Hardware Reliability Engineer at Skip · LumiJobs

Responsibilities

As our Hardware Reliability Engineer, you will be the person who makes sure our products don't just work in the lab -- they work on real humans, in real conditions, for a long time. You will own the reliability testing program for the MO/GO and future Skip products, from defining test plans and failure modes through execution, analysis, and closure. On a small team building first-of-kind hardware, reliability isn't a gate at the end of the process -- it's woven into every build.
This is an IC role on a flat team of 22 exceptional engineers where everyone contributes directly. You'll work closely with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing to understand failure modes before they find users.
Own the reliability testing program for Skip's wearable devices -- design test plans, define pass/fail criteria, execute testing across EVT/DVT/PVT builds, and track results through to closure
Develop and maintain FMEA (DFMEA/PFMEA) for mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical subsystems, translating failure mode analysis into actionable test coverage
Design and run accelerated life testing (ALT), HALT, HASS, and environmental stress screening to uncover failure modes before they reach users
Build and maintain test fixtures, rigs, and custom tooling for cyclic, fatigue, wear, and environmental testing of device subsystems
Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for reliability failures and field returns -- dig into the physics of failure and drive corrective actions through to verification
Define and track reliability metrics and KPIs across the product lifecycle; own the reliability sections of design review documentation
Partner with the NPI and manufacturing teams to ensure production processes don't introduce new failure modes, and that incoming components meet reliability requirements
Wear prototypes several hours a week to participate in on-body testing and provide firsthand feedback from the user perspective
Bring joy to the team, participate in embarrassing team events, and tolerate KZ's terrible music choices

Qualification

Sense of humourExperience with wearable devicesSkip is an equal opportunity employer

Required

5+ years of experience in hardware reliability, durability testing, or product validation in a professional setting
Hands-on experience designing and executing reliability test programs for electromechanical products -- consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, or powered consumer products
Strong command of reliability engineering fundamentals: FMEA, HALT/HASS, accelerated life testing, Weibull analysis, failure mode physics
Experience building or operating test fixtures and environmental test equipment (thermal chambers, vibration tables, cyclic rigs)
Solid root cause analysis skills -- comfortable using 8D, 5-Why, fishbone, and failure analysis tools to get to physics-of-failure explanations
Able to deliver results independently in a fast-paced, early-stage environment where the reliability playbook is still being written
Ability to relocate to or already based in the Bay Area
Sense of humour; tolerant of Aussie & Canadian spelling

Preferred

Experience with wearable devices, powered exoskeletons, orthotics, or body-worn electromechanical products
Familiarity with medical device reliability frameworks (IEC 62368, ISO 13485, IEC 60601) -- the rigor translates even if we're not FDA-regulated yet
Experience with on-body or biomechanical testing, including human subject data collection
Background in fatigue analysis or materials failure for soft goods, textiles, or flexible structures
Personal motivation to improve human movement and make the world more accessible
Skip is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based on need and competence to satisfy said need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected status.
Any and all offers of employment extended by Skip are conditional on candidates’ ability to provide satisfactory proof of eligibility to maintain full-time employment in the United States.

Hardware Reliability Engineer

Responsibilities

Qualification

Required

Preferred

Company

Skip

More roles at Skip