Principal Reliability and Systems Test Engineer

About Us

Familiar Machines & Magic (FM&M) is building the Physical AI platform for human connection, beginning with Familiars — physically embodied AI systems designed to form long-term, emotionally intelligent relationships with people. Our mission is to create artificial life to build a more caring world.

Founded by industry leaders from iRobot, Outrider, and Amazon, our team has collectively deployed over 50 million consumer robots worldwide and led advances in navigation, machine learning, and human-robot interaction.

Familiar Machines & Magic is building a mission-driven team of high performers, anchored in our unique Culture Principles and Ways of Working.

Position Overview

We're looking for a hands-on Principal Reliability & System Test Engineer to join our growing team and build the test capabilities necessary for us to deliver Familiars that provide a dependable experience throughout their lifetimes.

As our first dedicated engineer in this function, you will combine technical leadership with direct execution: from clearly defining reliability requirements, to building test setups and automation, to investigating failures and guiding design improvements. You'll partner closely with Hardware, Robot Software, AI, Product, Design, and Manufacturing & Operations, with support from external labs and specialists as needed.

In this role, you will set the objectives and approach for reliability testing, drive the test method and lab decisions that give it direction, and be the technical leader FM&M looks to on reliability. You are highly collaborative, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and culture-forward environment.

Location: Greater Boston Area office (Woburn/Burlington, MA), on-site 3+ days per week.

What You’ll Do | Responsibilities & Scope

• Define measurable reliability targets, prioritized test plans, and acceptance criteria based on expected use and critical product risks

• Establish lab capabilities, including equipment, fixtures, instrumentation, and safe testing practices

• Design, build, and run component and integrated system tests covering durability, product lifetime, and performance across hardware, software, and AI-enabled behavior

• Develop test automation, data collection, and reporting tools that make testing repeatable and support a growing team

• Lead hands-on failure investigations, identify root causes, and partner with the engineering and manufacturing teams to implement and verify corrective actions

• Assess product and release readiness using test results and field data, and advise engineering leadership on coverage gaps, reliability trends, and risks

• Partner with Manufacturing & Operations and external labs on reliability qualification, production quality, and certification testing

What You’ll Bring | Experience, Expertise & Qualifications

• 8 or more years in reliability, systems testing, product validation, or a related field

• Strong hands-on experience validating complex electromechanical products that combine hardware, embedded software, and integrated system behavior

• Knowledge of failure mechanisms, statistical methods for assessing product reliability, and accelerated-life, environmental, and durability testing

• Experience building test capabilities, including fixtures, instrumentation, and automation, using Python or comparable tools for test execution, data collection, and analysis

• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software systems, including implementing and verifying corrective actions

• Experience translating intended use into measurable requirements, prioritized test plans, and acceptance criteria, and supporting products through development into production

• Recognized technical leadership in reliability testing: experience setting direction for a test program and guiding others through it, formally or informally

How You’ll Succeed | Mindset, Judgment & Ways of Working

• Build capabilities from scratch, and move between technical planning and lab work: building setups, running tests, debugging failures, and analyzing results

• Connect physical reliability, software behavior, and AI performance to the experience of the person living with a Familiar

• Prioritize critical risks, choose practical test methods, and balance rigor with resources as designs, schedules, and business needs evolve

• Take initiative and follow issues through to resolution

• Build trust across teams by welcoming feedback and clearly communicating evidence, uncertainties, and recommendations

• Be energized by building dependable Familiars that create meaningful human connections