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Senior Reliability and Test Engineer
Electra
Quality Assurance
Boulder, CO, USA
USD 100k-130k / year + Equity
Posted on Sep 27, 2025
Who we are:
We're transforming one of the world’s oldest industries with cutting-edge technology and an innovative approach. Backed by top-tier investors and recognized by Time as one of the "best Inventions of 2024" and Fast Company as one of 2024's "Next Big Things in Tech", Electra is scaling rapidly and we're looking for bold, driven individuals to help us reshape the future of iron production. If you're ready to make a real impact in a company that's redefining heavy industry for a cleaner, smarter world, we want to hear from you.
What you will do:
Electra is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Reliability and Test Engineer to lead reliability testing, failure analysis, and performance validation of advanced materials and systems. This role is critical to ensuring product durability, safety, and performance across development and production environments. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in reliability engineering, hands-on testing experience, and the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration.
Responsibilities include:
- Design and execute reliability test plans for materials, components, and systems under various environmental and operational conditions
- Develop and implement accelerated life testing protocols and failure mode analysis (FMEA)
- Analyze test data to identify trends, failure mechanisms, and improvement opportunities
- Collaborate with R&D, process engineering, and quality teams to integrate reliability insights into product development
- Maintain and calibrate test equipment and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards
- Document test procedures, results, and recommendations in technical reports
- Support root cause investigations and corrective action planning for reliability-related issues
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and reliability program development
- Present findings to internal stakeholders and support customer-facing technical discussions
What we need you to bring to the team:
- PhD and 3+ years of experience, OR a Master's degree and 6+ years of experience, OR a Bachelor's and 8+ years of experience (excluding internships, co-ops, and school projects)
- Strong track record of leading projects from concept to completion and mentoring junior team members
- Ability to develop creative, effective solutions to complex technical and business challenges
- Broad knowledge across disciplines with experience contributing to cross-functional initiatives
- Expertise in reliability engineering, experimental design, and statistical analysis (e.g., Weibull, Monte Carlo)
- Strong proficiency with data analysis and test tools such as JMP, Minitab, and LabVIEW
- Strong hands-on experience with industry testing standards (ASTM, IEC, MIL-STD) and best practices in safety
- Hands-on experience with advanced testing and materials characterization methods
- Excellent communication and technical writing skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences
- Collaborative mindset with proven ability to partner across R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and quality functions
What we want you to bring to the team:
- PhD in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering or a related field
- 10+ years of relevant experience (exluding internships, co-ops and other school projects)
- Certification in reliability engineering (e.g., ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer) is a plus
- Expertise in analytical method development, including GC-MS, XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, and CT imaging
- Experience in materials testing and characterization for both R&D and production support
- OSHA 10 or 30 certification preferred
- Proven experience managing laboratory operations, including ISO 17025 compliance
- Strong leadership and mentorship skills with a track record of fostering cross-functional collaboration
- Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement and optimize testing workflows
- Experience developing and implementing quality systems, including QMS and LIMS
- Skilled in capital equipment planning, installation, and qualification
- Knowledge of data integrity practices, automation solutions, and AI-driven analysis
- Excellent technical writing, documentation, and communication skills
- Experienced in project planning, execution, and strategic lab scaling
- Ability to bridge R&D and manufacturing environments to deliver actionable results
Compensation:
- The anticipated starting pay range for this position is $100,000-$130,000 and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education.
Benefits For You:
- 100% paid premiums across all medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, short-term disability, long-term disability, and basic life insurance plans
- Reasonable use PTO
- $1,800 in annual employer HSA contributions (health savings account)
Benefits For Your Family:
- 100% paid premiums across all medical, dental, vision, and telemedicine plans
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave
Benefits For Your Future:
- 401k with up to 5% matching contributions which vest 100% on day one
- Eligibility for incentive stock options
If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, reach out to us at careers@electra.com—we’re here to help.