Hybrid Cleared Reliability Engineer Placement (NC → CA)

A semiconductor company in San Jose needed a Reliability Engineer with experience in failure analysis, test methodology, qualification flows, and customer-facing technical communication. They also preferred a candidate with prior security-clearance history due to defense-oriented customer requirements.
The technical bar was high—and the talent pool was narrow.

MKIS identified a candidate living in North Carolina with a strong reliability engineering background, experience supporting high-reliability semiconductor products, and a previously held U.S. SECRET clearance. He was a standout fit technically, but relocation to Silicon Valley was not feasible for personal and financial reasons.

Rather than abandoning the match, MKIS developed a custom hybrid work plan that balanced on-site presence with remote engineering work. This included weekly on-site intervals, structured collaboration with product and test engineering teams, travel logistics, and a compensation framework that worked for both sides.

The company agreed to the plan because they trusted the technical assessment and recognized the exceptionally strong match in skillset, industry exposure, and professional maturity.

The candidate started the next month and became a stabilizing force within the reliability function—improving data reporting, accelerating qualification cycles, and strengthening customer communication.

This case highlights an MKIS specialty: solving the “last-mile” issues that derail great technical matches. When the right engineer is identified, MKIS finds solutions that make the hire work.