Senior Staff Functional Safety Architect - Industrial Applications
RenesasJob Title
Senior Staff Functional Safety Architect - Industrial Applications
Role Summary
Lead the system-level functional safety architecture for industrial products, covering hardware, software, sensors, actuators, power devices, MCUs/SoCs, and communications. Act as the technical authority for functional safety, translating standards and customer requirements into verifiable system and product solutions.
Work cross-functionally with product groups, hardware/software teams, validation, and external assessors to ensure safety integrity, certification readiness, and reuse of safety concepts across platforms.
Experience Level
Senior — typically 8+ years of relevant experience in embedded or industrial system development with significant responsibility in functional safety.
Responsibilities
Main responsibilities include defining architecture, driving safety activities, and supporting certification and customer engagements.
- Define and own system-level functional safety architecture for industrial applications.
- Translate standards, regulations, and customer use cases into system, hardware, and software safety requirements.
- Lead hazard analysis and risk assessment (HARA) and develop safety concepts and lifecycle plans.
- Specify safety mechanisms, diagnostics, redundancy, and fault-handling strategies across HW/SW boundaries.
- Drive HW/SW partitioning for safety integrity and freedom from interference.
- Prepare and review SRS, safety manuals, safety cases, and other safety documentation.
- Collaborate with product, architecture, hardware, software, and validation teams to ensure end-to-end safety integrity.
- Interface with customers, assessors, and certification bodies to support audits and certifications.
- Contribute to reference architectures, application notes, and reuse of safety concepts across products.
- Provide functional safety training, mentoring, and technical guidance to engineering teams.
Requirements
Must-have qualifications, skills, and experience for the role.
- 8+ years in embedded or industrial system development with significant responsibility for functional safety.
- Proven track record as a Functional Safety Architect, Safety Manager, or Lead Safety Engineer for industrial or automation systems.
- Deep understanding and practical application of functional safety standards (e.g., IEC 61508, IEC 62061, ISO 13849).
- Practical experience with safety lifecycle activities: HARA, safety concept definition, FMEA/FMEDA/FTA, and safety validation.
- Solid knowledge of embedded systems architecture, microcontrollers/SoCs, real-time software, and industrial communication protocols (CAN, EtherCAT, PROFINET, Modbus).
- Experience defining and assessing safety mechanisms: diagnostics, watchdogs, redundancy, diversity, and safe-state concepts.
- Strong cross-functional communication skills; able to explain complex safety topics to engineers, business stakeholders, customers, and assessors.
- Strong documentation skills and experience preparing safety-related documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
Nice-to-have
- Functional safety certification (e.g., TÜV Functional Safety Engineer/Professional).
- Experience with cybersecurity and its interaction with functional safety.
- Background in robotics, motion control, motor drives, or industrial power conversion.
- Familiarity with semiconductor safety architectures, safety libraries, and safety-certified IP.
- Experience supporting third-party assessments and certifications with notified bodies.
Education Requirements
Master's or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
About the Company
Company: Renesas
Headquarters: Hitachinaka, Japan
Renesas is a global leader in embedded semiconductor solutions, providing high-quality products across automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT sectors. With over 22,000 employees in more than 30 countries, the company focuses on scalable solutions that enhance user experience and drive innovation while committed to sustainability and energy efficiency.
