Reliability & Failure Analysis Engineer
sesame
OnSite
San Francisco
Uncategorized
Job Score
70 pts
On-site model (+70)
About Sesame
Sesame believes in a future where computers are lifelike - with the ability to see, hear, and collaborate with us in ways that feel natural and human. With this vision, we're designing a new kind of computer, focused on making voice agents part of our daily lives. Our team brings together founders from Oculus and Ubiquity6, alongside proven leaders from Meta, Google, and Apple, with deep expertise spanning hardware and software. Join us in shaping a future where computers truly come alive.
As a Reliability and FA Engineer at Sesame, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality, robustness, and longevity of our consumer products. You will define and execute comprehensive reliability test plans, conduct deep-dive failure analysis (FA) on units from testing and field returns, and drive root cause identification and corrective actions. This role requires a strong technical leader who can bridge the gap between design validation and mass production, partnering with cross-functional teams to influence design for reliability (DFR) and ensure our products meet rigorous performance standards.
Responsibilities
Define and execute reliability test plans, including Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT), Accelerated Life Testing (ALT), and environmental stress testing.
Conduct comprehensive failure analysis (FA) on failed units from development, production, and field returns, using advanced analytical techniques and equipment.
Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams (Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware) to implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
Influence product architecture and design by implementing Design for Reliability (DFR) principles during early development phases.
Manage reliability lab operations, including equipment maintenance, calibration, and safety protocols.
Partner with internal and external teams to standardize reliability testing methodologies and validation criteria.
Support product lifecycle management, from early prototype evaluation through mass production and beyond.
Develop and maintain technical reports, reliability dashboards, and documentation on product performance trends.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
7+ years of relevant experience in reliability engineering or failure analysis within the consumer electronics industry.
Hands-on experience with failure analysis tools and techniques, such as X-ray, cross-sectioning, SEM, or optical microscopy.
Deep understanding of industry-standard reliability testing methodologies and environmental standards.
Strong problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical findings to diverse teams.
Preferred Qualifications
10+ years of experience in consumer electronics, with a focus on reliability and failure analysis.
Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering or a related field.
Proven experience with wearable devices or small form factor, high-density products.
Experience with statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Minitab) and data-driven reliability modeling (e.g., Weibull analysis).
Demonstrated success in influencing design decisions to improve product robustness and yield.
Sesame is committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We welcome all qualified applicants, embracing diversity in race, gender, identity, orientation, ability, and more. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Contact careers@sesame.com for assistance.
Full-time Employee Benefits:
401 (k) max employer match: 3.5% of compensation
100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits for you and your dependents
Unlimited PTO and sick time
Flexible spending account with employer matching up to $1,650/year (medical FSA)
Guardian Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Opportunity to share in the company's success with competitive stock options
Benefits do not apply to contingent/contract workers.
Discover Other Areas
Understand the scope of work, key skills, and tools used in different career areas.
About Human Resources
The Human Resources area is responsible for all people management in organizations, from attracting and selecting talent to developing, retaining, and ensuring employee well-being. HR professionals are fundamental to building strong organizational cultures and engagement.
Key skills include recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits management, learning and development (L&D), organizational climate, employee engagement, labor law, labor relations, and HR tools (Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Bamboo HR). Knowledge of people analytics and data-driven HR is a differentiator.
HR professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master employer branding, people analytics, and talent retention strategies. The field offers opportunities from HR analyst to Chief People Officer, with a focus on culture, engagement, and people growth.
About Product Management
Product Management is one of the most strategically relevant areas in technology organizations. The Product Manager is responsible for defining product vision, prioritizing features, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver value to users.
Essential skills include strategic thinking, data analysis, communication, leadership, and technical knowledge. Tools like Jira, Confluence, Miro, and analytics platforms are fundamental in daily work.
Salaries for PMs range from entry-level to senior positions at major tech companies, with growing opportunities for international remote work.
About IT Governance
IT Governance is the area responsible for ensuring that information technology resources are used strategically, efficiently, and in compliance with standards and regulations. IT governance professionals ensure that technology supports business objectives in a secure and reliable manner.
Key skills include IT service management (ITIL), IT audit and compliance, risk management, business continuity, disaster recovery, metrics and indicators (SLAs, KPIs), and strategic alignment between IT and business. Frameworks like COBIT, ITIL, ISO 27001, and compliance standards are essential.
IT Governance professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master ITSM, IT audit, and risk management. The field offers opportunities from governance analyst to CIO/CTO, with a focus on efficiency, compliance, security, and business value.
About Fullstack
Fullstack developers are versatile professionals capable of working on both frontend and backend of web and mobile applications. They master multiple technologies and can build complete products end-to-end, from the user interface to server infrastructure.
Key skills include proficiency in at least one complete stack (React/Vue/Angular + Node.js/PHP/Python/Java), databases (SQL and NoSQL), REST/GraphQL APIs, Git versioning, CI/CD, and basic infrastructure knowledge (Docker, cloud). Clean architecture, DDD, and testing are important differentiators.
Fullstack developers are highly valued in startups and companies that need versatile and autonomous professionals. The field offers opportunities from junior developer to software architect, with a focus on complete delivery, holistic product vision, and ability to work across multiple application layers.
About People Analyst
The People Analyst is the professional responsible for transforming people data into strategic insights for HR decision-making. They combine data analysis knowledge with people management vision to help organizations understand workforce metrics, turnover, engagement, and diversity.
Key skills include people analytics, workforce analytics, turnover and retention analysis, HR metrics (time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, e-NPS), data visualization (Power BI, Tableau, Visier), workforce planning, and compensation analysis. Knowledge of statistics, SQL, and people analytics tools is a differentiator.
People Analysts in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who can translate complex people data into actionable insights for retention, diversity, and growth strategies. The field offers opportunities from HR analyst to head of people analytics, with a focus on data-driven people management.