Test & Reliability Engineer

IDEX; Rutherford (NJ); On-site; USD 124,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Bonus potential

Job summary

IDEX in Rutherford, NJ is seeking a Test and Reliability Engineer to ensure product performance meets specifications by establishing robust testing strategies, HALT, and FMEA.

The role requires close collaboration with engineering, quality, production, and customers during new product development to investigate failure modes and implement reliability improvements across design, manufacturing, and field operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in manufacturing with focus on quality, manufacturing engineering, product development, and/or product testing.
• Experience developing and managing quality and testing programs in manufacturing.
• GD&T knowledge; Six Sigma concepts a plus.
• ASQ CQE and CRE certifications a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement reliability testing plans including HALT, environmental tests, and FMEA.
• Analyze failure data to identify trends and root causes; conduct RCA for improvements.
• Develop and maintain production validation test plans and scripts.
• Collaborate across engineering, quality, and manufacturing to integrate reliability in NPI.
• Validate changes to manufacturing processes without harming product life; report reliability findings.

Skills

Analytical skills

Statistical methods

Six Sigma

Project management

Communication skills

Process discipline

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering or related

5+ years manufacturing experience (quality/product testing)

ASQ-CQE (plus)

CRE (plus)

Tools

Minitab

SolidWorks

Creo

MS Office

Oracle JD Edwards (ERP)

Job description

Position Summary

The Test and Reliability Engineer is responsible for ensuring product performance that meets or exceeds design specifications and customers’ expectations by establishing robust, data-driven testing strategies, highly accelerated life testing (HALT), and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA). The role requires close collaboration with engineering, quality, production, manufacturing engineering, and customers during new product development and to investigate failure modes, develop corrective actions, and implement reliability improvements across design, manufacturing, and field operations to enhance product life cycles and increase overall product life in the field.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement reliability testing plans for key products, including Highly Accelerated Life Tests (HALT), environmental tests, and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).
   • Creates reliability testing framework that replicates typical field service life cycle using accelerated life testing methods.
   • Failure Analysis and Improvement: Analyze failure data from tests and field performance to identify trends and root causes.
   • Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) to develop corrective and preventative actions.
   • Identify opportunities for improving product reliability, quality, and durability through data analysis.
2. Develop and maintain production validation test plans, instructions, and test scripts to ensure product durability and performance.
3. Data Analysis and Reporting: Collect, process, and analyze test room(s)/system performance and reliability data.
4. Develop and present reliability reports to stakeholders, highlighting findings and recommending improvements.
5. New Product Development: Work cross‑functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and quality to integrate reliability principles into product development, including performance testing in the development and qualification of next‑generation products.
6. Validate changes to manufacturing process to ensure they do not negatively impact overall product life.
7. Complete root cause analysis for early life failures associated with customer complaints.
8. Collaboration and communication: Work with engineering and quality to define, measure, and record necessary metrics (key performance variables) for product testing and maintain testing records.
9. Service and repair of product testing apparatus.

Measures of Performance

• Reduction in warranty claims / customer complaints (RMAs, credits) from early field failures or below specified performance.
• Improved product lifetime in the field.
• Robust and repeatable new product introduction (HALT test and performance data prior to launch).
• Data‑driven correlation of accelerated life testing process and field performance.

Qualifications

• Acts with a high level of personal integrity.
• Strong analytical ability to interpret complex data and solve reliability‑related problems.
• Experience in designing and executing reliability tests; experience with rotating equipment preferred (pumps, blowers, bearings, motors, impellers, etc.).
• Proficiency in statistical methods for reliability modeling, Fault Tree Analysis, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• Experience developing and implementing product testing protocol.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and learning cycles on process, capability, and reliability.
• Ability to drive process discipline.
• Experience with statistical software (e.g., Minitab), CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks and Creo), MS Office Suite, and ERP systems (Oracle – JD Edwards preferred).
• Strong communication and collaboration skills engaging with key stakeholders across functions and departments.
• Experience working with site certifications such as ISO9001 and ISO14001 a plus.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of work experience in a manufacturing environment with a focus on Quality, manufacturing engineering, product development, and/or product testing.
• Experience in developing and/or managing Quality and/or testing Programs in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of GD&T methodology.
• Trained in design for Six Sigma concepts is a plus.
• ASQ‑Certified Quality Engineers (CQE‑ASQ) certification is a plus.
• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) certification is a plus.

Physical Demands

Work requires moving around, handling objects, tools, or controls, reaching with hands and arms, talking, and hearing. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Typical office environment with occasional visits to the factory floor. Noise level is minimal with intermittent spikes. Safety glasses and other protective equipment may be required while on the shop floor.

Total Rewards

Compensation range: $124,000.00 – $186,000.00, depending on experience. This position may be eligible for a performance‑based bonus plan.

Benefits Package

• Health benefits.
• 401(k) retirement savings program with company match.
• PTO and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDEX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IDEX gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other consideration or protected category made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.

Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, please let us know. Likewise, if you are limited in the ability to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, we will determine an alternate way for you to apply. Please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at [e-mail] for assistance with an accommodation.