Reliability Engineer

We are seeking a motivated and technically strong Reliability Engineer to support the development of next-generation Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) products used in advanced optical networking systems. This role is responsible for developing and executing reliability strategies throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring designs meet demanding customer, industry, and business reliability requirements before production release. The ideal candidate has experience in product reliability engineering, accelerated life testing, statistical data analysis, and failure analysis within a high-technology manufacturing environment. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, hands-on laboratory experience, and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams to influence product design and manufacturing decisions.

Our Team

As part of the WSS development team, you will help develop industry-leading optical switching products that enable next-generation fiber optic communication networks. You will work closely with experts in optics, mechanics, electronics, manufacturing, and systems engineering to ensure innovative designs achieve world-class reliability and long-term field performance.

What You Will Do

• Develop product reliability and qualification strategies for new optical products from concept through production release.
• Create reliability test plans based on customer requirements, industry standards (including Telcordia), and product-specific risk assessments.
• Design, execute, and oversee accelerated life testing, environmental stress testing, and reliability de-risk activities.
• Identify potential reliability risks early in development and define validation plans to mitigate technical risk.
• Partner closely with optical, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, process, and quality engineers to implement Design for Reliability (DfR) throughout product development.
• Participate as a key stakeholder during design reviews to influence architecture, material selection, manufacturing processes, and component selection from a reliability perspective.
• Perform statistical analysis of reliability and life test data to evaluate product performance and predict field reliability.
• Collaborate with program management, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics teams to support prototype builds, qualification testing, and rapid product iteration.
• Communicate technical findings, recommendations, and risk assessments through clear written reports and engineering presentations. Technical Responsibilities
• Plan, conduct, and analyze complex reliability qualification testing for optical products and high-risk components.
• Develop test methods and qualification plans using Telcordia, customer, and internal reliability standards.
• Lead Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEA), risk assessments, and reliability reviews throughout product development.
• Perform root cause investigations on prototype, qualification, and production failures using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Coordinate laboratory failure analysis activities and drive corrective and preventive actions with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Develop statistical models for accelerated life testing and reliability prediction, including life distribution analysis and field life estimation.
• Support qualification of new materials, suppliers, manufacturing processes, and components.
• Drive continuous improvements in reliability methodology, testing capability, and engineering best practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, physics, optical engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience in product reliability engineering, design engineering, and/or new product development.
• Experience planning and executing environmental testing and accelerated life testing.
• Experience performing root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Strong understanding of statistical analysis and experimental design.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Curiosity and passion for understanding product failure mechanisms.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Master’s degree or PhD in relevant engineering or physics discipline
• Experience developing optical, photonic, semiconductor, telecommunications, or other high-reliability products.
• Familiarity with Telcordia reliability standards (GR-468, GR-1221, GR-1209, or similar).
• Knowledge of fiber optic components and optical networking technologies, including WDM and ROADM architectures.
• Experience with reliability software or statistical analysis tools such as JMP, Minitab, ReliaSoft, MATLAB, or Python.
• Knowledge of materials science, environmental degradation mechanisms, adhesives, polymers, and precision mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with failure analysis techniques including microscopy, cross-sectioning, SEM, X-ray, and material characterization methods.
• Hands-on laboratory mindset with excellent experimental skills.
• Ability to translate data into actionable engineering decisions.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Collaborative approach with the confidence to influence technical decisions across engineering disciplines.
• Continuous learner who stays current with emerging reliability methodologies, materials, and technologies.

For this role, we anticipate paying $120,000 - $150,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here., As a Koch company, Molex is a leading supplier of connectors and interconnect components, driving innovation in electronics and supporting industries from automotive to health care and consumer to data communications. The thousands of innovators who work for Molex have made us a global electronics leader. Our experienced people, groundbreaking products and leading-edge technologies help us deliver a wider array of solutions to more markets than ever before.

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