Lead Hardware Reliability Engineer

What we are looking for

The
Hardware Team
at Smartex is committed to
revolutionize the textile industry through the development of cutting-edge electronic solutions.
We are a diverse and international company with a strong mission to make a positive impact on both our industry and the planet. We are looking for a highly-skilled & experienced
Lead Hardware Reliability Engineer
to join our talented team. The ideal candidate will lead the validation and verification strategy of Smartex's hardware platforms across all development and production stages. You'll be responsible for defining methodologies, mentoring junior engineers, and ensuring every Smartex system meets the highest reliability and certification standards before reaching the field. Your work will directly shape how we test, qualify, and scale our hardware at industrial level.

Responsibilities

Define and lead
hardware validation strategies
across EVT, DVT, PVT, and production stages, ensuring test coverage, repeatability, and traceability of results.
Design, review, and maintain
AQL-based test and validation frameworks
, balancing statistical rigor with practical execution.
Architect
test jigs and fixture
s (mechanical, electrical, and software) that enable scalable and automated validation in both R&D and manufacturing lines.
Oversee development of
test automation software
(Python, Lab VIEW, Jenkins, C/C++ embedded agents), establishing best practices for automation, logging, and analytics.
Plan and execute
qualification test campaigns
: functional, stress, accelerated life, environmental (thermal, vibration, humidity), burn-in, and endurance testing.
. Lead
certification readiness and compliance
: interface with CE, EMC, LVD, and other regulatory bodies; define pre-compliance procedures; ensure lab coordination and documentation.
Conduct and mentor others in
root cause failure analysis (RCFA) and FME
A; drive CAPA processes and reliability improvement programs.
Develop and maintain a
reliability metrics dashboard
(yield, MTBF, defect density, regression coverage) and use it to guide design feedback loops.
Collaborate with design, firmware, optical, and operations teams to embed
Design for Testability (DFT) and Design for Reliability (DFR
) principles early in product architecture.
Support
manufacturing and production test strategy
: define in-line and end-of-line (EOL) test procedures, assist contract manufacturers in fixture setup, and lead factory validation ramp-up.
Establish and maintain
QA documentation systems
, ensuring process control, traceability, and readiness for audits or certifications.
Mentor and develop QA engineers, spreading best practices and raising the technical bar across the organization.

.

Skills & Experience

10+ years of experience in
hardware validation, reliability engineering, or quality assurance
, preferably in embedded or industrial product companies.
Proven experience leading
QA or validation teams
, managing test campaigns, and defining validation strategy.
Deep technical knowledge of
electronics, test engineering, and measurement tools
(oscilloscopes, logic/spectrum analyzers, power analyzers, environmental chambers, vibration tables).
Strong proficiency in
test automation and scripting
(Python, Bash, Lab VIEW, Jenkins pipelines, or equivalent).
Solid understanding of
embedded systems interfaces and protocols
(SPI, I2 C, UART, USB, CAN, Ethernet) and hardware/firmware integration debugging.
Expertise with
statistical quality control
(AQL, DOE, SPC) and reliability testing (ALT, HALT, HASS, MTBF modeling).
Experience managing
compliance and certification testing
(EMC, LVD, CE, FCC, UL, Ro HS, REACH).
Strong command of
root cause analysis, FMEA, and CAPA
methodologies, with hands-on experience leading resolution cycles.
Excellent documentation, analytical, and communication skills – you write validation reports others can build standards from.
Familiarity with
hardware reliability standards
(IPC-A-600, IPC-610, IPC J-STD-001) and
environmental test standards
(IEC 60068, IEC 61000 series
).
Nice-to-haves
Experience designing and scaling
manufacturing test systems
(ICT, FCT, EOL).
Experience working with
contract manufacturers
or OEM/ODM partners.
Knowledge of
reliability qualification programs
(JEDEC JESD22, MIL-STD-810, or equivalent).
Exposure to
APQP, PPAP, ISO 9001
, and other structured quality systems.
Strong ability to define
validation metrics, dashboards, and process KPIs.
Experience in regulated or high-reliability domains (automotive, medical, aerospace, industrial automation).
A systems-level thinker: able to connect component failures to architectural design decisions.

Our Perks

Career Progression
Employee Stock Options
Diverse and Talented Team
Fast-Paced Environment
Impact on the World
Hybrid Work