Reliability Engineer

Reliability Engineer

The Reliability Engineer develops, coordinates, and conducts technical reliability studies and evaluations to ensure products consistently meet high performance and quality standards. This role focuses on analyzing engineering design concepts, constructing and interpreting design of experiments, and applying statistical methods to improve product reliability and process capability. The position supports post-market activities, including complaint trending, change assessment, and root cause investigations for ECLS products, while collaborating cross-functionally to drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate, and conduct technical reliability studies and evaluations of engineering design concepts, including the design and analysis of experiments (DOE).
• Recommend design and test methods, as well as statistical process control procedures, to achieve required levels of product reliability.
• Perform risk analysis studies of new designs and processes to identify potential reliability issues and propose mitigation strategies.
• Compile and analyze performance reports and process control statistics to investigate variables that may affect product and process reliability.
• Ensure corrective measures meet acceptable reliability standards and support long-term product performance.
• Analyze preliminary plans and develop reliability engineering programs to meet internal, customer, and regulatory reliability objectives.
• Develop mathematical models, as needed, to identify units, batches, or processes that pose excessive failure risks.
• Propose changes in design or formulation to improve system and process reliability based on analytical findings.
• Determine units and batches requiring environmental testing and specify the minimum number of samples needed to obtain statistically valid data.
• Lead complaint trending activities for ECLS products, identifying patterns and reliability concerns from post-market data.
• Conduct post-market change assessments to evaluate the impact of design or process changes on product reliability.
• Perform issue investigations, including detailed root cause analysis, and support the definition and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Apply appropriate industry and medical device test standards to product design and reliability evaluations.
• Deliver and oversee assigned projects from design through implementation, ensuring adherence to policies and specialized technical requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders, including senior internal customers and vendors, to share information and influence decisions related to reliability and quality.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and training to lower-level professionals, and may direct or review the work of others on projects.
• Make in-depth analyses of complex issues, offering recommendations for process, system, or product improvements to enhance reliability.
• Manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, prioritizing work to meet deadlines and project objectives.
• Contribute to building consensus within work groups and help achieve reliability and quality objectives through effective communication and relationship building.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Science, or a technical field with a minimum of 4 years of work experience in Engineering and/or Quality, or an advanced degree in Engineering, Science, or a technical field with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
• Targeted overall experience of approximately 2 to 7 years in engineering, quality, or reliability-focused roles.
• Advanced knowledge of reliability engineering principles and practices, combining breadth and depth typically obtained through advanced education and experience.
• Experience in medical device design and application of relevant test standards.
• Experience applying statistical methods to design reliability studies and assess process capability.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time effectively, handle multiple tasks and projects, and manage priorities accordingly.
• High attention to detail and strong analytical skills for in-depth investigation and root cause analysis.
• Working knowledge of appropriate industry standards related to product reliability and quality.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment and exert influence without alienating others.
• Practical knowledge of project management, including planning, execution, and oversight of reliability-related projects.
• Capability to work independently under limited supervision and determine approaches to complex technical problems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or another related engineering discipline is strongly preferred.
• Certification as a Quality Engineer, Reliability Engineer, or an equivalent professional credential is desired.
• Knowledge and basic understanding of specification development, industry standards, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience with post-market quality activities, including complaint trending, change assessment, and issue investigation.
• Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical findings and recommendations to diverse audiences.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and the ability to be an effective team player.
• Ability to provide guidance, coaching, and training to colleagues and junior professionals.
• Experience communicating with vendors and external partners to exchange technical information and support reliability objectives.

Work Environment

This role operates in a hybrid work environment, with four days spent onsite and one day working remotely each week. Onsite work typically takes place in an engineering and quality-focused setting that supports collaboration with cross-functional teams and access to testing and analysis resources for reliability studies. The position involves regular interaction with internal stakeholders and external vendors, requiring clear communication and professional conduct. The hybrid structure offers a balance of in-person teamwork and focused remote work, enabling efficient project delivery and thorough analysis of reliability and post-market data.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Mounds View, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $65.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Mounds View, MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.