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Senior Failure Analysis & Sustainment Engineer

140k – 185kClarksburg, MDOnsite5+ YOE
Summary

Leads failure analysis, root cause investigations, and sustainment for fielded autonomous systems hardware. Drives reliability improvements, obsolescence mitigation, and cross-functional collaboration with hands-on troubleshooting of mechanical/electromechanical components. Requires 5+ years experience and bachelor's in engineering.

About the role

What You'll Do

Own and build failure analysis processes

  • Establish, implement, and continuously improve processes for identifying, documenting, and quantifying failure modes
  • Lead and manage FRACAS data workflows and ensure high-quality reliability data capture
  • Translate failure data into actionable product and process improvements that enhance system uptime

Lead investigations and root cause analysis (RCA)

  • Drive discrepancy report investigations from intake through resolution
  • Perform hands-on forensic analysis of failed components and systems
  • Determine root cause using structured methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone, fault tree)
  • Serve as technical authority for product failures
  • Act as SME supporting refurbishment and inspection technicians
  • Provide engineering guidance for troubleshooting, repair decisions, and escalation
  • Interface with design, manufacturing, and reliability teams to close the loop on issues impacting mission-critical systems

Cross-functional collaboration

  • Work closely with product design, manufacturing, sustainment logistics, program teams, customer success, and reliability engineering
  • Communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Drive reliability and sustainment initiatives

  • Identify trends and systemic issues across fielded systems
  • Lead initiatives to improve product durability, maintainability, and lifecycle performance for mission-critical applications

Support engineering changes and obsolescence management

  • Source, test, qualify, and implement replacement parts
  • Contribute to design updates driven by reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) objectives

Enable predictive maintenance capabilities

  • Analyze correlations between hardware failures and internal system data
  • Develop frameworks for predictive failure modeling and condition-based maintenance to improve uptime

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (advanced degree a plus)
  • 5+ years of experience in mechanical systems engineering, failure analysis, or reliability engineering
  • Hands-on experience troubleshooting mechanical and electromechanical systems
  • Strong root cause analysis skills and familiarity with structured problem-solving methods
  • Experience working cross-functionally in product development or operations environments

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with FRACAS systems and reliability data analysis
  • Background in forensic engineering or failure investigation
  • Familiarity with autonomous systems, robotics, or complex electromechanical products
  • Experience with test design, validation, and qualification processes
  • Working knowledge of electrical systems and diagnostics

US Salary Range

$140,000 - $185,000

Skills
FRACASRoot Cause AnalysisFailure AnalysisMechanical EngineeringElectromechanical Systems5 WhysFishbone DiagramFault Tree AnalysisReliability EngineeringObsolescence ManagementPredictive MaintenanceRAM AnalysisForensic EngineeringTest ValidationElectrical Diagnostics
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