Lead Functional Safety Engineer-Federal

Who are We?

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We build risk‑aware, reliable, and field‑ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. Our solutions are globally deployed and continuously improve through real‑field applications.

At FieldAI, we build autonomous robotic systems that operate in demanding, real‑world environments where tight integration between hardware and software is critical. We are looking for a Lead Functional Safety Engineer to support systems‑level design, integration, and validation for our wheeled robotic platforms across both federal and commercial programs.

In this role you will serve as the team’s resident safety expert and primary individual contributor, owning our approach to UGV functional safety. You will design and deploy supervised safety systems, lead the transition to non‑line‑of‑sight autonomous safety architecture, and lay the groundwork for a dedicated safety team as the company scales.

• Architect functional safety systems for COTS UGV platforms navigating unstructured construction environments.
• Design and implement supervised safety systems, including remote E‑Stops and safe‑to‑approach indicator lighting.
• Design and implement non‑line‑of‑sight safety architectures, defining safe limited speed, collision avoidance, and automatic braking to enable autonomous operations without a safety operator in line‑of‑sight.

• Select, integrate, and configure Safety PLCs, safety lidars, and related hardware components.
• Work closely with the Electrical Engineering team to guide wiring diagrams, harness designs, and physical integration of safety hardware.
• Directly write, implement, and test ladder logic and safety configurations on the PLCs.

• Design and implement safe transitions of control, allowing a human operator to seamlessly take over via an E‑Stop/RC unit and safely transfer control back to the autonomy stack.
• Ensure all vehicle safety states are clearly communicated to on‑site personnel through visual indicators and lighting.
• Collaborate with the core software team to establish reliable interfaces between hardware safety loops and high‑level autonomy software.

• Deploy, verify, and validate safety systems directly on physical robots operating in real‑world construction environments.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and optimize system configurations to ensure maximum reliability and uptime in the field.

• Serve as the resident functional safety expert, filling critical knowledge gaps and guiding technical strategy for the broader engineering team.
• Establish scalable safety testing and validation procedures for future vehicle platforms.
• Act as a foundational team member with the opportunity to hire, mentor, and build out a dedicated safety engineering team in the future.

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a related field with significant relevant industry experience.
• Deep, hands‑on expertise in configuring, programming, and debugging Safety PLCs.
• Proven experience selecting and integrating hardware safety components such as remote E‑Stops, safety relays, and safety lidars.
• Strong ownership mindset with the ability to operate as a self‑directed individual contributor and technical authority.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with electrical engineers (for wiring/integration) and software engineers (for system handoffs).

• Familiarity with relevant safety standards (e.g., ISO 13849, ISO 3691‑4, IEC 61508, or ANSI/RIA R15.08).
• Prior experience working with robotics, autonomous vehicles, off‑road equipment, or heavy machinery.
• Experience deploying systems in demanding environments like construction, mining, or agriculture.
• Familiarity with software interfaces (ROS/ROS2, C++) to better understand the handoff between safety systems and the autonomy stack.
• Previous experience serving as a technical lead or…