Staff Systems Engineer (Safety)

TL;DR

Staff Systems Engineer (Safety): Leading the functional safety lifecycle for L3 autonomous driving systems with an accent on safety case framework development, hazard analysis, and ASIL D compliance. Focus on driving software safety architecture, collaborating across cross-functional teams, and ensuring system reliability for serial-production vehicles.

Location: Must be based in Pittsburgh, PA, Palo Alto, CA, or Dearborn, MI. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis.

Salary: $191,920 - $287,880 USD

Company

A Ford Motor Company subsidiary developing automated driving technology at the speed of a startup.

What you will do

• Own the safety case framework, including formalizing processes and tracking documentation throughout the organization.
• Perform functional safety analyses such as HARA, FMEA, FTA, and DFA on assigned functions.
• Lead software safety architecture development for safety monitors and runtime on high-performance SOCs.
• Collaborate with product development leads to create technical content supporting non-functional safety claims.
• Drive traceability between system-level requirements and software safety specifications.
• Lead internal and external safety committee reviews.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or CS with 7+ years of experience (or Master's with 5+, PhD with 2+).
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis.
• Expertise in delivering ASIL D certified products to market.
• Strong knowledge of automotive functional safety standards like ISO-26262.
• Practical experience with systems engineering methods and safety-critical software development.
• Strong engineering communication skills for diverse technical teams.

Nice to have

• Experience applying functional safety to autonomous vehicles or high-performance computing.
• Knowledge of advanced safety standards for AI components (ISO 21448, 8800, 5469).
• Familiarity with Automotive SPICE or CMMI quality processes.
• Experience with qualified tool chains and requirements traceability systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA employer match.
• Employer-matched 401(k) retirement plan with immediate vesting.
• Unlimited vacation policy and 15 paid holidays.
• Paid parental and medical leave.
• Professional development reimbursement and wellness stipends.
• Daily lunches, snacks, and beverages provided in office.