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Principal Reliability Engineer Jobs in Minnesota

Principal Engineer CoCounsel is our most advanced AI offering to date - combining generative and ... Reliability and assurance: Establish SLOs, observability, and incident response practices for ...

New

Principal Engineer CoCounsel is our most advanced AI offering to date - combining generative and ... Reliability and assurance: Establish SLOs, observability, and incident response practices for ...

Principal Engineer CoCounsel is our most advanced AI offering to date - combining generative and ... Reliability and assurance: Establish SLOs, observability, and incident response practices for ...

The AI Principal Engineer (IC Director) is responsible for leading the design, development, and ... Deep understanding of model lifecycle management, MLOps practices, and production reliability ...

As a Principal Engineer - ML Operations Platform, you will provide technical leadership in defining ... Define standards for model governance, observability, reliability, explainability, and responsible ...

Join our team as a Principal Analytics Engineer! This is a fixed hybrid role on-site Tuesday ... reliability standards * Work closely with AI teams to ensure analytical datasets and semantic ...

Principal Software Engineer

Eagan, MN · Hybrid

$137K - $184K/yr

Your contributions will directly impact the performance and reliability of Noetica's core infrastructure. About the Role In this opportunity as Principal Engineer, you will: * Design and build ...

A Day in the Life The Principal Materials Engineer will work in a team environment representing ... This position will focus on supporting released product reliability and improvement teams in the ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Reliability Engineer information

See Minnesota salary details

$72.5K

$144.2K

$208.1K

How much do principal reliability engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal reliability engineer in Minnesota is $144,189.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,100.00 and $169,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal reliability engineer?

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 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.

How much do principal reliability engineers get paid?

Principal reliability engineers typically earn between $110,000 and $160,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and location. They often have advanced skills in systems analysis, failure modes, and reliability modeling, and may hold certifications such as Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE).

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 does a principal reliability engineer do?

A principal reliability engineer is responsible for ensuring the reliability and performance of systems and equipment by analyzing failure data, developing maintenance strategies, and implementing reliability improvements. They often use tools like FMEA and reliability modeling, and may lead cross-functional teams to optimize system uptime and safety. This role typically requires strong technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and experience with reliability engineering standards.

What job categories do people searching Principal Reliability Engineer jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Reliability Engineer jobs in Minnesota are:

Infographic showing various Principal Reliability Engineer job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $144,189 per year, or $69.3 per hour.

Manager, Maintenance & Reliability

Digi-Key Electronics

Thief River Falls, MN • On-site

$109K - $132K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

DigiKey is one of the fastest growing distributors of electronic components in the world. In addition to offering the broadest selection of in-stock electronic components and providing the best service possible to customers, employees have access to a highly competitive benefits package. To learn more, visit our benefits and perks page.

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Position Overview:A Manager of Maintenance & Reliability will oversee a team of technicians with a focus on ensuring equipment availability, identifying and eliminating equipment failures, and planning, scheduling, and performing maintenance. This role will leverage reliability-centered maintenance best practices, such as Preventative Maintenance Optimization (PMO), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and ensure uninterrupted availability of assets in DigiKey's Product Distribution Center.
This is an essential onsite position, which requires regular onsite attendance.Responsibilities:

Equipment Availability

  • Develop, implement, and maintain maintenance strategies and reliability practices to enhance the performance and lifespan of automation equipment.

  • Oversee the planning, execution, and documentation of preventative and corrective maintenance activities. Ensure adherence to maintenance schedules and protocols to minimize equipment downtime and operational disruptions.

  • Implement reliability-centered maintenance practices and continuous improvement initiatives to optimize equipment reliability and efficiency.

Team leadership

  • Lead a team of maintenance technicians, providing guidance, training, and support.

  • Promote a culture of safety, ensuring that maintenance procedures adhere to safety best practices and company policies.

  • Enhance and maintain a training program with our 3rd party vendors

  • Coordinate with equipment vendors and service providers for repairs, parts procurement, training, and technical support.

Reliability Centered Maintenance

  • Analyze equipment performance data to identify trends, potential issues, and areas for improvement.

  • Perform root cause analysis (RCA) of failures and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence or reduce severity.

  • Perform Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) on components of the system to identify potential failure points and remediations.

  • Stay abreast of industry best practices, emerging technologies, and advancements in reliability engineering.

Records and Reporting

  • Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, equipment performance, and reliability metrics.

  • Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including overall equipment effectives (OEE), technician utilization, and system availability to track reliability trends and performance metrics.

  • Prepare and present routine reports to senior management on equipment status, maintenance activities, and performance improvements.

Continuous Improvement

  • Understand importance of equipment to business functions related to overall systems.

  • Seek opportunities for data based predictive maintenance

  • Collaborate with Senior and Principal Industrial, Material Handling and Software Engineers, Maintenance Technicians, as well as end users for system improvements.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

  • Two-year (A.A.S.) degree (required) or Four-year (B.S.) degree (preferred): Engineering (Electrical, Industrial or Mechanical), Facilities management, or similar area of study.

  • At least 5 years of work experience in a maintenance or reliability role or related field.

  • At least 2 year of leadership experience

  • Certified CMRP or ASQ CRE (Preferred)

  • Strong knowledge of industrial automated systems, maintenance best practices, and control systems.

Physical Requirements:
  • Generally, spend the workday sitting at a workstation and operating computer devices, such as, but not limited to keyboard, mouse and screen.

  • Generally, spend the workday performing repetitive motions that involve or affect the hands, head, and other parts of your body.

Compensation:

The base pay range for this position is:

$109,000

to

$132,000

Many factors influence the determination of base pay within a range, including the candidate's work experience in related roles; the candidate's knowledge, skills, capabilities, and performance; the relative pay of other DigiKey employees in similar roles; and the budget available for the position.

______________________________________________________________________

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future. The employer does not offer immigration sponsorship for this opportunity.

DigiKey Electronics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage all qualified candidates, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, and to apply and be considered for open positions.

If you are an applicant with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources at 1-800-338-4105 or careers.us@digikey.com.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal


Digi-Key Electronics logo

About Digi-Key Electronics

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Thief River Falls, MN, US

Year founded

1972