Senior Reliability Engineer

GRVTY; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 208,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

HSA with company contribution

PTO & Holidays

401k with company match

Training & development

Company events

Job summary

Northstrat, a GRVTY company, is seeking a Senior Reliability Engineer to own reliability for RF/EW systems used in harsh environments. You will lead RAM studies, reliability modeling, and worst-case analysis across production and fielded assets.

You’ll collaborate with manufacturing, test, quality, and sustainment teams to improve reliability, perform failure investigations, and guide program decisions. A top‑secret clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Active Secret or higher clearance.
• 8+ years of reliability engineering experience in RF/microwave or wireless hardware.
• Experience on defense/aerospace/regulated/high-reliability programs.
• Strong RF fundamentals (S-parameters, impedance, noise figure).
• Expertise in FMEA/FMECA, RBD, fault tree analysis, and MIL-HDBK standards.

Responsibilities

• Serve as reliability technical lead for fielded and in-production EW RF systems.
• Perform reliability predictions and modeling (MTBF/MTTF, RAM) for RF hardware.
• Lead FMEA/FMECA and translate findings into production/sustainment improvements.
• Plan and analyze qualification and ongoing reliability testing per MIL-STD-810; HALT/HASS, etc.
• Conduct root-cause and failure analysis with lab characterization and FRACAS.
• Apply derating and thermal management analyses for high-power RF components.
• Own component sustainment and obsolescence risk for in-production and fielded systems.
• Own reliability data across lifecycle and build reliability growth models (Crow-AMSAA).
• Support Production Readiness and Test Readiness Reviews; document procedures.
• Mentor junior reliability engineers and mature reliability processes.

Skills

RF fundamentals

Data analysis

FMEA/FMECA

FRACAS

Weibull analysis

Root cause analysis

MIL-STD-810

Python

Reliability modeling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Vector Network Analyzers

Spectrum Analyzers

SEM/EDS

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Northstrat, a GRVTY company isseeking a Senior Reliability Engineer to own the reliability of our fielded and in-productionradio-frequency(RF) electronic warfare (EW) systems. These systems are already designed; your focus is on qualification, production, sustainment, and fielded reliability — predicting, measuring, and continuously improving the reliability of EW transmitters, receivers, high‑power amplifiers, wideband RFfront‑ends, T/R modules, and antenna assemblies operating in harsh military environments such as airborne pods, shipboard installations, and ground platforms.

You will be the reliability technical lead for these EW systems, partnering with manufacturing, test, quality, systems engineering, and sustainment teams to keep products meeting their reliability requirements in production and in the field. Your analyses will directly inform production decisions, qualification outcomes, sustainment costs, and program performance against contractual reliability (RAM) requirements.

This is a hybrid role based out of our Sterling, VA facility, with regular on‑site presence expected for lab, integration, and program activities.

What You'll be Owning

• Serve as the reliability technical lead for fielded and in‑production EW RF systems, maintaining reliability requirements, allocations, and verification artifacts tied to mission and operational profiles and contractual (RAM) requirements.
• Perform reliability predictions and modeling (MTBF/MTTF, reliability block diagrams, fault trees) for EW RF hardware — high‑power PAs, LNAs, mixers, filters, synthesizers, wideband front‑ends, DRFM/receiver assemblies, and antenna/array hardware — using MIL‑HDBK‑217 and related methods.
• Lead FMEA/FMECA on existing EW designs and translate findings into production‑process, screening, and sustainment improvements.
• Plan and analyze qualification and ongoing reliability testing per MIL‑STD‑810 and program specs: HALT/HASS, accelerated life testing, thermal cycling, vibration/shock, humidity, and altitude, plus EW‑relevant RF stress (sustained high‑power operation, duty cycle, VSWR/mismatch, ESD).
• Conduct root‑cause and failure analysis on RF and EW component and board‑level failures, working with FA labs (cross‑section, X‑ray, decap, SEM/EDS, network analyzer characterization) and driving closed‑loop corrective action (FRACAS).
• Apply derating and thermal management analysis to high‑power EW RF components; review junction temperatures, power dissipation, and component stress against derating guidelines.
• Own component sustainment for RF and high‑frequency parts: screening, EEE parts management, and obsolescence/DMSMS risk management for in‑production and fielded systems.
• Own reliability data across the production and sustainment lifecycle — FRACAS, field‑return and depot/sustainment data — and build reliability growth models (e.g., Crow‑AMSAA) to drive continuous improvement.
• Support production and sustainment milestone activities (e.g., Production Readiness Reviews, Test Readiness Reviews) and author/review qualification, acceptance, and screening procedures.
• Mentor junior reliability engineers and help mature the organization’s reliability processes and toolset.

What You Must Have

• Must have an active Secret or higher clearance.
• A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Reliability Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• Must have 8+ years of reliability engineering experience, including significant work on RF/microwave or wireless hardware.
• Experience supporting defense, aerospace, or other regulated/high‑reliability hardware programs in production and/or sustainment.
• Working knowledge of RF fundamentals: S‑parameters, impedance matching, link budgets, noise figure, gain/compression, and common RF components and measurements.
• Demonstrated expertise in reliability methods: FMEA/FMECA, RBD, fault tree analysis, Weibull and statistical life‑data analysis, and reliability prediction standards (MIL‑HDBK‑217; familiarity with MIL‑HDBK‑338, Telcordia SR‑332, or FIDES a plus).
• Experience planning and interpreting environmental and accelerated stress tests, including MIL‑STD‑810 environments and HALT/HASS.
• Strong failure‑analysis and root‑cause skills (8D, fishbone, 5‑Whys) and experience operating a FRACAS.
• Strong data analysis skills (Excel and at least one of Python/R/MATLAB/Minitab/JMP).

What Would be Nice to Have

• Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) certification.
• Direct experience with electronic warfare systems (ECM/ECCM, jammers, EW receivers, DRFM, wideband/high‑power RF) and their failure and degradation modes.
• Experience with defense RAM requirements and standards such as GEIA‑STD‑0009, MIL‑STD‑785, and reliability allocations on DoD programs.
• Hands‑on experience with RF test equipment (vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators) and interpreting RF degradation and failure modes.
• Familiarity with reliability challenges of high‑power RF and harsh‑platform (airborne pod, shipboard, ground vehicle) installations.

Pay Range

At GRVTY, we understand that compensation is influenced by many factors—such as geographic location, federal contract labor categories, wage rates, prior experience, skillsets, education, and certifications. We’re proud to offer a work environment that empowers our team to achieve a strong work‑life balance. GRVTY provides competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth. Our benefits package is designed to support the well‑being of our employees and their families, and includes coverage in areas such as healthcare, financial wellness, retirement planning, family assistance, continued education, and paid time off.

$114,400 - $208,000 USD

Why Choose GRVTY

The toughest national security challenges demand vision and ingenuity, not just resources. We deliver mission and technical expertise to outpace our adversaries. We’re purpose‑built to tackle the most entrenched, systemic national security issues around the world.

We partner with our customers to help them overcome challenges in every corner of technology and defense—including the ones still being explored. Our growing capabilities create complementary advantages, giving on‑ground operations the edge they need to succeed. We muster everything we have to answer every challenge presented, every day of our lives.

At GRVTY, we believe that when our employees thrive, our company thrives. That’s why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your well‑being, growth, and work‑life balance.

• Robust health plan including medical, dental, and vision
• Health Savings Account with company contribution
• Annual Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• 401k with generous company match
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Variety of Company Sponsored Events

EEO Statement

GRVTY, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Anyone requiring reasonable accommodations should [e-mail] or call 703-544-7930 with requested details. A member of the HR team will respond to your request within 2 business days.

Please review our current job openings and apply for the positions you believe may be a fit. If you are not an immediate fit, we will also keep your resume in our database for future opportunities.