Sr. Specialist, Functional Safety FuSa

Scout Motors • Novi, MI

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Functional Safety Lead defines, develops, and governs safety strategies across High Voltage Energy and Drive. The role creates and maintains safety plans and tracks safety cases across the safety lifecycle, from concept through production release. It provides deep functional safety expertise and owns end-to-end safety case development for the assigned Energy and Drive scope, translating high-level safety objectives into structured engineering requirements and advising cross-functional teams on complex system safety matters.

The position is based at Scout Motors’ location in Novi, Michigan, with 4–5 days per week in the office. Regular in-person meetings and occasional travel to company events are expected. This is a full-time, exempt position eligible for a base salary and annual performance bonus. The initial base salary range is $140,000–$170,000.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 8–12 years of practice in functional safety, system safety, or safety assurance within automotive, autonomous systems, robotics, or another safety-critical domain.
• Experience completing at least one full safety lifecycle for complex systems, from concept through production launch (SOP).
• Demonstrated expertise developing and maintaining structured safety cases, including claims, arguments, and evidence.
• Subject-matter expertise in Functional Safety and Systems Engineering, including complex systems design and EE/SW integration.
• Deep understanding of ISO 26262 and experience applying its principles.
• Hands-on experience with safety analysis methodologies such as HARA, FMEA, FTA, and STPA.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex safety concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong systems-thinking ability to translate high-level risk concepts into practical engineering solutions.
• Demonstrated leadership through influence and ability to drive alignment across cross-functional teams in ambiguous environments.
• Extensive experience with automotive systems or mechatronic products, particularly in Drive or Energy.
• Domain or working knowledge of SW controls, EE, and electronics, and expertise in development, testing, and validation methods for mechatronic systems.
• Familiarity with A2B, CAN, Automotive Ethernet, LIN, and LVDS communication protocols, and vehicle network tools such as CANalyzer and CANoe.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in ADAS, SOTIF strategies, and automated driving features.
• AI/ML experience.
• Experience with ISO 21448 SOTIF and UL 4600.
• Experience with advanced ADAS and autonomous systems, including multi-sensor perception stacks such as camera, radar, LiDAR, ultrasonic, GNSS/IMU, and HD maps.
• Ownership of or significant contribution to UL 4600-aligned safety cases or equivalent autonomy safety frameworks.
• Familiarity with ISO 8800 and emerging safety standards.
• Knowledge of AI/ML safety considerations, including data pipeline validation, performance monitoring, and operational design domain (ODD) frameworks.
• Experience in fast-paced or startup environments, balancing rigor and execution speed.
• Exposure to external regulatory reviews, audits, or certification processes related to safety compliance.
• Expertise in functional safety of HV energy systems.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Functional Safety teams to align HARA and Safety Goals across high-voltage Energy and Drive.
• Lead development, documentation, and maintenance of Technical Safety Concepts and Technical Safety Requirements, allocating them appropriately across system components.
• Define safety concepts and requirements and support EE and Software architecture design and integration at system and component levels.
• Collaborate with stakeholders through System V development from concept to launch, including design reviews and cross-functional teams in R&D engineering, manufacturing, studio design, quality, and customer experience.
• Perform, support, and review impact analyses, HARA, FTA, DFA, DFMEA, and other safety analyses.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams on component and system design, functional and End of Line specifications, detailed test methods, and system-level DFMEA, DV, and PV for complex mechatronic systems.
• Support analytical development using model-based design, MBSE/MBD simulation toolsets, and MIL/SIL/HIL.
• Champion first-principles design and apply problem-solving methods to resolve issues.
• Develop, maintain, and improve Functional Safety practices, design standards, test procedures, and technical specifications; adapt methods for complex safety issues and guide consistent application.
• Promote a strong safety culture across teams and disciplines.
• Translate high-level safety objectives into structured safety arguments, such as GSN, with clear claims, sub-claims, and traceable evidence.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert for assigned safety case topics in design reviews, program milestones, release gates, and change-control processes; advise stakeholders and provide decision-ready recommendations.
• Contribute technical expertise to scalable Safety Management System methods, metrics, and review mechanisms, recommending improvements based on lessons learned and program needs.
• Build and maintain working relationships across Engineering, Software, EE, Manufacturing, Quality, and external partners; communicate safety conclusions, guide cross-functional resolution, and escalate material program risks with recommendations.
• Select, evaluate, and adapt functional safety methods and evaluation criteria to resolve complex safety issues within the assigned Energy and Drive scope.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, vision, and income protection insurance plans.
• 401(k) program with employer match and immediate vesting.
• 20 days of planned PTO, as accrued.
• 40 hours of unplanned PTO annually.
• 14 company or floating holidays annually.
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders.
• Paid leave for bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave.
• Annual performance bonus program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior