Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering or equivalent experience
2+ years of experience in hardware testing, validation, or reliability engineering
Strong hands-on skills with hardware test setups and instrumentation
Experience with root cause analysis techniques (fishbone, 5 whys, etc.)
Responsibilities
Own end-to-end validation of new hardware designs
Design and execute various levels of tests from bench to environmental
Develop and run simulations to validate product performance
Lead investigations into field issues and implement corrective measures
Build test rigs and break hardware to enhance design insights
Collaborate with teams to define quality standards and criteria
Document tests and present results to cross-functional teams
Benefits
Relocation assistance provided
Opportunity to work in a rapidly growing startup
Engage in innovative projects addressing global water scarcity
Collaborative work culture with cross-functional teams
Hands-on experience with cutting-edge desalination technology
Full Job Description
Test and Reliability Engineer
Los Angeles, CA Area - Relocation Assistance Provided
The Company
Our client is a rapidly growing startup that is on a mission to change the world by solving global water scarcity. They bring together an impressive background in engineering of space systems to develop innovative, desalination systems to tackle one of the world's most critical challenges.
The Job
Our client is looking for a scrappy, hands-on Test & Reliability Engineer to own testing from prototype to production. You'll be the last line of defense between the lab and the field, validating performance, identifying weak points, and pushing their system to failure so their customers never have to. You'll be responsible for designing and executing tests, understanding the physics behind failures, and working closely with engineering, manufacturing, and ops to make the product better every week.
Functions
Own end-to-end validation of new hardware from pumps and sensors to pressure vessels and electronics
Design and execute bench-level, environmental, and life-cycle tests
Develop and run field simulations (saltwater, shock/vibe, temperature, abuse testing)
Lead root-cause investigations of field issues and drive corrective actions
Build test rigs (salt fog, temp/humidity cycling, etc.), break hardware, and feed that learning directly back into design
Work closely with R&D and manufacturing to define design margins, quality standards, and pass/fail criteria
Document tests, analyze results, and present findings across teams
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering (or equivalent hands-on experience)
2+ years of experience in hardware testing, validation, or reliability engineering
Strong hands-on skills with hardware test setups, instrumentation, and data collection
Experience with root cause analysis techniques (fishbone, 5 whys, etc.)
Preferred Skills
Experience with high-pressure fluid systems, valves, seals, and pumps
Familiarity with environmental testing (salt fog, temp/humidity cycling, etc.)
Knowledge of reliability standards (e.g. HALT, HASS, Weibull analysis)
Experience writing automated test scripts (Python preferred)
Comfortable using hand tools, data loggers, and pressure transducers
Strong communicator-able to summarize test findings clearly and drive cross-functional alignment
