Reliability Engineer (Non-Skillbridge)

The KYO Group; Marietta (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Thermo Fisher Scientific is seeking a Reliability Product Approval Engineer to drive reliability programs for cold storage and ULV products. You will collaborate with R&D, test technicians, and cross-functional partners to embed reliability into the NPD process.

You will lead DFMEA activities, define tests, analyze failures, and apply PoF principles to ensure robust, regulatory-ready products with strong field performance. Domestic travel up to 10% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Advanced coursework in Reliability Engineering or professional reliability certification preferred.
• 5+ years reliability engineering, product approval, or verification testing experience.
• 3+ years designing mechanical/electromechanical products; HVAC/R or thermal systems preferred.
• Experience with regulated product testing (UL, IEC, NSF, Energy Star, DIN).
• Hands-on test method development, accelerated life testing, and failure analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop reliability plans aligned with product requirements and milestones.
• Define test strategies, protocols, and acceptance criteria for cold storage products.
• Support verification testing with appropriate reliability coverage and data collection.
• Lead DFMEA activities and contribute to risk management.
• Analyze failures and drive corrective actions using root-cause analysis.
• Apply PoF principles to anticipate degradation in mechanical, electrical, and refrigeration systems.
• Maintain product requirements traceability from customer needs to verification evidence.
• Create and document Engineering Test Procedures for standard and novel tests.
• Champion Lean and continuous improvement to increase efficiency and robustness.
• Provide reliability expertise to cross-functional teams and mentor staff.
• Travel up to 10% domestically.

Skills

Reliability engineering

DFMEA

DOE

ALT

HALT

Statistical analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Reliability Engineering coursework

Tools

Minitab

Reliasoft

Job description

Join our team at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where you'll contribute to innovation in scientific instrumentation and solutions. As Reliability Product Approval Engineer, you will collaborate closely with R&D development teams, test technicians, and cross-functional partners to define, execute, and continuously improve reliability programs for cold storage and ultra-low temperature (ULT) products.

You will play a critical role in embedding reliability into the New Product Development (NPD) process by driving structured risk identification, verification planning, and failure analysis. Your work will directly influence product robustness, regulatory readiness, customer satisfaction, and long-term field performance by ensuring reliability risks are identified early and mitigated effectively.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Reliability Program Development & Execution:

Develop, document, and execute comprehensive reliability plans aligned with product requirements, program milestones, and regulatory expectations.

Collaborate with R&D engineers and test technicians to define test strategies, protocols, and acceptance criteria for cold storage products.

Support verification and validation testing by ensuring appropriate reliability coverage, stress conditions, and data collection.

Lead and facilitate Design FMEA (DFMEA) activities and contribute to broader product risk management efforts.

Analyze failures observed during verification testing and from field performance data, identifying root causes and driving corrective actions.

Apply Physics of Failure (PoF) principles to anticipate degradation mechanisms in mechanical, electrical, and refrigeration systems.

Requirements & Traceability:

Partner closely with Product Management, Product Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory teams to develop and maintain product requirements traceability from customer needs through verification evidence.

Support Product Approval activities by ensuring traceable linkage between requirements, tests, results, and conclusions.

Create and maintain standardized reliability methods, test procedures, and design guidance to enable repeatable, high-quality evaluations.

Develop and document Engineering Test Procedures (ETPs) for both standard and novel reliability test methods.

Champion Lean, PPI (Practical Process Improvement), and continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, reduce variability, and strengthen product robustness.

Collaboration & Technical Leadership

Provide reliability expertise to cross-functional project teams and influence design decisions through data-driven insights.

Mentor engineers and technicians in reliability tools, test methods, and analytical techniques.

Foster a strong culture of safety, quality, and disciplined engineering practice.

Travel: Up to 10% domestic travel.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline

Advanced coursework in Reliability Engineering or professional reliability certification preferred

Experience:

5+ years of experience performing reliability engineering, product approval, or verification testing for complex electromechanical systems

3+ years of experience supporting design and development of mechanical or electromechanical products

Experience with HVAC/R, refrigeration, or thermal systems strongly preferred

Experience supporting regulated product testing (e.g., UL, IEC, NSF, Energy Star, DIN, or similar standards)

Hands-on experience with test method development, accelerated life testing, and failure analysis

Experience with data acquisition systems, automated testing, and technical reporting

Familiarity with Lean / PPI methodologies and continuous improvement systems

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Strong understanding of system-level reliability principles and product testing methodologies

Broad technical knowledge across mechanical, electrical, electronics, and refrigeration systems

Working knowledge of reliability tools such as DFMEA, DOE, ALT, HALT, and statistical analysis

Ability to translate test data and field feedback into actionable design and process improvements

Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

Excellent organizational skills in a fast-paced, multi-project environment

Proficiency with measurement and test equipment (e.g., thermocouples, pressure transducers, force gauges, oscilloscopes)

Experience with analysis tools such as Minitab, Reliasoft, or equivalent statistical software

Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence