Failure Analysis Engineer

Matchtech; Littlehampton; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering recruitment firm is seeking a Failure Analysis Engineer for a 6-month contract in Littlehampton. The role involves leading investigations into product failures and conducting thorough root-cause analysis. Candidates should have a degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and possess 2-3 years of relevant experience in failure analysis. This position requires strong knowledge of electronic circuits and proficiency with diagnostic tools.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of engineering and/or failure analysis experience required.
• Knowledge of materials science preferred.
• Experience analysing complex electro-mechanical assemblies preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform visual, electrical, mechanical, and other test methods to identify failure modes.
• Prepare professional Failure Analysis reports.
• Identify and analyse failure trends for corrective actions.

Skills

Strong knowledge of electronic circuits

Proficiency with diagnostic tools

Excellent verbal and written communication

Education

Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Tools

Diagnostic tools such as SEM

X-ray analysis

Job description

Failure Analysis Engineer (6-Month Rolling Contract)

📍 Location: Littlehampton

💰 Pay: £20.50 per hour (PAYE) / £27.45 per hour (Umb)

🕒 Hours: To be confirmed

About the Role

We are seeking a Failure Analysis Engineer to lead investigations into product failures and drive root‑cause analysis activities. In this role, you'll collaborate closely with Reliability, Design, and Manufacturing teams in a closed‑loop corrective action process to continuously enhance product quality and reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform and document visual, electrical, mechanical, and other test methods (both destructive and non‑destructive) to identify failure modes.
• Determine and document the most probable root cause(s) of failures.
• Maintain data integrity by accurately recording failure conditions, symptoms, and modes.
• Identify and analyse failure trends, providing quantitative insights.
• Drive corrective actions for straightforward failure cases.
• Prepare clear, concise, and professional Failure Analysis reports for both internal teams and external customers.

Work Environment

This position involves working across office, lab, and manufacturing environments. Occasional international travel may be required.

Skills & Expertise

• Strong knowledge of electronic circuits, components, PCBs, and manufacturing processes.
• Solid understanding of materials science – including physical structure, properties, and behaviour – to identify common failure mechanisms in electrical components and assemblies.
• Proficiency with diagnostic tools such as SEM, EDX, X‑ray analysis, and microscopes.
• Familiarity with statistical yield analysis, physical failure analysis, and root‑cause methodologies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey technical findings clearly and effectively.

Experience

• Essential: 2‑3 years of engineering and/or failure analysis experience.
• Desirable: Experience analysing complex electro‑mechanical assemblies.
• Desirable: Knowledge of materials science and related disciplines.

Education

• Essential: Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering or a related engineering field.
• Desirable: Six Sigma certification or equivalent statistical problem‑solving training.