PCBA Reliability Engineer

Hardware Engineering is an innovative and collaborative group of electrical, mechanical, reliability, software and vehicle engineers. We design, build, and perfect the products which are the eyes and ears of Waymo's autonomous driving technology, and integrate those products into vehicle platforms. We're seeking curious and talented teammates to keep us moving in the right direction.

• Act as the primary Subject Matter Expert on PCB and PCBA quality and reliability across all Waymo Compute and Sensor modules.
• Collaborate with external laboratories and suppliers to secure necessary test chamber and validation resources. Lead test vehicle layout and design for Waymo semi-custom components; establish comprehensive test plans and secure internal or third-party lab resources for execution.
• Oversee manufacturing quality issues across PCB/PCBA suppliers, leading corrective and preventive action (CAPA) initiatives.
• Perform root cause investigations and execute corrective/preventive actions for failures identified during reliability testing of custom components or PCBAs.
• Evaluate DFMEAs to pinpoint high-risk elements, defining risk mitigation strategies through early design modifications or targeted follow-on testing.
• Lead and support systemic process enhancements across both internal and external quality and reliability management systems.
• Master's degree in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong foundation in reliability systems, including system reliability concepts, failure distributions, and accelerated life modeling.
• In-depth expertise in failure mechanisms associated with electronic packaging, components, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and PCB assemblies (PCBAs).
• Hands-on SMT and PCB manufacturing process expertise, quality control systems, and failure analysis methods (e.g., cross-sectioning, dye and pull).
• Proficiency with industry IPC standards governing PCBs, PCBAs, and electronic components, as well as the ability to interpret electrical schematics and PCB layout files.
• Working knowledge of silicon-level failure mechanisms, thermal and cooling solutions, finite element modeling, and effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience with APQP/PPAP processes, ideally within the automotive sector.
• Proficiency in PCB layout and test fixture design.
• Strong electrical debugging skills, along with a thorough understanding of electrical schematics.

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