R&D Hardware Engineer - Root Cause / Failure Analysis Lead

is at the forefront of technology innovation, delivering breakthroughs and trusted insights in electronic design, simulation, prototyping, test, manufacturing, and optimization. Our ~15,000 employees create world-class solutions in communications, 5G, automotive, energy, quantum, aerospace, defense, and semiconductor markets for customers in over 100 countries. Learn more

Our culture embraces a bold vision of where technology can take us and a passion for tackling challenging problems with industry-first solutions. We believe that when people feel a sense of belonging, they can be more creative, innovative, and thrive at all points in their careers.

About the Job

This critical position leads failure analysis, defect characterization, and root‑cause investigations for Keysight’s next‑generation hardware products. You will diagnose complex system, module, and component‑level failures; structure and drive disciplined RCA activities; and ensure timely, clear communication of findings through a weekly RCA dashboard and executive readouts.

You will collaborate with design engineering, reliability, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to systematically identify failure mechanisms, contain issues, and implement corrective and preventative actions. This is your opportunity to influence product quality, reliability, and architecture decisions across multiple product families.

About the Team

You will be part of Keysight Labs’ hardware development organization, partnering with multi‑discipline engineering teams across RF, photonics, digital, packaging, and manufacturing. The team values technical rigor, structured problem‑solving, and clear communication.

Responsibilities

Failure Analysis & Root Cause Leadership

· L ead end‑to‑end failure analysis investigations for systemic, intermittent, and NPI‑related hardware failures.

· Develop structured problem‑solving plans (5 Whys, Ishikawa, fault‑tree analysis, DOE-based isolation, etc.).

· Own the weekly RCA dashboard summarizing investigation status, findings, risks, and next steps for leadership.

· Drive cross-functional review sessions, ensuring alignment on problem statements, data requirements, and closure criteria.

Technical Investigation & Troubleshooting

· Perform electrical, mechanical, thermal, and materials‑level failure diagnostics using appropriate test methods and analytical tools.

· R eproduce, isolate, and characterize failures in collaboration with product designers and test engineering.

· I nterpret complex data sets, test results, and statistical patterns to identify failure mechanisms.

· Document clear, data‑driven root‑cause conclusions and recommended corrective actions.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

· Partner with design, reliability, manufacturing, and supplier teams to validate findings and ensure robust corrective actions.

· Provide feedback to design teams on systemic trends, design margins, and reliability opportunities.

· Support design verification, environmental stress tests, and reliability qualification review as needed.

Core Qualifications

· BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

· Strong understanding of electronics fundamentals, hardware system behavior, and failure mechanisms.

· Demonstrated proficiency with troubleshooting tools (oscilloscopes, VNAs, logic analyzers, curve tracers, thermal imaging, etc.).

· Experience with structured problem‑solving methodologies (5 Whys, FMEA, 8D, DOE).

· E xcellent communication skills with the ability to distill complex technical content into concise status updates and dashboards.

· Highly organized and effective at managing multiple parallel investigations.

· Strong collaborator who works well in diverse, multi‑discipline teams.

Desired Qualifications

· 5+ years experience in hardware failure analysis, reliability engineering, or root‑cause/problem‑solving roles.

· Experience working with RF, high‑speed digital, photonics, power electronics, or mixed‑signal hardware systems.

· Familiarity with reliability stress testing methods (HALT/HASS, HTOL, thermal cycling, vibration, etc.).

· Experience building dashboards or structured reports for leadership (Power BI, Excel, JMP, etc.).

· Knowledge of manufacturing defect modes and supplier‑related failure mechanisms.

Candidates must be local or willing to relocate to Santa Rosa, CA

This position requires access to certain goods, software, technology, or technical data subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations. Under these laws and regulations, U.S. persons (which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees) working for Keysight can access export-controlled items without authorization from the U.S. government. For any individual who is not a U.S. person, Keysight may need authorization from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, or other appropriate federal agency before the individual can access export-controlled items. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual, having authorization from the U.S. government for export-controlled items under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Careers Privacy Statement
Keysight Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.

The level of role and salary will be based on applicable experience, education and skills; Most offers will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the Salary Range listed below.

California Pay Range: MIN $138,960 - MIDPT $185,280 MAX $231,600

Note: For other locations, pay ranges will vary by region.

This role is eligible for Keysight Results Bonus Program

US Employees may be eligible for the following benefits:

- Medical, dental and vision

- Health Savings Account

- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

- Life, Accident, Disability insurance

- Business Travel Accident and Business Travel Health

- 401(k) Plan

- Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays

- Paid Family Leave

- Discounts, Perks

- Tuition Reimbursement

- Adoption Assistance

- ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)

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