Reliability Engineer

API Microwave; Great Yarmouth; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectrum Control in the United Kingdom seeks a Reliability Engineer to develop and execute tests for high-temperature electronic hybrids, analyze data, and drive design improvements. You will apply ALT/HALT methodologies and reliability models to predict lifespans and reliability performance.

Collaboration with design, manufacturing and QA teams is essential to ensure compliance with MIL-STDs and customer standards while delivering clear, actionable reliability insights to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute reliability test plans for high-temperature electronic hybrids.
• Conduct stress analysis, life testing, and failure mode analysis for hybrids and components.
• Perform accelerated life testing (ALT) and Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) to predict lifespan and robustness.
• Identify failure mechanisms (e.g., thermal fatigue, electromigration, oxidation) and propose design improvements.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing and quality assurance teams to address reliability issues.
• Use reliability prediction models (e.g., Arrhenius, Weibull) to estimate product lifetimes and support DFMEA.
• Develop reports and presentations documenting reliability findings for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards such as MIL-STDs and customer-specific requirements.

Job description

Reliability Analysis and Testing

Develop and execute reliability test plans for high-temperature electronic hybrid designs. Conduct stress analysis, life testing, and failure mode analysis for hybrid designs and individual components subjected to high temperatures. Perform accelerated life testing (ALT) and Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) to predict product lifespan and robustness. Identify failure mechanisms (e.g., thermal fatigue, electromigration, oxidation) and propose design improvements.

Design for Reliability

Collaborate with design teams to ensure hybrids are designed for high-temperature operation from specification through to continuous production. Implement Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) for electronic hybrids. Contribute to key stage product development reviews both internally and with customers.

Materials and Components

Work with suppliers to qualify materials and components for extreme conditions. Recommend materials (e.g., ceramics, adhesives, alloys) and components (active and passive) suitable for high-temperature environments. Support activities related to the management of obsolescence such as material trials and requalification.

Analysis, Ownership, and Reporting

Analyse test data to identify trends and improve product reliability. Develop reports and presentations for internal teams and external stakeholders to document reliability findings. Act as a trusted adviser for reliability topics to key stakeholders, including senior and executive leadership. Use reliability prediction models (e.g., Arrhenius model, Weibull analysis) to estimate product lifetimes.

Compliance and Standards

Understand and ensure compliance with industry (e.g., MIL-STDs) and customer specific standards. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of reliability testing standards and methods. Research and report out on new standards and methodologies that aid in the improvement of product reliability.

Collaboration

Work closely with design, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams to address reliability issues. Participate in technical reviews and provide input on design improvements to enhance product reliability. Participate in and lead, where appropriate, continuous improvement activities. Work with external suppliers and partners to conduct testing, analysis, and research where required.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Spectrum Control combines engineering expertise, innovation and manufacturing excellence to enable mission-critical solutions. Designed to solve complex problems in signal modulation and transmission, Spectrum Control solutions enable high quality product performance in the military and government, space, commercial, aerospace, security, medical, industrial and communications industries. Through proven experience and innovation, Spectrum Control delivers reliable solutions for the most rugged environments in the world and beyond. Our team works to understand each customer’s needs at every level, which leads to long-term partnerships with our customers that transcend transactions and projects, helping to drive ongoing value at all levels of an organization. Spectrum Control operates by the following guiding principles: safety, integrity, respect, ethics, trust and continuous improvement. Spectrum Control is dedicated to delivering highly-engineered, reliable products that help save, enhance and protect lives. The company employs a secure, trusted, innovative, empowered and resilient environment to collaborate across the organization to deliver impactful results to our customers. Founded in 1981, Spectrum Control brought together the power of several trusted brands and formed a uniquely capable partner for RF/microwave, electromagnetic, and security solutions. Over the past 70 years, the company’s engineers and technologists have led the way in creating high-quality solutions for demanding environments everywhere. Today, Spectrum Control's team includes 1,300+ people working across 14 design/manufacturing centers in North America and Europe.