Staff Hardware Reliability Engineer - Sensors

Aurora; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 163,000 - 236,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Equity compensation

Job summary

Aurora is seeking a Staff Hardware Reliability Engineer in Pittsburgh to lead reliability efforts for next-generation sensor systems (lidar, camera, radar, IMU). You will drive DFMEA, failure analyses, and predictive models while collaborating with design, systems, safety, and contract manufacturers.

This role supports a hybrid work model, with in-office presence required at least 3 days per week, and offers annual bonus, equity, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience validating optomechanical sensor assemblies such as cameras and lidars.
• Deep understanding of physics of failure for electronic/optoelectronic components.
• Ability to design and run reliability test flows in manufacturing settings.
• Skills in analyzing sensor data to drive reliability improvements.
• Experience improving reliability of mass-produced sensor assemblies with vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead sensor reliability assessments and design test campaigns to meet automotive standards.
• Take ownership of failure analyses and implement corrective actions.
• Lead DFMEA sessions and drive risk mitigation plans across teams.
• Develop predictive reliability models for sensors across climates and roads.
• Collaborate with design, systems, safety, operations, firmware, and vendors.

Skills

Sensor validation

Physics of failure

Reliability test design

Technical data analysis

Mass production background

Job description

Who We Are

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone.

At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn.

What We Are Looking For

Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all.

We’re searching for a Staff Hardware Reliability Engineer who will join the Hardware Reliability team to ensure the robustness of the Aurora Driver by leading reliability efforts for our next-generation sensor systems (Lidar, Camera, Radar, IMU). This is a high-impact opportunity to work at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology, collaborating with world-class partners like Volvo, PACCAR, and Aumovio (formerly Continental) to bring a robust, scaled product to market.

In this role you will

• Lead Sensor Reliability Assessments: Conduct rigorous reliability evaluations and design test campaigns for both internal and external sensor designs to ensure they meet our rigorous automotive standards.
• Drive Failure Analysis (FA): Take ownership of complex reliability failures, and shepherd corrective actions in the form of near term mitigations and longer term design or process fixes.
• Facilitate Proactive Risk Mitigation: Lead Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (DFMEA) sessions and implement corrective action plans based on prior experience and testing.
• Develop Predictive Reliability Models: Create models to predict failure rates for integrated modules and individual sensors across diverse climates and road conditions.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work with Hardware Design, Systems Engineering, Hardware Safety, Field Operations, Emedded Software, and contract manufacturers to integrate reliability findings into the design and manufacturing processes.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive Experience in Sensor Validation: Proven track record in developing and validating optomechanical products, including cameras, lidars, or other optical instruments.
• Expertise in Physics of Failure: Deep understanding of the physics of failure for electronic and optoelectronic components as applied to sensor systems.
• Reliability Test Design: Strong ability to design and execute reliability test flows (shock, vibration, thermal) suitable for contract manufacturing environments.
• Technical Data Analysis: Proficiency in analyzing sensor performance data to generate actionable insights.
• Mass Production Background: Direct experience improving the reliability of mass-produced optomechanical assemblies and managing feedback loops with external vendors.

Desirable Qualifications

• Industry Experience: Prior experience at leading R&D at automotive companies
• Standards Knowledge: Familiarity with AEC-Q, ISO-16750, and other relevant automotive reliability standards.
• Manufacturing Experience: Experience evaluating the reliability of manufacturing and assembly processes as a product moves toward large-scale production.
• Hardware-Firmware Interaction: Working knowledge of the interactions between hardware and firmware critical to sensor performance.
• Breadth of Technical Skills: Conceptual understanding of material science, PCBAs (BGA structural integrity), and conformal coating impacts on humidity exposure.

For roles based in Mountain View, CA: The salary range for this position is $181,000 - $262,000 per year.

For roles based in Pittsburgh, PA: The salary range for this position is $163,000 - $236,000 per year.

Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

Working at Aurora

At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks.

We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week.

Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom.

Our commitment to safety

At the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization’s long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what.

Our commitment to inclusion

Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

For California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora’s California Employment Privacy Policy.