Northstrat

Senior Reliability Engineer

Sterling, Virginia, United States · Senior · Full-time

No sponsorshipDetected 15 days ago

PythonMATLABData AnalysisSEMExcelThermal AnalysisMIL-STDSystems EngineeringElectrical EngineeringRF Engineering

About the role

This is a hybrid role based out of our Sterling, VA facility, with regular on-site presence expected for lab, integration, and program activities.
Conduct root-cause and failure analysis on RF and EW component and board-level failures, working with FA labs (cross-section, X-ray, decap, SEM/EDS, network analyzer characterization) and driving closed-loop corrective action (FRACAS).
Apply derating and thermal management analysis to high-power EW RF components; review junction temperatures, power dissipation, and component stress against derating guidelines.

Serve as the reliability technical lead for fielded and in-production EW RF systems, maintaining reliability requirements, allocations, and verification artifacts tied to mission and operational profiles and contractual (RAM) requirements.
Perform reliability predictions and modeling (MTBF/MTTF, reliability block diagrams, fault trees) for EW RF hardware - high-power PAs, LNAs, mixers, filters, synthesizers, wideband front-ends, DRFM/receiver assemblies, and antenna/array hardware - using MIL-HDBK-217 and related methods.
Lead FMEA/FMECA on existing EW designs and translate findings into production-process, screening, and sustainment improvements.
Own component sustainment for RF and high-frequency parts: screening, EEE parts management, and obsolescence/DMSMS risk management for in-production and fielded systems.
Own reliability data across the production and sustainment lifecycle - FRACAS, field-return and depot/sustainment data - and build reliability growth models (e.g., Crow-AMSAA) to drive continuous improvement.
Support production and sustainment milestone activities (e.g., Production Readiness Reviews, Test Readiness Reviews) and author/review qualification, acceptance, and screening procedures.
We hire and scale rapidly to meet the needs of our partner customers.
We support employee led interest groups and challenge our employees to support others and be their best self.

8+ years of reliability engineering experience, including significant work on RF/microwave or wireless hardware.
Experience supporting defense, aerospace, or other regulated/high-reliability hardware programs in production and/or sustainment.
Working knowledge of RF fundamentals: S-parameters, impedance matching, link budgets, noise figure, gain/compression, and common RF components and measurements.
Desired: Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
Direct experience with electronic warfare systems (ECM/ECCM, jammers, EW receivers, DRFM, wideband/high-power RF) and their failure and degradation modes.
Experience with defense RAM requirements and standards such as GEIA-STD-0009, MIL-STD-785, and reliability allocations on DoD programs.
Hands-on experience with RF test equipment (vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators) and interpreting RF degradation and failure modes.
Familiarity with reliability challenges of high-power RF and harsh-platform (airborne pod, shipboard, ground vehicle) installations.
Although project requirements may dictate schedules, a Northstrat employee is only required to work an average of 8 hours per weekday over the course of a month.
Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.

HALT/HASS, accelerated life testing, thermal cycling, vibration/shock, humidity, and altitude, plus EW-relevant RF stress (sustained high-power operation, duty cycle, VSWR/mismatch, ESD).
Apply derating and thermal management analysis to high-power EW RF components
review junction temperatures, power dissipation, and component stress against derating guidelines.
FMEA/FMECA, RBD, fault tree analysis, Weibull and statistical life-data analysis, and reliability prediction standards (MIL-HDBK-217
familiarity with MIL-HDBK-338, Telcordia SR-332, or FIDES a plus).
Experience planning and interpreting environmental and accelerated stress tests, including MIL-STD-810 environments and HALT/HASS.
Strong failure-analysis and root-cause skills (8D, fishbone, 5-Whys) and experience operating a FRACAS.
Strong data analysis skills (Excel and at least one of Python/R/MATLAB/Minitab/JMP).

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications.
We also offer competitive compensation, benefits, and profession development opportunities.
The IBA can be used for such things as: Medical and Vision Insurance through United Health Care; Dental insurance through Delta Dental 100% Medical Reimbursement Time Off with Pay Profit Sharing Plan 401k Educational Benefits Additional Income IBA Benefits accrue each month in the amount equivalent to 50% of the employee's monthly compensation rate.
That is, the effective dollar amount of this accrual is in addition to an employee's salary.
Profit Sharing Plan (PSP) The PSP is a qualified retirement plan that Northstrat funds quarterly on the employee's behalf through the IBA in the amount equivalent to 25% (up to the IRS contribution limit) of the employee's compensation.

We offer power of choice benefits designed to best meet the needs of you and your lifestyle.
Our benefits programs are designed to support and encourage wellness, healthy living, retirement investment, and lifetime learning.

Northstrat is an Equal Opportunity Employer We are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse workplace.

This listing is sourced directly from Northstrat's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.