Member of Technical Staff, Hardware Reliability Engineer

Lumotive is pioneering the era of programmable optics—where light is controlled as intelligently and flexibly as software. At the heart of this transformation is a once-in-a-generation innovation: a flat CMOS-based “general purpose optic.” Lumotive’s Light Control Metasurface (LCM™) beam forming chips can be programmed to function as a beam steering mirror, a lens, mirror, a beam splitter—or any optical function—replacing bulky and mechanical optical components with a fully digital, reconfigurable semiconductor . This breakthrough lays the foundation for a massive shift in multiple technologies—from 3D sensing and imaging to optical networking, free space optical communication, and beyond. Like the shift from analog to digital in electronics, programmable optics will reshape industries from robotics, self-driving cars, AI, defense, and healthcare.
Lumotive’s first commercial application is in LiDAR, where its software-defined beam steering chips are already enabling compact, high-performance, solid-state sensors. These sensors are being deployed today in smart infrastructure, robotics, and mobility systems through leading module makers and solution integrators.
With more than 200 patents and growing commercial traction, Lumotive is delivering the world’s first digital platform for light—and redefining what’s possible in the optical age.

Job Description:

The Hardware Reliability Engineer is a critical role in a cross-functional team building next-generation lidar systems for industrial, consumer, and automotive applications. This is a high-ownership, hands-on role spanning test methodology, qualification, failure analysis, and manufacturing quality practices.

You will work closely with optical, electrical, mechanical, systems, software, and test engineering teams across the full product development lifecycle – from early requirements and design reviews through prototype builds and design qualification. You will personally set up test equipment, execute test plans, analyze data, and perform failure analysis. This role requires clear technical communication with cross-functional teams, external test labs, suppliers, and customers.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, set up, and execute reliability test plans for lidar modules and systems, including environmental stress tests (temperature cycling, thermal shock, humidity), accelerated life testing, and mechanical shock/vibration.
• Analyze test data, identify failure mechanisms, and author reliability assessment reports with quantitative findings and clear recommendations.
• Own the reliability and quality sections of product requirements documents; define reliability targets, qualification test requirements, and acceptance criteria.
• Represent system reliability, quality, and manufacturability in hardware design reviews and product performance reviews; identify risk early and drive design changes that improve robustness and reduce manufacturing complexity.
• Own reliability risk assessment for lidar modules and systems throughout the product development lifecycle, from concept through qualification – leading design and process FMEAs and tracking risk mitigation actions to closure in collaboration with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Own manufacturing quality and reliability processes for in-house prototype builds and NPI builds at contract manufacturers. Define workmanship acceptance criteria, drive nonconformance resolution, and maintain quality records and trend data across build iterations.
• Perform failure analysis on defective units, engineering test escapes, and customer-returned units using in-house tools and third party test labs; define scope and technically direct external test labs for advanced failure analysis.
• Author customer-facing failure analysis reports and drive CAPA/8D to closure.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, optical engineering, physics or related technical fields. Master’s degree is preferred.

5+ years of hands-on industry experience in a hardware reliability engineering role for complex electronic or optoelectronic hardware at the module or system level.

Demonstrated hands-on experience planning, setting up, and executing hardware reliability test, including environmental stress, accelerated life, and mechanical testing.

Demonstrated experience writing FA reports and driving CAPA/8D to closure.

Experience with design and/or process FMEAs, reliability risk assessments, and product reliability and quality specifications.

Experience providing DFM, DFA, and DFT feedback during hardware design reviews.

Experience owning manufacturing quality processes for prototype or NPI hardware builds, including workmanship standards, in-process inspection, and nonconformance management.

Experience with statistical reliability data analysis, lifetime data analysis, MTBF/FIT estimation, and HALT methodology.

Experience managing quality processes at contract manufacturers or external partners.

Working knowledge of module- and system-level reliability and quality standards, such as JEDEC JESD22, ISO 16750, IEC 60068, or AEC-Q102/Q104.

Experience with lidar, optical sensing, or photonics hardware development is a plus.

Benefits include but not limited to:
Health, dental and visionFSA, HSAPTO plus 14 paid company holidays401K with 3% contributionStock OptionsLife insurance and disability