Senior Staff Test Engineer - Reliability

Hardware FYI; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik in Austin seeks a Senior Staff Test Engineer - Reliability to own how we define, test, and prove reliability of our electromechanical systems. You will set MTBF targets, plan tests, and focus on high-risk components.

You will lead a team of engineers, conduct root-cause investigations, feed data back into design, and collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality to drive reliability improvements and business outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading reliability programs for complex electromechanical products and allocating MTBF targets.
• Hands-on reliability testing across life, thermal, HALT/HASS, and environmental testing with statistical methods.
• Leader in root-cause investigations and FRACAS, driving corrective actions to closure.
• Experience mentoring engineers and communicating reliability risks to leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define reliability targets and break MTBF into subsystem and component targets.
• Lead reliability testing plans, sample sizes, durations, and confidence levels for MTBF demonstrations.
• Conduct root-cause investigations and manage closed-loop reporting (FRACAS).
• Build life/failure-rate models and roll results up to system MTBF with confidence bounds.
• Mentor teammates and partner with design, manufacturing, and quality to progress MTBF targets.

Skills

Reliability leadership

Reliability testing design

Root-cause investigations

Mentorship & leadership

Education

Engineering degree + years experience

Job description

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.

We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Senior Staff Test Engineer - Reliability to own how we define, test, and prove the reliability of our complex electromechanical systems. You will set reliability targets and break top-level MTBF down into subsystem and component requirements. You will also determine the test quantity, duration, and confidence needed to demonstrate those targets, and focus testing where the risk is highest.

This is a technical leadership role. You will direct and advise a team of engineers on their test plans, method, and rigor, lead root-cause investigations across mechanical, electrical, and firmware domains, and run a closed-loop failure reporting process that feeds test, manufacturing, and field data back into design. You will work closely with design, manufacturing, and quality teams, and communicate reliability risks, test investment tradeoffs, and progress toward MTBF targets to engineering and program leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Reliability Strategy & Allocation: Define reliability targets and roadmap for the product, break top-level MTBF down into subsystem and component targets, and influence design through design reviews, derating guidance, and component and supplier qualification.
• Test Planning & Leadership: Lead a team of engineers on reliability testing, advising on method and rigor, and determine the sample size, test duration, and confidence level needed to demonstrate top-level MTBF, targeting testing at the highest-risk components and subsystems (life, stress, HALT/HASS, thermal, environmental).
• Failure Analysis & Root Cause: Lead root-cause investigations of failures from test, manufacturing, and the field, coach engineers through the analysis, and run a closed-loop failure reporting system (FRACAS) that feeds field and returns data back into design.
• Reliability Modeling & Data: Guide the team in building life and failure-rate models (Weibull, FMEA inputs, fault trees, reliability block diagrams), roll component test results up to system-level MTBF estimates with confidence bounds, and track reliability growth over time against the MTBF target.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Mentor and grow engineers, partner with design, manufacturing, and quality teams, and present reliability risks, test investment tradeoffs, and progress toward MTBF targets to leadership.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Experience leading reliability programs for complex electromechanical products, including allocating top-level MTBF to subsystem and component targets and planning the sample size, test duration, and confidence level needed to demonstrate it.
• Hands‑on experience designing and running reliability testing (life, accelerated, HALT/HASS, thermal, environmental) and interpreting results with statistical methods such as Weibull analysis and reliability growth models.
• Demonstrated ability to lead root‑cause investigations across mechanical, electrical, and firmware domains and drive corrective actions to closure, including running a failure reporting system (FRACAS).
• Experience technically leading and mentoring other engineers, including directing their test plans and advising on method and rigor, and communicating reliability risks and tradeoffs to leadership.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• BS in Engineering or a related field + 15 years of relevant experience, OR MS + 13 years, OR PhD + 12 years.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate

*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.