Senior Reliability Engineer

At Northwind Robotics, we're on a mission to unlock human performance and healthspan. Northwind Robotics empowers members to perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives.

Northwind Robotics is seeking a Senior Reliability Engineer to lead the charge in ensuring our hardware products deliver a consistent, high-reliability experience for members. In this critical role, you will influence the full product lifecycle, from early design through mass production. Applying deep technical expertise to data-driven, risk-informed decisions and ensuring reliability is embedded in every phase of development. Your work will directly support Northwind Robotics's ability to innovate quickly while maintaining industry-leading quality and performance standards.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
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– Own and drive reliability strategy across New Product Introduction (NPI), in-market monitoring (ORT/ Field Reliability), and continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring alignment with program risk and launch readiness
– Define reliability requirements, targets, and validation strategies (e.g., DVT success criteria, AFR targets), ensuring products meet predictable launch outcomes and achieve reliability within defined thresholds
– Identify, assess, and mitigate reliability risks early through structured methodologies (DFMEA, HALT, accelerated testing), achieving high coverage of critical failure modes prior to launch
– Translate use cases and field conditions into system-level test strategy and execution plans (Test Protocols), ensuring no major unknown failure modes escape into market
– Analyze reliability data to generate actionable insights (AFR, CoUR, TWR), influencing cross-functional decisions across design, manufacturing, and supply chain
– Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions for test and field failures, driving resolution of top issues and enabling sustained product performance without regression
– Partner with internal teams and external suppliers to standardize reliability practices, scale test capabilities, and ensure consistent execution across global partners
QUALIFICATIONS:
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– 8+ years of experience successfully applying Design for Reliability (DfR) principles, preferably in high-volume consumer electronics or wearable/medical device environments
– Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Reliability Engineering, or a related field
– Strong understanding of reliability principles across electro-mechanical systems, including failure mechanisms in materials, components, and assemblies
– Experience defining and executing reliability test strategies (HALT, HASS, ALT) and translating results into product and business decisions
– Proficiency in statistical analysis, reliability modeling, and structured problem-solving methodologies for root cause identification
– Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive alignment on risk-based decisions in fast-paced development environments
– Experience working with global suppliers and manufacturing partners to improve product reliability and test consistency
– Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly convey complex technical insights to diverse audiences
– Strong commitment to embracing and leveraging AI tools in day-to-day tasks, ensuring AI-assisted work aligns with the same high-quality standards as personal contributions
– ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) certification preferred
This role is based in the Northwind Robotics office located in Boston, MA. The successful candidate must be prepared to relocate if necessary to work out of the Boston, MA office.

Interested in the role, but don’t meet every qualification? We encourage you to still apply! At Northwind Robotics, we believe there is much more to a candidate than what is written on paper, and we value character as much as experience. As we continue to build a diverse and inclusive environment, we encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply.

Northwind Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-verify https://www.e-verify.gov/to determine employment eligibilityThe Northwind Robotics compensation philosophy is designed to attract, motivate, and retain exceptional talent by offering competitive base salaries, meaningful equity, and consistent pay practices that reflect our mission and core values.

At Northwind Robotics, we view total compensation as the combination of base salary, equity, and benefits, with equity serving as a key differentiator that aligns our employees with the long-term success of the company and allows every member of our corporate team to own part of Northwind Robotics and share in the company’s long-term growth and success.

The U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $150,000 - $195,000. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within each range, individual pay is based on factors such as job-related skills, experience, performance, and relevant education or training. In addition to the base salary, the successful candidate will also receive benefits and a generous equity package. These ranges may be modified in the future to reflect evolving market conditions and organizational needs. While most offers will typically fall toward the starting point of the range, total compensation will depend on the candidate’s specific qualifications, expertise, and alignment with the role’s requirements.