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**Job Function: **
R&D Product Development
**Job Sub Function: **
R&D Mechanical Engineering
Job Category:
People Leader
All Job Posting Locations:
Santa Clara, California, United States of America
Job Description:
The Robotics and Digital solutions (RAD) group, part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, is recruiting for a Staff Field Reliability Engineer for the Robotics and Digital R&D Team. This position is located in Santa Clara, CA.
What We Do:
At Johnson & Johnson MedTech, we are building the future of robotic surgery and healthcare through innovation and technical excellence. Our goal is to develop advanced robotic platforms that are precise, reliable, and accessible. Our team focuses on creating solutions that empower surgeons and improve patient outcomes worldwide.
Who We Are:
Within RAD R&D we are a team of clinical, electrical, firmware, mechanical, mechatronics, robotic controls, systems and software engineers who are passionate about improving patient care. The team includes a wide range of experience levels from junior engineers to industry experts. We follow an iterative, collaborative approach to product development, working across clinical, instrument, accessories, and system teams. We prioritize autonomy, foster a culture of learning, and value diversity of thought and background. Our environment is inclusive, supportive, and driven by a shared commitment to innovation and excellence in healthcare.
You:
As a leader in our team, you will join us in our journey to deliver some of the most advanced medical robotic systems in the world. In this role you will design and help set-up processes within R&D to analyze field and internal test data, perform root-cause investigations, and strengthen product reliability and robustness. This role will define field reliability metrics, establish the infrastructure for monitoring product performance in the field, and partner closely with Design for Reliability, Failure Analysis, Design Engineering, Service Engineering, and field organizations to reduce customer-impacting issues and verify the effectiveness of corrective actions.
Performance Objectives and Responsibilities:
- Review and analyze field return data, service records, and warranty trends to identify reliability risks and prioritize top field issues.
- Lead and/or coordinate Failure Analysis (FA) and root-cause investigations; translate findings into actionable corrective and preventive actions.
- Develop and maintain reliability metrics and dashboards (e.g., failure rate, PPM, FRU rates) and present findings to multi-functional partners.
- Recommend and validate Preventive Maintenance (PM) methods and intervals based on testing, reliability modeling, and field performance for Field Replacement Units (FRU) and applicable components.
- Coordinate with field service teams to identify operational or environmental stressors and deviations from test conditions; translate into test case modifications or design inputs.
- Partner with the DfR and design engineering teams to feed field-derived failure modes into product specifications, FMEAs, and design changes. Review internal test and stress data to validate failure mechanisms and compare lab vs. field behavior.
- Work with multi-functional teams (FA, DfR, service, supply chain, manufacturing) to determine, implement, and verify corrective actions; follow through to closure and measure impact.
- Document findings and lessons learned; train service and field teams on updated procedures and PM methods when required.
- Support product launches and field rollouts with reliability readiness reviews and post-launch monitoring.
Required Experience and Skills:
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Materials Engineering or related technical field.
- 8+ years experience in reliability engineering, field engineering, failure analysis, or equivalent role supporting products in the field.
- Hands-on experience reviewing field returns, coordinating FA investigations, and driving corrective actions across multi-functional teams.
- Strong data analysis skills; proficiency with statistical reliability methods (failure rate analysis, basic Weibull concepts, trend analysis).
- Experience with test vs. field correlation and designing test protocols to replicate field failure modes.
- Practical knowledge of FMEA processes and how field data should feed into DFx activities.
- Excellent problem-solving skills, structured root-cause investigation methodology, and technical writing skills to produce clear FA reports and corrective action plans.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence engineering, service, and supply chain partners.
- Experience with common analysis tools (Excel/Power BI/Tableau, plus at least one scripting/statistics tool such as Python, R, Minitab, or JMP).
Preferred Experience and Skills:
- Master’s degree in Engineering or related field.
- Prior experience working directly with DfR / FA teams or within organizations that separate these functions.
- Hands-on FA lab experience (SEM, XRF, cross-sectioning, thermal imaging, electrical debug) or close collaboration history with FA technicians and labs.
- Project management or formal problem-solving certification (e.g., Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis training).
- Familiarity with service operations and field diagnostic systems (telemetry, remote diagnostics, service information systems).
The anticipated base pay range for this position is $134,000.00 to $231,150.00
The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs. Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan. The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/performance year. Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis.
Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance.
Employees may be eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.
Employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:
- Vacation – up to 120 hours per calendar year
- Sick time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
- Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays – up to 13 days per calendar year
- Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits
Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers . internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.
Required Skills:
Failure Analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis FMEA, Field Engineering, Reliability Engineering
Preferred Skills:
Continuous Improvement, Contract Management, Design Thinking, Developing Others, Equipment Maintenance, Fact-Based Decision Making, Feasibility Studies, Inclusive Leadership, Leadership, Mechanical Engineering, Product Development, Project Management Methodology (PMM), Prototyping, Research and Development, Resource Allocation, SAP Product Lifecycle Management, Team Management, Technical Credibility, Vendor Management
The anticipated base pay range for this position is :
$134,000.00 - $231,150.00
Additional Description for Pay Transparency: