The Reliability Engineer (Product Testing) will lead product validation and reliability testing for cable backplane assemblies used in AI and hyperscale data centers. This role will define scalable test-system architectures, develop test methods and plans, design and validate fixtures, execute electrical, mechanical, and environmental testing, and analyze results to identify failure mechanisms and improve product robustness. Working closely with design, manufacturing, quality, and external test partners, the engineer will translate product requirements into safe, repeatable, and automated test solutions that reduce technical risk and improve launch readiness. This position is based in Etters, PA; or Raleigh, NC.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and execute product-level reliability and validation strategies, test plans, methods, acceptance criteria, and coverage across the product life cycle.
- Define modular test-system architectures, including hardware, fixtures, instrumentation, sensors, controls, data acquisition, software interfaces, safety, and scalability requirements.
- Design, build, commission, and validate electrical and mechanical test fixtures and automated test setups for laboratory and manufacturing use.
- Conduct electrical, mechanical, thermal, vibration, shock, durability, and environmental testing using laboratory equipment and automated systems.
- Apply DOE, MSA, Gage R&R, correlation studies, and statistical analysis to ensure test-system capability, repeatability, and reproducibility.
- Troubleshoot test systems and product failures, leading structured root-cause and failure-analysis investigations.
- Document system architectures, fixture designs, test procedures, results, risks, and recommendations for consistent execution and clear stakeholder decisions.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, reliability, manufacturing, or systems engineering, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in product testing, validation, reliability engineering, or test-system development; cable, connector, or high-speed interconnect experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience architecting and commissioning test systems, designing fixtures, and integrating instrumentation, sensors, controls, and data acquisition.
- Hands-on experience with electrical, mechanical, and environmental laboratory equipment and mixed-mode failure diagnosis.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, specifications, tolerances, and product performance requirements.
- Ability to travel approximately 20% to manufacturing sites, laboratories, suppliers, and customer locations.
- Working knowledge of reliability statistics, DOE, MSA, sampling methods, data analysis, technical documentation, and cross-functional project execution.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with HALT, HASS, ALT, ORT, ESS, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, and mechanical durability testing.
- Proficiency with CAD, machining, rapid prototyping, or additive manufacturing for fixture development.
- Experience developing automated test systems using Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, PLCs, or comparable control and data-acquisition tools.
- Experience with signal integrity and high-speed electrical characterization using TDR, VNA, or BERT equipment.
- Knowledge of AI data centers, hyperscale infrastructure, or high-speed copper and hybrid cable technologies.
- Familiarity with IPC, IEC, Telcordia, or MIL-STD test standards; Certified Reliability Engineer or comparable certification is a plus.