Director – Functional Safety and Standards Compliance

The Director – Functional Safety and Standards Compliance is responsible for developing and overseeing the functional safety programs, policies, and compliance frameworks across engineering, operations, and product lifecycles. This role ensures adherence to international safety standards (e.g., IEC 61508, ISO 13849, ISO 26262) for control systems, automation equipment, and critical infrastructure. The director leads a cross-functional team to embed safety into design, operations, and maintenance while mitigating safety and regulatory risks.

Key Focus Areas:

1. Functional Safety Management

• Lead the functional safety lifecycle from hazard identification and risk assessment to system validation and decommissioning.

• Establish and maintain a Functional Safety Management System (FSMS) aligned with IEC 61508 and related domain-specific standards.

2. Standards Compliance and Regulatory Alignment

• Ensure enterprise-wide compliance with global and regional safety standards (e.g., IEC, ISO, ANSI, UL, ATEX, OSHA).

• Drive audit readiness and manage third-party certification and recertification processes.

3. System Safety Engineering

• Guide safety concept design, Safety Integrity Level (SIL) determination, and technical safety requirement specifications.

• Oversee the implementation and validation of safety-instrumented systems (SIS) and safety-related control systems.

4. Cross-Disciplinary Safety Integration

• Collaborate with controls, instrumentation, electrical, mechanical, and software teams to integrate safety early in the design process.

• Ensure consistency across hardware, firmware, and software functional safety mechanisms.

5. Risk and Failure Analysis

• Lead HAZOP, FMEA, FMEDA, LOPA, and fault tree analysis activities.

• Implement risk mitigation strategies and continuous monitoring for operational safety performance.

6. Safety Culture and Training

• Promote a safety-first culture throughout engineering and operational teams.

• Develop training and certification programs on functional safety principles and standards compliance.

7. Digital Safety and Industry 4.0

• Ensure safety compliance in systems with embedded AI/ML, IoT, and cloud connectivity.

• Evaluate and mitigate emerging risks in cyber-physical systems and autonomous platforms.

8. Process Automation and Manufacturing Safety

• Oversee safety systems in automated process plants, robotics, motion control, and packaging lines.

• Monitor safety PLCs, emergency stop systems, interlocks, and redundant control architectures.

9. Incident Response and Root Cause Analysis

• Lead incident investigations and ensure proper root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).

• Report safety metrics and incident trends to executive leadership and regulators.

Qualifications:

• Education:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Systems Engineering, or related fields.

  • Functional Safety Certification (e.g., TÜV Rheinland, Exida, CFSE/CSP) is strongly preferred.

• Experience:

  • 12–15+ years of experience in safety engineering, regulatory compliance, or automation in industrial or mission-critical sectors.

  • At least 5 years in a leadership role managing cross-functional or multi-site teams.

• Technical Proficiency:

  • In-depth knowledge of standards such as IEC 61508, ISO 26262 (automotive), IEC 62061, ISO 13849, or ISA/IEC 62443.

  • Familiar with safety-related tools (e.g., SISTEMA, PHA-Pro, RAM Commander, DOORS).