Staff Reliability Engineer
Mainspring Energy · Menlo Park, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Reliability
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior reliability role at Mainspring Energy (industrial) in Menlo Park, CA.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, FMEA, CAPA
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Reliability Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $115k–$169k.
Median of the low and high ends of 69 live postings that list pay, out of 147 reliability engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 146 other live reliability postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 5+)
Typical $115k–$169k, from 68 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 71%
- New product launch 41%
- ✓ FMEA 40%
- Automation 30%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 28%
- Tooling 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CAPA, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at Mainspring Energy
We found 2 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Patrick → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Mainspring Energy in Menlo Park
14 other open roles at this site · 2 people we found in reliability roles at Mainspring Energy.
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- Sustaining Controls Engineer · Controls
- Senior Reaction Controls Engineer · Controls · Senior
- Senior/Staff Materials Process Engineer · Process · Senior
- Senior Materials and Process Engineer · Process · Senior
- Staff Materials and Process Engineer · Process · Senior
Full description from Mainspring EnergyAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Perform reliability testing including mechanical stress tests, shock, vibration and environmental testing.
- ◆Prepare concise and detailed test plans and reports.
- ◆Conduct failure analysis using analytical techniques and methodology to derive root cause.
- ◆Direct and develop design engineers in the implementation of the product performance risk analysis process.
- ◆Lead cross functional teams executing FMEA for design, process and maintenance.
- ◆Develop verification test plans with design engineers based on system and sub-system specs and possess the knowledge of system architecture and industry standard protocols.
- ◆Design, build and run specialized test equipment as required to test unique electrical operating circuits with an emphasis on maximizing test output to obtain results with rapid design cycles.
- ◆Based on knowledge of UL and NFPA standards, guide cross-functional design team for excellence of design in electrical & fuel system components.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
About Mainspring
Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.
The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:
Pragmatic Optimism
Excellence without Ego
Proactive Collaboration
Job Overview
Mainspring Energy is growing rapidly and has begun to manufacture its Linear Generators in volume, and reliability is a crucial element to the success of the product. The reliability team is responsible for evaluating design risks, and implementing tests and analyses to quantify and reduce risk to an acceptable level for the target market. Reliability engineers will use tools such as FMEA, HALT and root-cause analysis on a regular basis. The successful candidate is highly organized and communicative, and will thrive in a nimble fast-paced environment that includes product engineering, R&D and manufacturing.
Qualification
- •Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
- •8+ years experience with testing for mechanical, electrical or electromechanical systems with an emphasis on reliability or 5+ years with a masters degree in a related field
- •Experience working in a dynamic engineering environment, where systems and processes are evolving rapidly.
- •Demonstrated ability to independently spearhead reliability initiatives from conception to completion, leveraging strong interpersonal skills to mentor or lead small groups of engineers
- •Demonstrated ability to execute challenging multi-system engineering projects
- •In depth understanding and use of FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)
- •Ability to set up and automate a variety of repetitive testing operations.
- •Data Analysis and reporting capabilities (Python, Matlab, Google Docs, Weibull ++, JMP, etc.)
- •Experience with CAPA (Corrective Action Preventative Action) type processes (RCA, 8D, etc.), in iterative development to improve products.
- •Proficiency and knowledge in use of a wide variety of instrumentation/sensors and DAQ devices
- •Strong understanding of electrical system concepts and components, a plus
- •Understanding of failure characterization and reliability of HV/LV electronics hardware, a plus
- •Experience using failure analysis techniques such as X-ray, CT, cross-sectioning and optical microscopy, a plus.
- •Experience in compliance testing and knowledge of standards (UL, IEC, etc.), a plus.
- •Strong understanding of mechanical assemblies, a plus.