Reliability Engineer

Reliability Engineer – Systems Engineering Location: Scotts Valley, CA (Onsite) Department: Systems Engineering Reports To: Director of Systems Engineering Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt About Digital Dynamics Inc. Digital Dynamics Inc. (DDI) is a 100% employee-owned technology company specializing in precision motion control, automation, and advanced electromechanical systems. As an ESOP company, our employee-owners take pride in designing high-performance, high-reliability systems that operate in demanding industrial and technology-driven environments. Reliability is a core design principle at DDI and is embedded early in the system development lifecycle. Position Summary The Reliability Engineer (Systems Engineering) is responsible for driving reliability into products from concept through deployment by partnering closely with Systems, Hardware, Software, Manufacturing, and Quality teams. This role focuses on system-level reliability analysis, requirements definition, design trade studies, and validation planning to proactively identify and mitigate risk. The Reliability Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring that reliability is designed in—not inspected in—throughout the product lifecycle. Key Responsibilities System-Level Reliability & Design Integration Collaborate with Systems Engineering to define and allocate reliability requirements at the system, subsystem, and component levels Perform system-level reliability analyses, including DFMEA, fault tree analysis, and reliability modeling Participate in system architecture development and design trade studies to assess reliability impacts Provide reliability-focused input during system and design reviews Requirements, Validation & Verification Develop reliability requirements, test strategies, and acceptance criteria aligned with system requirements Define qualification, life, and stress testing plans to validate reliability assumptions Partner with test and engineering teams to ensure verification activities adequately address reliability risks Review and approve reliability-related documentation and test results Failure Analysis & Risk Mitigation Lead root cause analysis (RCA) of system-level reliability failures and performance issues Drive corrective and preventive actions in collaboration with engineering and systems teams Analyze field data, test results, and customer feedback to identify trends and improvement opportunities Lead and perform reliability testing in-house and through using external lab resources Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Hardware, Software, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality teams to influence design decisions Support design for reliability (DFR), manufacturability (DFM), and testability (DFT) initiatives Serve as a reliability subject matter expert across engineering programs Continuous Improvement Develop and maintain reliability methods, tools, and best practices within Systems Engineering Contribute to process improvements related to requirements management, design reviews, and validation Mentor engineers on reliability principles and system-level risk assessment Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, or related field) 5+ years of experience in reliability engineering, systems engineering, or a related discipline Strong experience with system-level reliability analysis methods (FMEA, fault tree, reliability modeling) Experience defining requirements and supporting verification and validation activities Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills Preferred Qualifications Hands-on use of reliability equipment including Environmental chambers and ESD testers is desired Knowledge of ALT/HALT Experience with complex electromechanical or embedded systems Familiarity with motion control, automation, or industrial systems Experience working in high-reliability or regulated environments Knowledge of reliability prediction and life data analysis techniques Key Competencies Systems-thinking mindset with strong attention to detail Ability to influence technical decisions without direct authority Proactive, design-focused approach to risk management Clear and effective communicator across technical and non-technical teams High sense of ownership and accountability Why Join Digital Dynamics Inc. 100% Employee-Owned (ESOP) — share directly in the company’s success Reliability embedded at the system design level Opportunity to influence architecture and product direction Collaborative, cross-functional engineering culture Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits Long-term career growth in a stable, employee-focused organization Digital Dynamics Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employee-owners.