What it Takes to Be a Systems Reliability Engineering Analyst

When looking for a new career path, there are plenty of options you can pursue. If you enjoy solving problems, doing research, collaborating with others, and performing worst case analysis, working as a systems reliability engineering analyst could be a good fit. The growing field offers a variety of positions and specialties to match a huge variety of interests and skill levels and can provide a great career with plenty of growth and development opportunities. The first step towards working in the field is to make sure you meet the qualifications.

If you’re asking yourself, “Do I qualify as a systems reliability engineering analyst?”, here are three things to consider. 

Schooling

The first step to qualifying as a systems reliability engineering analyst is getting the right education. A college degree is essential to being a systems reliability engineering analyst. The field is constantly changing, but a solid academic background can provide a good foundation for changing technology and trends. Most systems reliability engineering analyst positions require a bachelor’s degree in an engineering-related field, such as electrical engineering or physics. Some positions may require an advanced engineering degree, but in many cases, an advanced degree can be substituted with years of experience or gained later in your career.

There is also an opportunity for continuing education. Reliability engineers can get certified by taking a test and proving they are knowledgeable in design review, engineering, analyses, testing, and other categories. Certification typically comes after a few years of job experience and may or may not be required in all positions.

Experience

Systems reliability engineering analyst jobs come at all levels with varying requirements for experience. However, even the most entry-level position will benefit from related work experience. An internship or volunteer work in engineering can all help get your foot in the door and provide extra experience for entry-level positions. More advanced positions require more experience. Senior reliability engineering analyst positions may require 15-20 years of experience in engineering, system design, analysis, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Aside from how many years of experience you possess, one of the best qualifiers to be a systems reliability engineering analyst is to be a subject matter expert and take on certain types of responsibilities. In general, a reliability engineering analyst’s main goal is to test systems to ensure they function properly and are scalable and reliable. Reliability engineering analysts check that systems are designed properly by testing them throughout the design and creation processes. They also monitor their success and create plans of what to do if the systems fail.

Beyond the basic responsibilities, systems reliability engineering analysts can specialize in other areas. These vary depending on the type of work and the organization but can include specialties like certain types of systems reliability analysis methods including fault tree analysis, FMECA, probabilistic risk assessment, and root cause analysis. Specializing in any of these areas can open the doors for more senior positions and often comes after years of experience working in the field. With advanced specialties also typically comes the requirement for education related to statistics, probability, and analysis. In order to work in more advanced or specialized positions, many organizations require their employees to pass a security clearance. A clean record can help gain clearance, especially in government or military-related organizations.

A systems reliability engineering analyst performs a variety of tasks, including working with a team to solve problems, performing worst case analysis, and reviewing analyses in accordance with standard procedures. Knowing what it takes to be a systems reliability engineering analyst is the first step on your career path. If you don’t yet meet these qualifications, work to get the needed schooling and experience before you jump into this exciting and growing career field.