Principal Safety Lead

About the Team

Avride is a fast-growing leader in the autonomous vehicle and delivery robot industry developing the future of mobility from the ground up. We are building cutting-edge technology to make transportation safer and more efficient with a core team bringing extensive experience in autonomous technology. Our engineering teams develop the core software infrastructure and algorithms that power every aspect of our self-driving systems from perception and localization to planning control and simulation.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Safety Lead to direct and manage all aspects of system safety for our autonomous vehicle platform. You will be at the forefront of defining implementing and overseeing the safety strategy that ensures our vehicles navigate the complexities of the real world safely and reliably. This is a critical leadership opportunity to build and manage a world-class safety culture and team making a significant impact on the future of autonomous technology.

What Youll Do

• Develop own and execute the comprehensive system safety strategy for Avrides autonomous vehicles.
• Lead and mentor a team of safety engineers fostering a world-class safety culture across the organization.
• Direct all safety-related activities including hazard analysis (HARA) FMEA FTA and the development of the overall Safety Case.
• Ensure and demonstrate compliance with key safety standards (e.g. ISO 26262 ISO 21448/SOTIF).
• Define and manage safety requirements throughout the entire product lifecycle from concept to deployment.
• Define track and report on key Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) to monitor and continuously improve system safety.
• Collaborate closely with engineering teams (such as Planning Perception Control and Hardware) to ensure safety is designed into the system from the ground up.
• Oversee all safety verification and validation (V&V) activities including simulation and real-world testing.
• Lead safety-critical incident response investigation and analysis.
• Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory bodies certification agencies and external safety auditors.

What Youll Need

• Significant (5 years) professional experience in safety-critical systems (e.g. automotive aerospace robotics or autonomous vehicles).
• Proven experience in a leadership or management role building and mentoring technical teams.
• Strong expertise in functional safety (ISO 26262) and SOTIF (ISO 21448).
• Experience developing and delivering a Safety Case for a complex novel system.
• Familiarity and practical experience with safety analysis methodologies (e.g. HARA FMEA FTA HAZOP).
• Bachelors or Masters degree in Engineering (e.g. Computer Electrical Mechanical) Computer Science or a related technical field or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with a proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams.
• Flexible and creative thinker capable of out-of-the-box problem-solving in a fast-paced novel field.

Nice to Have

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant engineering or safety-related field.
• Direct experience in the autonomous vehicle industry.
• Familiarity with related standards such as UL 4600 ISO/TR 5083 and automotive cybersecurity (ISO 21434).
• Experience with the safety of AI and machine learning-based systems.
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles and tools (e.g. DOORS SysML).
• Experience using simulation at scale for safety validation.

Candidates are required to be authorized to work in the U.S. The employer is not offering relocation sponsorship and remote work options are not available.

Avride is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities to ensure they have equal access to employment opportunities. Avride complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with the application or hiring process or to perform the essential functions of a job please email .