Test & Reliability Engineer
About Vital Lyfe
Vital Lyfe is a tech company redefining water autonomy through innovation — creating a new category of personal water-making technology built to scale where infrastructure can’t.
Mission
We're looking for a scrappy, hands-on Test & Reliability Engineer to own testing from prototype to production. You’ll be the last line of defense between the lab and the field, validating performance, identifying weak points, and pushing our system to failure so our customers never have to. You’ll be responsible for designing and executing tests, understanding the physics behind failures, and working closely with engineering, manufacturing, and ops to make the product better every week.
What You'll Do
Own end-to-end validation of new hardware from pumps and sensors to pressure vessels and electronics
Design and execute bench-level, environmental, and life-cycle tests
Develop and run field simulations (saltwater, shock/vibe, temperature, abuse testing)
Lead root-cause investigations of field issues and drive corrective actions
Build test rigs (salt fog, temp/humidity cycling, etc.), break hardware, and feed that learning directly back into design
Work closely with R&D and manufacturing to define design margins, quality standards, and pass/fail criteria
Document tests, analyze results, and present findings across teams
What We're Looking For
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering (or equivalent hands-on experience)
2+ years of experience in hardware testing, validation, or reliability engineering
Strong hands-on skills with hardware test setups, instrumentation, and data collection
Experience with root cause analysis techniques (fishbone, 5 whys, etc.)
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with high-pressure fluid systems, valves, seals, and pumps
Familiarity with environmental testing (salt fog, temp/humidity cycling, etc.)
Knowledge of reliability standards (e.g. HALT, HASS, Weibull analysis)
Experience writing automated test scripts (Python preferred)
Comfortable using hand tools, data loggers, and pressure transducers
Strong communicator—able to summarize test findings clearly and drive cross-functional alignment
Physical Job Requirements - Essential Functions
· Hands on work on development hardware.
· Long periods of standing, crouching, walking.
· Lifting up to 50 lbs
Why Join Vital Lyfe?
Work on high-impact problems with global relevance
Help scale breakthrough technology in water security and climate resilience
Early ownership in a high-growth, engineering-led startup
Join a tight-knit, mission-driven team in a fast-paced environment
Build long-term career equity as we grow
Location Requirement: Ability to work 100% onsite in Torrance, CA (remote or hybrid work will not be considered)
Vital Lyfe is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vital Lyfe is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.