Senior Safety Engineer - Manufacturing Systems

Valmont Industries, Inc.•Omaha, NE

29d

About The Position

The Senior Safety Engineer - Manufacturing Systems will serve as the technical lead ensuring that all new, modified, or relocated manufacturing equipment and systems for Valmont Industries meet applicable global and corporate safety requirements. Working collaboratively with Site Manufacturing Engineering, Procurement, and EHS teams, this individual will embed safety as a design parameter from equipment specification through installation and operation. The role also provides expert-level on-site support to manufacturing facilities on machine safeguarding, control system validation, risk reduction, and continuous safety improvement.

Requirements

Preferred Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering or Safety Engineering (or equivalent) with 6+ years relevant work experience in experience in machine/equipment safety, manufacturing engineering, or design for safety in a heavy manufacturing environment, or Associates Degree with 8+ years' experience or 10+ years' experience.
Demonstrated expertise in machine safeguarding, safety control systems, risk assessment and safety standards (ANSI B11, ISO 12100, ISO 13849, NFPA 79, IEC 60204).
Excellent collaboration and influencing skills with engineering, procurement and operations teams
Reports to the VP EHS with no direct reports
Travel up to 20% (domestic and international) to support equipment installations, site assessments, vendor FATs and international manufacturing sites as part of Valmont's global growth strategy.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of experience in heavy or complex manufacturing environments (e.g., structural steel, galvanizing, pressure vessels, fabrication, or automated welding systems).
Proven success integrating safety design into capital project lifecycles - from concept through commissioning - including authoring or approving technical specifications.
Advanced working knowledge of functional safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 62061) and control system design, with the ability to interface with automation and controls engineers.
Certification as a Certified Machine Safety Expert (CMSE), TÜV Rheinland Functional Safety Engineer, or Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
Experience leading machine safety risk assessments across multiple countries and aligning standards across regions (e.g., OSHA, CE, CSA).
Experience in incident reconstruction, root cause analysis, and implementation of engineered controls to prevent recurrence.
Familiarity with digital twin or Industry 4.0 applications for machine safety design and validation.
Strong program-management skills, including documentation, change management, and stakeholder communication across global engineering and operations teams.

Responsibilities

Serve as EHS subject-matter expert in cross-functional design reviews, capital project meetings and audits; collaborate on continuous improvement of internal equipment safety standards and specifications
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technology (AMET), and Procurement to integrate machine and equipment safety requirements into RFQs, equipment specifications, vendor contracts and capital project designs.
Lead or review Pre-Start Safety Reviews (PSSR), design hazard analyses and risk assessments for new or modified equipment/processes (including presses, tube mills, robotic cells, material handling systems).
Manage the EHS specific Management of Change (MOC) process for any new, relocated or modified equipment or system: ensure risks are identified and mitigated, documentation and training are updated, and controls are verified before commissioning in partnership with local site resources.
Evaluate, approve and monitor machine safeguarding solutions (physical guards, interlocks, light curtains, presence sensing devices, safety PLCs, etc.), ensuring compliance with OSHA 1910, ANSI B11-series, ISO 12100, ISO 13849
Provide expert-level technical assistance and support to manufacturing sites globally on machine safety, control system reliability, legacy equipment hazard reduction, incident prevention and root cause investigation of machine-related events.
Participate in vendor design reviews, Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), and site acceptance phases to verify safety compliance of equipment before shipment and installation.
Provides mentorship and coaching to site-level engineers and EHS professionals, building internal capability for safe equipment design and management of change
The role supports Valmont's global "Design for Safety" initiatives by embedding risk reduction principles into the earliest stages of engineering and procurement
Works closely with Global EHS, AMET, and ME teams to create standardized risk assessment templates, machine safety specifications, and equipment acceptance criteria used across all sites.
Serves as a technical liaison to external vendors and integrators, ensuring they understand and meet Valmont's internal safety standards and documentation requirements related to EHS.
Participates in the development and continuous improvement of corporate safety policies, procedures, and design standards, helping advance Valmont's vision of a world-class safety culture.
May assist in corporate audits, investigations, and due diligence reviews for acquisitions or new technology introductions, providing expert insight into machinery and equipment safety risk.
Demonstrates a commitment to the Valmont Core Values

Benefits

Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
401k retirement plan with company match
Paid time off
Employer paid life insurance
Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
Work Life Support
Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more

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