Principal​/Lead Robotics Safety Engineer

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal / Lead Robotics Safety Engineer to lead the development and deployment of functional safety and safety‑of‑the‑intended‑functionality (SOTIF) frameworks for our next‑generation robotic systems. This role is responsible for defining the system‑level safety architecture, safety case, and safety engineering processes required to deploy robotics products safely in real‑world environments.

• Safety Architecture & System Design
  • Define and lead the end‑to‑end safety architecture for robotics platforms including sensing, compute, actuation, and communication systems.
  • Architect fail‑operational / fail‑safe system designs, including degradation strategies and minimum risk maneuvers.
  • Define safety mechanisms across hardware, software, and system levels.
  • Guide the design of redundant perception, compute, and control architectures.
• Functional Safety Engineering
  • Lead development of functional safety lifecycle activities including:
    • Item Definition
    • Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA)
    • Safety goals and safety requirements
    • Functional and technical safety concepts
    • Safety architecture design
    • Verification and validation
  • Ensure compliance with relevant standards such as:
    • ISO 26262
    • IEC 61508
    • ISO 13849
    • ISO 21448 (SOTIF)
    • Robotics safety standards (e.g., ISO 10218, ISO 13482 where applicable)
• Safety Case & Regulatory Strategy
  • Develop and maintain the system safety case demonstrating that the robotics platform meets acceptable safety targets.
  • Lead safety argumentation and evidence collection across design, verification, and field data.
  • Support regulatory engagement and certification activities where required.
• AI/Autonomy Safety
  • Define safety approaches for AI/ML‑based perception and decision‑making systems.
  • Develop strategies for:
    • runtime safety monitoring
    • cross‑sensor consistency checks
    • safety envelopes and fallback strategies
    • safety validation of machine learning models
• Cross‑Functional Leadership
  • Work closely with:
    • Robotics perception teams
    • Motion planning and controls teams
    • Hardware architecture teams
    • Embedded software and middleware teams
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to safety engineers and system architects.
• Verification & Validation
  • Define safety validation strategies including:
    • Scenario‑based testing
    • Simulation‑based safety validation
    • Fault injection testing
    • Hardware‑in‑the‑loop and vehicle/robot testing
  • Ensure traceability from hazards to verification evidence.
• Safety Culture & Processes
  • Establish best practices for safety engineering across the organization.
  • Drive integration of safety activities into development.
  • Educate engineering teams on safety principles and safe system design.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Systems Engineering or related experience.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Systems Engineering or related experience.
• PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Systems Engineering or related experience.

• MS or PhD in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in safety‑critical systems engineering.
• 5+ years leading functional safety programs in robotics, automotive, aerospace, or industrial automation.
• Deep expertise in functional safety standards such as:
  • ISO 26262
  • IEC 61508
  • ISO 13849
  • ISO 21448 (SOTIF)

• Perception systems (camera, radar, lidar).
• Motion planning and control.
• Embedded compute platforms.
• Experience developing safety architectures for autonomous or robotic systems.
• Experience performing HARA / risk analysis.
• Strong systems engineering mindset with ability to work across hardware, software, and AI systems.
• Experience with autonomous systems or automated driving (ADAS / ADS).
• Experience developing safety cases for AI‑based systems.
• Familiarity with safety audits and assessments, and certification processes.
• Experience with simulation and scenario‑based validation frameworks.
• Experience with fail‑operational…