Staff Functional Safey Engineer (Remote Hybrid)

📋 Description

• • Standard Bots is at the forefront of revolutionizing real-world automation, making sophisticated robotic systems accessible to a wider audience through our innovative AI-powered platform. We empower robots to tackle complex, unprecedented challenges by providing an intuitive instruction interface, effectively extending the power of software automation into physical environments.
• • As a Staff Functional Safety Engineer, you will be instrumental in leading and managing all facets of the functional safety lifecycle for Standard Bots' cutting-edge robotic products. This pivotal role encompasses the development and maintenance of the Safety Plan and Safety Case, conducting thorough hazard and risk assessments (aligned with ISO 12100), designing robust system safety architectures, overseeing verification and validation processes, managing competency development, and driving external certification efforts (such as with Intertek).
• • You will act as a crucial cross-functional coordinator, fostering seamless collaboration between our hardware, firmware, software, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams. Your expertise will ensure the delivery of certifiable, production-ready robots that are supported by demonstrable safety evidence.
• • The ideal candidate possesses a strong aptitude for thriving in a dynamic startup environment. You will skillfully balance strategic foresight with hands-on engineering execution, working in close partnership with hardware, firmware, manufacturing, and QA departments to translate stringent regulatory requirements into practical, production-ready safety solutions.
• • This role requires a commitment to being present in-person as needed at our manufacturing and test facility located in Glen Cove, NY, ensuring close collaboration and oversight during critical phases.
• • Key Responsibilities:
• • Own and operate the Functional Safety Management (FSM) system, establishing and maintaining the FSM plan, safety policy, and overarching strategy to guarantee compliance with relevant international standards (including ISO 13849, IEC 62061, IEC 61508, IEC 61496, ISO 10218-1, ISO 12100) throughout the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept to final certification.
• • Lead comprehensive hazard identification and risk assessment processes, employing methodologies such as HAZOP, FMEA, and HARA. Maintain a continuously updated HARA that addresses hazards across all lifecycle phases, including assembly, installation, operation, maintenance, and dismantling, with a specific focus on RO3-relevant risks like instability, crushing, and impact.
• • Define, approve, and meticulously document Safety-Related Control System (SRCS) architectures. This includes the precise allocation of safety functions, specification of Category, Hardware Fault Tolerance (HFT), and Safe Failure Fraction (SFF) constraints, and the rigorous demonstration of target Performance Levels (PLr) and Safety Integrity Levels (SILr).
• • Execute detailed reliability analyses and Failure Modes, Effects, and Diagnostic Analysis (FMEDA). Perform FMEDA, calculate Mean Time To Failure due to dangerous failures (MTTF_d), Diagnostic Coverage (DC), and Common Cause Failure (CCF) probabilities, utilizing specialized tools like SISTEMA or Pascal (or equivalent) to validate achieved safety performance metrics.
• • Manage and execute comprehensive Verification and Validation (V&V) plans. This involves authoring detailed V&V protocols, conducting fault-injection testing, integration testing, and final safety validation activities. Ensure independent validation, robust traceability, and adequate test coverage for all critical safety functions, such as emergency stops, reduced speed modes, and joint limits.
• • Collaborate closely on the safety software lifecycle, ensuring that all software development adheres to IEC 61508-3 best practices, including the V-model, static code analysis, module unit testing, and the clear separation of safety-critical and non-safety-critical functions. Provide coaching and guidance to software developers on safe coding practices and verification techniques.
• • Lead and guide interdisciplinary teams, comprising experts from hardware, controls, embedded software, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance, to seamlessly integrate safety requirements into the design, prototyping, and production stages.
• • Interpret and critically evaluate pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical schematics. Provide expert advice on the selection and implementation of safety-critical hardware components, including motor controllers, braking systems, contactors, and redundant encoders.
• • Manage the end-to-end execution of external certification processes. Serve as the primary technical liaison with certification bodies (e.g., Intertek), meticulously manage quote scopes, coordinate on-site construction reviews, and ensure the timely delivery of the Technical File and all requisite evidence for third-party audits.
• • Drive competency development and foster a strong safety culture. Build and maintain a functional safety competency matrix, identify training needs across the organization, and clearly define responsibilities for all personnel involved in safety lifecycle phases. Ensure robust FSM governance and maintain independence from design teams to uphold objectivity.
• • Oversee all documentation and traceability efforts. Maintain rigorous configuration management for hardware and software components, ensure requirements traceability (using tools like DOORS or Jama, or equivalents), and develop comprehensive 'Information for Use' documentation that accurately details residual risks and installation/maintenance constraints.
• • Facilitate manufacturability and production readiness for safety systems. Collaborate with manufacturing and supply chain teams on assembly processes, test fixture development, maintenance procedures, post-production monitoring strategies, and production verification for all safety-related components.
• • Manage the overall safety program budget and schedule. Cultivate and manage effective relationships with external consultants and vendors, ensuring project milestones are met within allocated resources.