HW Reliability & Materials Validation Engineer​/Technician

HW Reliability & Materials Validation Engineer / Technician

We are seeking a motivated and hands‑on Hardware Reliability & Materials Lab Engineer / Technician to support our hardware engineering organization. In this position, you will execute a broad range of environmental, thermal, mechanical, and chemical validation activities on advanced hardware components and assemblies. In addition to testing responsibilities, you will play a key role in laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance, vendor coordination, procurement tracking, and adherence to laboratory safety practices.

• Plan, prepare, and conduct environmental, thermal, mechanical, and chemical reliability evaluations (including accelerated weathering, corrosion exposure, temperature/humidity cycling, vibration and shock testing, and tensile/compression testing) on materials, coatings, adhesives, and electromechanical assemblies.

• Perform detailed physical and surface characterization activities, including contact angle measurements, roll‑off angle evaluations, adhesion and peel testing, and coating performance assessments to verify compliance with engineering requirements.

• Support day‑to‑day laboratory operations by maintaining equipment calibration schedules, coordinating facility and equipment upgrades, managing laboratory purchases and purchase orders, and tracking reliability testing activities and metrics.

• Conduct root‑cause investigations on failed or degraded components following testing, document observations and findings, generate issue reports, and work with cross‑functional teams to drive issue resolution.

• Create, enhance, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and contribute to the development of custom fixtures and test methods that improve laboratory efficiency and hardware validation capabilities.

• Prepare test articles, configure multi‑stage test profiles using environmental chambers and mechanical test equipment, monitor active testing, and perform periodic inspections throughout testing.

• Collect, process, and summarize test data; prepare status updates and reports; maintain testing metrics; and communicate findings during team reviews and operational meetings.

• Perform preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment and fixtures, troubleshoot instrumentation issues, and coordinate with external vendors and facility teams for repairs and service support.

• Work closely with mechanical design, materials, and component engineering teams to coordinate sample deliveries, prioritize testing activities, and support design verification schedules.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment, participate in EHS activities and inspections, and ensure proper handling and storage of laboratory materials and chemicals.

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline; or an equivalent combination of an Associate’s degree, technical certification, and 3+ years of hands‑on experience in a hardware testing or reliability laboratory environment.

• Hands‑on experience operating environmental testing equipment (thermal, humidity, salt fog/corrosion, UV/weathering) and mechanical testing systems (tensile/compression frames, vibration equipment, adhesion and peel testers).

• Working knowledge of analytical measurement and materials evaluation techniques, including surface energy/contact angle analysis, chemical compatibility assessments, optical inspections, and visual failure analysis.

• Demonstrated experience supporting laboratory operations, equipment maintenance and troubleshooting, asset and inventory tracking, vendor coordination, and compliance with…