Reliability Engineering Specialist

Eaton; Waukesha (WI); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton's Power Systems Division seeks a Reliability Engineering Specialist to strengthen reliability, performance, and safety of critical electrical power systems. You will drive DfR/DFSS, mentor teams, and lead cross-functional initiatives across design, manufacturing, and field performance.

The role partners with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to reduce failures and elevate customer satisfaction through measurable improvements, with up to 20% travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a STEM related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in engineering or technical roles.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience working on R&D engineering or new product development projects.
• Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position.

Responsibilities

• Lead reliability strategies across product design, manufacturing, and field performance to improve product robustness and system effectiveness.
• Drive Design for Reliability (DfR), DFSS, and PROLaunch initiatives throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop reliability and safety requirements based on customer needs, competitive benchmarking, and field performance data.
• Build system-level reliability models and manage reliability growth plans to support successful product development and launch.
• Champion DFSS and robust product and process initiatives across the organization.
• Partner with Black Belts and mentor Green Belts to execute strategic business improvement projects.
• Support deployment of DFSS methodologies, PROLaunch processes, and problem-solving tools to drive measurable business results.
• Ensure alignment with Eaton corporate and sector continuous improvement standards and priorities.
• Lead cross-functional teams in structured problem solving using A3, 8D, and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Drive containment, root cause validation, corrective actions, and preventive measures to eliminate recurring issues.
• Standardize successful solutions across products, processes, and suppliers to improve long-term performance.
• Analyze warranty, field failure, and operational data to identify trends and systemic issues.
• Establish and monitor key reliability metrics, including MTBF, MTTR, failure rates, and OEE impact.
• Use data-driven insights to prioritize improvement opportunities and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to drive reliability improvements.
• Support reliability and continuous improvement efforts across the broader Components organization as needed.
• Present program status, technical recommendations, and project outcomes to leaders, customers, and key stakeholders.

Skills

IEEE 2851-2023

Power electronics

Power distribution systems

Power protection systems

DoE

Weibull

Minitab

8D

RedX

DMAIC Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field

Master’s degree in Engineering

Tools

None

Job description

Are you passionate about solving complex technical challenges, driving continuous improvement, and influencing products from concept through field performance? Eaton's Power Systems Division is seeking a Reliability Engineering Specialist that will play a key role in improving the reliability, performance, and safety of critical electrical power systems. This highly visible position partners across Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to reduce failures, improve customer satisfaction, and drive continuous improvement through Design for Reliability (DfR), Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), and New Product Development initiatives.

This is an opportunity to influence products from concept through field performance, lead enterprise-wide improvement initiatives, develop technical and leadership capabilities, and make a measurable impact on product quality, customer satisfaction, and business results. The role reports to the Engineering Manager within Leader for the Power Delivery and Regulation Business Unit and requires up to 20% travel.

This position can be based at our Waukesha (Badger Drive), WI or South Milwaukee, WI facilities with a hybrid work schedule (three days in office, two days at home). Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates within the United States.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $113000 - $165000 a year.

Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

What You’ll Do

Reliability Strategy & Product Development

• Lead reliability strategies across product design, manufacturing, and field performance to improve product robustness and system effectiveness.
• Drive Design for Reliability (DfR), DFSS, and PROLaunch initiatives throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop reliability and safety requirements based on customer needs, competitive benchmarking, and field performance data.
• Build system-level reliability models and manage reliability growth plans to support successful product development and launch.

Continuous Improvement & Six Sigma Leadership

• Champion DFSS and robust product and process initiatives across the organization.
• Partner with Black Belts and mentor Green Belts to execute strategic business improvement projects.
• Support deployment of DFSS methodologies, PROLaunch processes, and problem-solving tools to drive measurable business results.
• Ensure alignment with Eaton corporate and sector continuous improvement standards and priorities.

Problem Solving & Corrective Action

• Lead cross-functional teams in structured problem solving using A3, 8D, and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Drive containment, root cause validation, corrective actions, and preventive measures to eliminate recurring issues.
• Standardize successful solutions across products, processes, and suppliers to improve long-term performance.

Reliability Analytics & Performance Improvement

• Analyze warranty, field failure, and operational data to identify trends and systemic issues.
• Establish and monitor key reliability metrics, including MTBF, MTTR, failure rates, and OEE impact.
• Use data-driven insights to prioritize improvement opportunities and enhance customer satisfaction.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Communication

• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to drive reliability improvements.
• Support reliability and continuous improvement efforts across the broader Components organization as needed.
• Present program status, technical recommendations, and project outcomes to leaders, customers, and key stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required (Basic) Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a STEM related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in engineering or technical roles.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience working on R&D engineering or new product development projects.
• Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position. This means that Eaton will not support any CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT plans, F-1, H-1B, H-1B cap registration, O-1, E-3, TN status, 1-485 job profitability, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) or Lean/Six Sigma certification.
• Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Greenbelt certification (Black Belt preferred).

Skills

• Knowledge of IEEE 2851-2023, Functional Systems Safety (certification preferred)
• Knowledge of UL/IEC standards (UL 508A, UL 891, UL 1558)
• Knowledge of power electronics, power distribution systems, and power protection systems.
• Applied Statistical tools knowledge (DoE, Weibull, Minitab)
• Demonstrated problem solving skills (8D, RedX, DMAIC Six Sigma)

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

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Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

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We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.