Job Description
Job DescriptionJob Title: Reliability EngineerJob Description
This role supports the development and deployment of advanced aerospace and defense systems as the reliability subject matter expert across the full product lifecycle. You will partner closely with design, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering teams to improve product robustness, predict field performance, investigate failures, and drive continuous improvement. The position focuses on safety-critical aerospace and defense applications and relies on strong reliability engineering methodologies, including FMEA/FMECA, fault tree analysis, root cause investigations, qualification testing, and reliability prediction modeling. You will help ensure products meet mission requirements and successfully transition from development into production environments while influencing key technical decisions without direct authority.
Responsibilities
- Lead Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA) activities and facilitate cross-functional participation.
- Perform Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) to identify and mitigate system-level failure paths.
- Develop and execute reliability modeling and predictive analysis, including MTBF and MTTF calculations.
- Analyze test and field data to perform reliability trend analysis and identify emerging issues.
- Create and implement qualification, validation, environmental, life-cycle, and accelerated testing plans.
- Investigate product failures and lead structured root cause analysis and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) activities.
- Support design reviews, including Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), and manufacturing readiness assessments.
- Partner with manufacturing and quality teams to improve production reliability and yield.
- Develop maintainability models and preventative maintenance strategies to enhance system availability.
- Establish, document, and improve reliability engineering processes, tools, and infrastructure across programs.
- Drive reliability improvements throughout the entire product lifecycle, from concept development through operational deployment.
- Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations to influence technical decisions and ensure mission success.
- Contribute to the development of reliability strategies for a diverse product portfolio spanning multiple domains.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 5+ years of engineering experience in reliability engineering, test engineering, design engineering, or a similar role.
- Experience working with aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, military electronics, satellite systems, UAVs, or other safety-critical products.
- Proven reliability engineering experience supporting aerospace, defense, UAS, space, aviation, or other safety-critical systems.
- Strong experience performing FMEA and FMECA with demonstrated ownership and facilitation of cross-functional reviews.
- Hands-on experience conducting Fault Tree Analysis (FTA).
- Proficiency in reliability modeling and prediction techniques, including MTBF and MTTF calculations.
- Experience with reliability trend analysis using test and field data.
- Demonstrated root cause analysis and failure investigation experience, including CAPA, RCCA, 8D, and corrective action implementation.
- Qualification and environmental testing experience, including vibration, shock, thermal, and life-cycle testing.
- Reliability prediction and statistical analysis experience, including MTBF, MTTF, and fault tree-based assessments.
- Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and influence technical decisions without direct authority.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills suited to safety-critical, mission-focused environments.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience supporting programs from concept development through operational deployment.
- Background working with autonomous systems and AI-enabled defense technologies.
- Experience developing and implementing preventative maintenance strategies and maintainability models.
- Familiarity with design reviews such as PDR, CDR, and manufacturing readiness assessments.
- Experience establishing or improving reliability engineering processes, tools, and infrastructure.
- Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with high ownership and accountability throughout the product lifecycle.
- Ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations organizations.
- Experience supporting mission-focused, safety-critical systems where reliability and availability are key performance drivers.
Work Environment
The role is based within a defense technology organization focused on transforming military capabilities through advanced autonomous systems and AI-enabled technologies across air, land, sea, and space domains. The environment combines the speed and innovation of a modern technology company with the rigor of mission-critical defense applications. You will work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative engineering setting with frequent, hands-on interaction with hardware systems and test activities. The reliability engineering team supports a broad product portfolio, engaging from early concept through operational deployment, and partners closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations. The culture emphasizes mission focus, high ownership, accountability, and the ability to deliver capabilities to military customers on accelerated timelines.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Costa Mesa, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $115.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Costa Mesa,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Aug 19, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.