ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Principal Reliability Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Vertex

Principal Reliability Engineer

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$98K - $123K/yr

The Principal Reliability Engineer will perform failure probability and maintainability analysis and provide leadership within a team in support of the analysis and sustainment of developing ...

Hp

Principal Reliability Engineer

Spring, TX

$91K - $114K/yr

Principal Reliability Engineer Description - At HP, quality & reliability are part of the HP Way and our promise to our customers, partners, and stakeholders. As part of our journey to lead the ...

Coherent Corp.

Principal Reliability Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$121K - $152K/yr

The Principal Reliability Engineering role is pivotal in this process, focusing on design for reliability, qualification testing, and ensuring the long-term reliability of leading-edge optoelectronic ...

II-VI Incorporated

Principal Reliability Engineer

Fremont, CA · Hybrid

$121K - $152K/yr

The Principal Reliability Engineering role is pivotal in this process, focusing on design for reliability, qualification testing, and ensuring the long-term reliability of leading-edge optoelectronic ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsPrincipal Reliability Engineer Jobs

Principal Reliability Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal reliability engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal reliability engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Reliability Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Reliability Engineer, you need deep expertise in reliability engineering principles, statistical analysis, and a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with reliability modeling software (such as ReliaSoft), FMEA/FMECA tools, root cause analysis methodologies, and relevant industry certifications like CRE (Certified Reliability Engineer) is typically required. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help drive cross-functional initiatives and mentor junior engineers. These skills ensure the development and maintenance of high-quality, dependable systems, reducing downtime and increasing operational efficiency.

How does a Principal Reliability Engineer typically contribute to cross-functional teams, and what collaboration challenges might arise?

As a Principal Reliability Engineer, you play a pivotal role in partnering with design, operations, and maintenance teams to ensure system reliability from concept through deployment. You’ll often lead failure analysis reviews, set reliability goals, and guide best practices across departments. Challenges can include aligning different teams’ priorities, communicating complex technical concepts to non-engineers, and driving consensus on design or process changes. Success in this role depends on strong communication skills and the ability to foster a collaborative, solutions-focused environment.

What is a Principal Reliability Engineer?

A Principal Reliability Engineer is a senior-level professional responsible for ensuring that systems, products, or processes are dependable and function reliably over time. They use their expertise to identify potential points of failure, implement preventive maintenance strategies, and analyze data to improve system performance. Principal Reliability Engineers often lead teams, develop reliability policies, and work closely with other engineering disciplines to enhance product quality and reduce downtime. Their work is critical in industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and technology. They typically possess extensive experience in reliability engineering and advanced problem-solving skills.

What is the difference between Principal Reliability Engineer vs Reliability Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Reliability EngineerReliability Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering, certifications like CRE or Six SigmaSimilar educational background, often with certifications in reliability or quality
Work EnvironmentLeads reliability strategies across projects, often in senior or lead rolesFocuses on analyzing data, testing, and improving product reliability
Industry UsageUsed in manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and tech industriesCommonly found in similar industries, supporting reliability initiatives
Search & ComparisonOften compared for seniority and scope of responsibilityCompared for technical expertise and hands-on reliability work

The Principal Reliability Engineer typically oversees reliability strategies and leads teams, while the Reliability Engineer focuses on technical analysis and implementation. Both roles require similar credentials and are vital in industries prioritizing product and system dependability.

More about Principal Reliability Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Principal Reliability Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Principal Reliability Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Principal Reliability Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Reliability Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Principal Reliability Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Reliability Engineer jobs are:
Principal Reliability Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Reliability Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 72% In-person, and 28% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.
Principal Reliability Engineer

Principal Reliability Engineer

Vertex Aerospace

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

$98K - $123K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

V2X Engineering Solutions is seeking a Principal Reliability Engineer to join our team. The Principal Reliability Engineer will perform failure probability and maintainability analysis and provide leadership within a team in support of the analysis and sustainment of developing equipment and systems, devices to meet contractual requirements and timelines   In this role, the Principal Reliability Engineer will perform Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) modeling to provide Life Cycle Analysis and support to fielded systems and the development of new systems.  Additionally, the Principal Reliability Engineer will perform sustainment activities that include tracking and analyzing parts consumption and maintenance

trends, implementing Failure Reporting, Analysis, and Corrective Action System (FRACAS) for the system.  The Principal Reliability Engineer is part of the Operations and Maintenance Services team whose activities include supporting inspection, testing, servicing, classification as to serviceability, repair, refurbishment, and overhaul of items or devices, removal and replacement of secondary items and components and repair and remanufacturing of reparable components by conducting Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) analysis. As such, the Principal Reliability Engineer interfaces with a multi-discipline team to ensure the continued functioning of the development of systems, operational and maintenance manuals, spare parts lists and other logistics operations. The Principal Reliability Engineer will interface with the System Safety program with Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) to support additional safety analyses.

 

Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance

 

As a member of the Engineering Team, expect a dynamic and demanding environment that values discipline, adherence to processes, and adding value to our customers through our respective disciplines.  This position serves as a member of the V2X Engineering Team and may support other programs within a matrix management assignment as directed

Required Skills:

  • Minimum of 10 years of engineering experience.
  • U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance
  • Experience and/or ability to perform Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis in accordance with MIL-STD_1629A.
  • Experience analyzing technical data and reports to develop life cycle management recommendations and reports supporting sustainment and maintenance of products
  • Exposure to reliability modeling and prediction in accordance with MIL-HDBK-217, MIL-STD-690, MIL-STD-765, ANSI-GEIA-STD-009, or equivalent industry standards or practices. 
  • Experience and/or ability to perform Reliability Centered Maintenance analysis in accordance with MIL-STD-3034A.
  • Exposure with Failure Reporting, Analysis and Corrective Action System (FRACAS) development and operations per MIL-STD-2155.

Desired Skills:

  • Strong written, verbal and presentation skills
  • Strong interpersonal and project management skills,
  • Experience with product design.
  • Knowledge and familiarity of MIL-HDBK-338, MIL-STD-1543, MIL-STD-189, MIL-STD-781, MIL-STD-785 or equivalent industry practices.
  • Experience in multiple Systems Specialty areas such as Reliability, Safety, Human Factors, etc.
  • Experience with DOORS and Cameo
  • Ability to produce DoD required analysis, such as:
  • Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA)
  • Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
  • Reliability Modeling and Predictions
  • Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) Analysis
  • Level of Repair Analysis (LORA)
  • Supportability Analysis (SA)
  • Technical Manual Development
  • Training Material Development
  • Experience with requirements development, hardware and software development and verification.

Education Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) degree.

Note:  A Master’s degree in Engineering or a related Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) degree may be counted as the equivalent of 2 years of engineering experience.

Apply