Director, Functional Safety Compliance and Regulatory Assurance

What we need

We are seeking a highly experienced Director of Functional Safety Compliance and Regulatory Assurance to champion and enforce stringent safety standards for our cutting-edge automated storage and retrieval systems. In this pivotal role within Symbotic's safety team, you will spearhead functional safety compliance, meticulously auditing designs, risk analyses, and testing procedures to ensure adherence to all applicable safety protocols. You will collaborate closely with engineering teams across the organization, fostering a robust culture of safety through rigorous compliance practices. This position demands a profound understanding of functional safety principles, industrial automation, and comprehensive risk analysis, coupled with exceptional communication and documentation skills for effective collaboration with diverse engineering teams.

What you’ll do

Functional Safety Leadership and Regulatory Assurance:

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive functional safety and regulatory compliance strategies for automated workcell design, risk analysis, testing, and deployment, ensuring adherence to all relevant safety protocols.

• Identify, interpret, and enforce compliance with applicable international and industry-specific standards (e.g., TUV, ISO 10218, ISO 13849, IEC 61508, UL, CE, etc.) and regulatory requirements.

• Serve as the subject matter expert on functional safety and regulatory compliance, providing authoritative guidance to engineering, product development, and operational teams to achieve and maintain safety certification.

• Act as a key stakeholder in the interpretation and implementation of new and evolving safety regulations and standards.

Compliance and Certification Management:

• Oversee and manage comprehensive safety compliance processes, including detailed risk assessments, hazard analyses, and rigorous validation testing.

• Conduct thorough audits of engineering designs to guarantee strict compliance with applicable functional safety standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

• Direct and manage certification efforts with third-party certification bodies to achieve and maintain functional safety and regulatory compliance certifications.

• Proactively monitor and adapt to evolving safety standards and regulatory changes, ensuring the organization maintains continuous compliance and readiness for audits.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Training:

• Collaborate closely with engineering, product management, and manufacturing teams to integrate safety and compliance considerations into every phase of automated workcell design and operation.

• Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs on functional safety principles, regulatory compliance, and best practices to ensure all team members understand and adhere to safety protocols.

• Act as a primary liaison with customers and partners, addressing all functional safety and regulatory compliance requirements.

Process Improvement and Governance for Compliance:

• Establish, implement, and maintain robust functional safety policies, procedures, and documentation.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety performance, mitigate risks, and optimize compliance processes, ensuring all improvements align with established safety protocols.

• Conduct regular audits and reviews to verify ongoing compliance, assess the effectiveness of safety programs, and identify areas for improvement.

What you’ll need

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, preferably with a specialization in safety or systems engineering.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in managing compliance or systems engineering within a highly regulated domain, such as functional safety, medical devices, or aerospace, with a strong emphasis on adherence to safety protocols.

Technical Skills:

• Expert-level knowledge of functional safety standards, including ISO 13849, IEC 61508, and ISO 10218, and regulatory requirements.

• In-depth understanding of industrial automation technologies, including PLCs, sensors, and robotics, and their impact on functional safety and regulatory compliance.

• Extensive experience with safety lifecycle management, including comprehensive risk assessment, hazard analysis, and rigorous validation testing, with a focus on adherence to safety protocols.

Leadership and Communication:

• Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with the ability to effectively influence and inspire cross-functional teams to prioritize safety and compliance.

• Superior communication skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely convey complex safety and compliance concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Customer-focused approach with proven experience in addressing client safety and regulatory compliance concerns and requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Functional Safety Expert (CFSE) or equivalent safety-related certification.

• Early career experience as an engineer in the development of complex electromechanical products, demonstrating a strong foundation in safety-critical design principles.

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