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Contract Reliability Engineer Jobs in Santa Ana, CA

Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$70 - $93/hr

Reliability Engineer (Contract-to-hire) Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa Mesa, CA.

Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$70 - $93/hr

Reliability Engineer (Contract-to-hire) Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa Mesa, CA.

Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$146 - $193/hr

Reliability Engineer (Contract-to-hire) Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa Mesa, CA.

Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$96 - $128/hr

Reliability Engineer (Contract-to-hire) Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa Mesa, CA.

Staff Reliability Engineer (Contract-to-hire) Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Staff Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa ...

Staff Reliability Engineer (Contract-to-hire) Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Staff Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa ...

Staff Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$127 - $168/hr

Staff Reliability Engineer (Contract-to-hire) Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Staff Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa ...

Staff Reliability Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$127 - $168/hr

Staff Reliability Engineer (Contract-to-hire) Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Staff Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa ...

Site Reliability Engineer, Robotics

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$61.50 - $81.50/hr

The Site Reliability Engineer will own the reliability of robotics systems, build observability ... release gates, and push for telemetry contracts to develop production-grade services.

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Contract Reliability Engineer information

See Santa Ana, CA salary details

$63.5K

$122.8K

$146.7K

How much do contract reliability engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract reliability engineer in Santa Ana, CA is $122,760.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $106,700.00 and $134,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract reliability engineer?

A Contract Reliability Engineer is a professional hired on a temporary or project basis to ensure the reliability, availability, and maintainability of systems, equipment, or processes. They analyze failure data, perform root cause analysis, and implement strategies to improve system performance. This role often involves collaborating with maintenance teams, design engineers, and operations personnel to optimize asset life and reduce downtime. Contract roles may vary in duration and scope, depending on the project's needs.

What are the typical projects or responsibilities for a contract reliability engineer?

As a Contract Reliability Engineer, your responsibilities usually revolve around conducting reliability assessments, analyzing failure data, and implementing preventative maintenance strategies for client equipment or systems. You might be tasked with performing root cause analysis, recommending design improvements, and supporting maintenance teams in optimizing asset performance. Projects can vary widely by industry but often involve collaborating with operations, quality, and engineering teams to identify reliability risks and drive continuous improvement. This dynamic role provides the opportunity to work on diverse assignments, enhance problem-solving skills, and make a tangible impact on client operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the contract reliability engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Reliability Engineer, you need a strong background in reliability engineering principles, statistical analysis, and mechanical or electrical systems, often supported by an engineering degree and relevant project experience. Familiarity with reliability software (such as Weibull analysis tools), FMEA, and certifications like Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) are highly valued. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and project management skills are important for collaborating with cross-functional teams and clearly conveying technical findings. These abilities are essential for ensuring equipment reliability, minimizing downtime, and delivering measurable value to clients on a contractual basis.

What are popular job titles related to Contract Reliability Engineer jobs in Santa Ana, CA?

For Contract Reliability Engineer jobs in Santa Ana, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Reliability Engineer jobs in Santa Ana, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Reliability Engineer jobs in Santa Ana, CA are:

What cities near Santa Ana, CA are hiring for Contract Reliability Engineer jobs?

Cities near Santa Ana, CA with the most Contract Reliability Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Reliability Engineer job openings in Santa Ana, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,760 per year, or $59 per hour.

Reliability Engineer

Sigma Design

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

$70 - $93/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

Reliability Engineer
(Contract-to-hire)

Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Reliability Engineer to join their facility in Costa Mesa, CA. This company specializes in autonomous systems and next-generation defense technologies. This position is contract to hire and fully In-Office.
While on contract you are eligible for:
  • Multiple options for medical insurance and dental insurance including some with FSA and HSA
  • 401(k) with up to 4% company match
  • 15-days of accrued PTO and 9 company paid holidays
  • Quarterly bonus program
  • Voluntary benefits: vision, long-term disability, and life insurance
  • Monday – Friday, day shift
  • $70.00 - $93.00 an hour. The hourly range for this role is an estimate based on multiple factors, including experience, education, training, skills, and business considerations. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate’s qualifications and alignment with the role

Primary Function:
The Reliability Engineer is responsible for ensuring product reliability and system safety throughout the entire product lifecycle, from concept and design through manufacturing, production, and field deployment. This role partners cross-functionally to evaluate designs, execute reliability analyses and testing, investigate failures, and implement continuous improvements that enhance product performance and production readiness.
Essential Job Functions - Responsibilities:
  • Perform predictive reliability analyses, including MTTF/MTBF calculations, Weibull analysis, and reliability modeling to evaluate product performance and identify failure trends.
  • Lead Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and root cause investigations to identify risks and drive corrective and preventative actions.
  • Develop and execute qualification, validation, environmental, and accelerated life testing plans to verify product reliability and production readiness.
  • Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and test teams to improve product designs, manufacturing processes, and system reliability throughout development and production.
  • Support design reviews, manufacturing readiness activities, and the transition of products from development into production.
  • Develop maintainability models and support preventative maintenance and sparing strategies.
  • Create and improve standardized reliability processes, tools, and documentation to support product development and manufacturing.
  • Follow Business Technology policies to protect sensitive data and reduce information security occurrences.

Education and Experience: (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities)
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline required; Master's degree preferred.
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Reliability Engineer, Design/Development Engineer, Test Engineer, or related engineering role preferred.
  • Experience with safety-critical hardware and software systems, preferably within aerospace or defense environments.
  •  Strong knowledge of reliability engineering methodologies including FMEA/FMECA, Fault Tree Analysis, Weibull analysis, predictive reliability modeling, and failure investigations.
  • Experience developing and executing qualification, environmental, accelerated life, and validation testing.
  • Familiarity with military reliability and environmental standards, including MIL-STD-810, MIL-HDBK-217, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-516C, and MIL-STD-1629; experience with MIL-HDBK-217Plus, MIL-HDBK-472, and MIL-STD-1916 is a plus.
  • Experience supporting design reviews, manufacturing readiness, production testing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Strong analytical, technical writing, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Compliance (background check, ITAR, vaccine, etc.)
    • ITAR - Permanent resident of the United States (“U.S. person” as defined by ITAR)
    • Background - Pass a post-offer background verification.
Work Environment
Standard office environment with normal amounts of office related conditions. Occasionally may be required to work in environmental conditions that emulate typical user environments in order to facilitate design testing and validation.  Occasionally may be required to travel as required to other facilities, clients, or suppliers. 
 

SigmaDesign is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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