Principal Reliability Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Location : Fremont, CA

Work Setting : 100% onsite engineering and semiconductor reliability environment

Relocation : Available on a case-by-case basis

Compensation : $145,000 – $195,000 base salary

Bonus : Annual bonus target of approximately 16%

Benefits : Full medical, dental, vision, 401(k), employee stock programs, paid time off, and comprehensive employer benefits package

Sponsorship: Will consider H1b- transfers /TN-1 Visas

Position Summary

The Principal Reliability Engineer is a highly technical engineering role responsible for developing, executing, and leading reliability strategies for advanced photonics and semiconductor products. This position will play a key role in product qualification, reliability modeling, accelerated life testing, failure analysis, and long-term product performance assessment across cutting-edge optical technologies.

This engineer will work closely with Design Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Logistics, and external manufacturing partners to establish robust reliability methodologies and ensure products meet demanding performance, quality, and lifetime requirements. The role requires strong expertise in semiconductor device reliability, reliability statistics, accelerated testing methodologies, and data-driven engineering decision making.

This is a high-visibility technical leadership opportunity for an experienced reliability engineer who wants to influence critical product development decisions while supporting technologies at the center of next-generation photonics, telecommunications, and optical networking markets.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute product reliability qualification plans and stress test strategies

• Design accelerated life testing methodologies to evaluate long-term product performance

• Analyze reliability data and provide technical recommendations to engineering teams

• Perform FIT calculations, lifetime predictions, and reliability modeling activities

• Evaluate wear-out mechanisms, random failure modes, and product failure risks

• Apply Arrhenius models, acceleration factors, and reliability statistics to support qualification programs

• Lead reliability reviews and generate technical reports for engineering and leadership teams

• Partner with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, Logistics, and external manufacturing partners

• Support root-cause investigations and corrective actions for reliability-related issues

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to product reliability and qualification processes

• Establish reliability requirements and methodologies for new product development programs

• Present reliability findings and technical recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Reliability Engineering, or related technical discipline required

• Master's degree preferred

• 5+ years of semiconductor device reliability engineering experience

• Strong understanding of semiconductor reliability principles and qualification methodologies

• Experience with accelerated life testing, reliability modeling, and product qualification programs

• Knowledge of wear-out failure mechanisms, random failure modes, and reliability statistics

• Experience performing FIT calculations and lifetime prediction analysis

• Strong understanding of Arrhenius equations, acceleration factors, and stress testing methodologies

• Hands-on experience with JMP for statistical analysis and reliability data evaluation

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root-cause investigation capabilities

• Ability to communicate complex technical findings to engineering and business stakeholders

• Experience working within semiconductor, photonics, optoelectronics, or advanced technology environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) through ASQ

• Experience supporting photonics, optical networking, optoelectronics, or semiconductor products

• Familiarity with Intel CQN reliability requirements

• Experience working with contract manufacturers or outsourced production partners

• Advanced reliability statistics and predictive modeling experience

• Experience supporting both product development and manufacturing organizations

What You Get

• Competitive base salary with annual bonus opportunity

• Restricted stock eligibility and long-term incentive potential

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and retirement programs

• Opportunity to work on advanced photonics and semiconductor technologies

• High-visibility technical leadership role with significant engineering influence

• Exposure to cutting-edge optical communications and photonics applications

• Opportunity to shape reliability strategy across multiple product platforms

• Collaborative engineering culture with strong technical growth opportunities

• Stable global technology organization with significant investment in advanced technologies

• Meaningful role supporting mission-critical products and next-generation innovation