicon teams
Preferred Qualifications- Experience testing sensor modules for robotics, AMRs, or autonomous vehicle platforms
- Exposure to functional safety processes (ISO 26262 or similar)
- Experience working with contract manufacturers or OSAT partners on qualification builds
Benefits (subject to location and local regulations)
- Competitive salary and equity
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Flexible vacation and time-off policy
- Collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive work environment
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with a highly cross-functional team
The pay range for this role is:
170,000 - 250,000 USD per year (Bay Area, CA)
