Talent.com
Director of Safety Engineering, Robotics & Autonomous Systems
Director of Safety Engineering, Robotics & Autonomous SystemsField AI • Irvine, CA, US
Director of Safety Engineering, Robotics & Autonomous Systems

Director of Safety Engineering, Robotics & Autonomous Systems

Field AI • Irvine, CA, US
[job_card.variable_days_ago]
[job_preview.job_type]
  • [job_card.full_time]
[job_card.job_description]

Job Description

Job Description

Field AI builds autonomous robotic systems designed to operate in complex, unstructured, and safety-critical real-world environments . Our robots work alongside humans in outdoor settings where uncertainty, scale, and operational risk are fundamental challenges. Safety is a core product capability at Field AI. As our systems transition from advanced R&D into scaled field deployment, we are seeking a Director of Robotics Product Safety to define and lead the company’s product safety vision, strategy, and execution.

As Director of Robotics Product Safety , you will own Field AI’s end-to-end product safety function. You will set the safety strategy for autonomous robotic systems, establish scalable safety processes, and serve as the executive-level authority on product safety across the organization. This role combines deep technical judgment, systems safety leadership, and cross-functional influence . You will work closely with executive leadership, engineering, operations, and external stakeholders to ensure Field AI’s robots are safe, deployable, and trusted in the field.

What You'll Get To Do :

  • Safety Strategy & Leadership
  • Define and own Field AI’s product safety vision, strategy, and roadmap
  • Establish company-wide safety principles, policies, and governance for robotic systems
  • Act as the executive point of contact for product safety decisions and risk acceptance
  • Balance innovation speed with rigorous, risk-based safety practices

System, Autonomy & AI Safety Oversight

  • Provide technical leadership on system-level safety for autonomous robotic platforms
  • Guide safety approaches for :
  • Autonomous navigation, perception, and planning
  • Human–robot interaction in field environments
  • Fault tolerance, degraded modes, and fail-safe behaviors
  • Oversee safety treatment of AI / ML-driven components , including uncertainty and edge cases
  • Review and approve safety architectures, concepts, and safety cases
  • Cross-Functional & Executive Collaboration

  • Partner with leaders across :
  • Autonomy, perception, software, hardware, and systems engineering
  • Field operations, deployment, and customer programs
  • Influence product architecture and roadmap decisions through a safety lens
  • Provide clear, actionable guidance to executives on safety risks, tradeoffs, and mitigations
  • Standards, Compliance & External Engagement

  • Own Field AI’s approach to safety standards, regulatory alignment, and compliance
  • Guide interpretation and application of relevant standards (e.g., ISO 12100, IEC 61508, ISO 13849, ISO 10218)
  • Lead engagements with customers, partners, regulators, and third-party assessors
  • Ensure safety arguments are credible, defensible, and scalable across products
  • Team Building & Organizational Scale

  • Build, lead, and mentor a high-impact product safety team
  • Define roles, responsibilities, and career growth paths for safety engineers
  • Establish scalable safety processes that integrate naturally with engineering workflows
  • Champion a strong safety culture without slowing execution
  • Field Risk & Incident Management

  • Provide executive oversight for :
  • Field deployment risk assessmentsIncident response, investigations, and corrective actions
  • Define thresholds for risk acceptance and deployment readiness
  • Ensure lessons learned from the field are systematically fed back into product design
  • What You Have :

  • Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Systems Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, or Computer Engineering , or equivalent experience
  • 10+ years of experience in robotics, autonomous systems, product safety, or functional safety
  • Proven experience leading system-level safety for complex electromechanical and software-driven products
  • Track record of influencing architecture and product decisions at a senior level
  • Deep understanding of real-world robotics deployment risks
  • Leadership Attributes

  • Strategic thinker with strong technical judgment
  • Able to make and defend difficult safety decisions under uncertainty
  • Credible with both executives and hands-on engineers
  • Pragmatic, risk-based, and outcome-focused
  • Passionate about deploying safe autonomy in the real world
  • What Will Set You Apart

  • Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field
  • Experience with autonomous mobile robots, outdoor robotics, or defense-adjacent systems
  • Functional Safety certification (e.g., TÜV Functional Safety Engineer)
  • Experience interfacing with regulators, customers, and safety assessors
  • Background in AI / ML-enabled systems and autonomy safety
  • Our salary range is generous and we take into consideration an individual's background and experience in determining final salary; base pay offered may vary considerably depending on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

    Why Join Field AI?

    We are solving one of the world’s most complex challenges : deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models™ set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.

    You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.

    Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution

    To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision — innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We’re seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.

    We are headquartered in always-sunny Irvine in Southern California and have US based and global teammates.

    Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close-knit team on an exciting journey!

    We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

    [job_alerts.create_a_job]

    Director Of Engineering • Irvine, CA, US

    [internal_linking.similar_jobs]
    Director of Engineering

    Director of Engineering

    Saratech • Mission Viejo, CA, USA
    [job_card.full_time] +1
    [filters_job_card.quick_apply]
    In this role, you will be responsible for managing and monitoring all operations within the department, hiring and training new team members, implementing engineering practices and goals, and plann...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_30]
    Director of Advancement Technology - Pomona College

    Director of Advancement Technology - Pomona College

    Another Source • Claremont, CA, US
    [job_card.full_time]
    Director Of Advancement Technology.Another Source's client, Pomona College, a premier liberal arts institution and member of The Claremont Colleges, is recruiting a Director of Advancement Technolo...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_days] • [promoted]
    Director, Engineering

    Director, Engineering

    Skyworks Solutions • Irvine, CA, US
    [job_card.full_time]
    Director, Engineering - BAW Filter NPI.Skyworks Solutions is a leading provider of acoustic solutions for mobile devices, wireless infrastructure, and IoT applications. We are seeking a talented and...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_30] • [promoted]
    Safety Management System (SMS) Manager

    Safety Management System (SMS) Manager

    Southern California Edison • Chino, CA, United States
    [job_card.full_time]
    Join the Clean Energy Revolution.Safety Management System (SMS) Manager.Southern California Edison (SCE) and build a better tomorrow. In this job, you\u2019ll be responsible for ensuring mitigations...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_days] • [promoted]
    Managing Consultant, Environmental Health and Safety

    Managing Consultant, Environmental Health and Safety

    ERM • Irvine, CA, United States
    [job_card.temporary]
    Ready to lead safety innovation for some of the world's most dynamic companies? At ERM-the global leader in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) consulting-you'll partner with industry giants in...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_days] • [promoted]
    Director of Implementation

    Director of Implementation

    Enrollment123 • Laguna Hills, CA, US
    [job_card.full_time]
    [filters_job_card.quick_apply]
    Work From Anywhere company based in southern California with an entirely remote workforce from all over the US.This role can be based anywhere in the US with the exception of IN, IL, NE, PA.Why joi...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_30]
    Safety Manager / SSHO

    Safety Manager / SSHO

    Clark Construction Group • San Clemente, CA, United States
    [job_card.full_time]
    As a Safety Manager, you will ensure the safety of employees, trade partners, and the general public on our world class projects. The Safety Manager is responsible for creating a culture of care whi...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_days] • [promoted]
    Area Safety Manager

    Area Safety Manager

    Guy F. Atkinson Construction, LLC • Corona, CA, United States
    [job_card.full_time]
    California Summary Above all else, our people are passionate about our safety culture.Our organization - from senior leadership to field personnel - has an unwavering commitment to performing wor...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_days] • [promoted]
    Director of Engineering

    Director of Engineering

    SaraTech • Mission Viejo, California, United States
    [job_card.full_time] +1
    Our company is looking for a Director of Engineering who will lead our engineering department.In this role, you will be responsible for managing and monitoring all operations within the department,...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_1_day] • [promoted]
    Engineering - Sr Engr, R&D

    Engineering - Sr Engr, R&D

    Pacer Group • Irvine, CA, United States
    [job_card.full_time]
    The main function of a quality engineer is to research and test the design, functionality and maintenance of products, equipment, systems and processes and develop quality standards.A typical quali...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_1_day] • [promoted]
    Senior Autonomous Systems Engineer

    Senior Autonomous Systems Engineer

    DZYNE Technologies • Irvine, CA, United States
    [job_card.full_time]
    DZYNE Technologies is leading the future of autonomous defense.Based in Irvine, California, we develop and manufacture advanced airborne and ground-based defense solutions deployed in over 50 count...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_days] • [promoted]
    Director of Aviation

    Director of Aviation

    IMEG Corporation • Ontario, CA, United States
    [job_card.full_time]
    Are you Ready to Engineer Your Career?.We work hard and are passionate about what we do but also love to have fun along the way. We celebrate the ability to be a firm of over 2900 employees in the U...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_30] • [promoted]
    Senior Structural Safety Engineer

    Senior Structural Safety Engineer

    Altair • Irvine, CA, United States
    [job_card.temporary]
    Transforming the Future with Convergence of Simulation and Data.Senior Structural Safety Engineer.Our client in Irvine, CA or Plymouth, MI is looking for a Senior Structural Safety Engineer.This is...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_days] • [promoted]
    Director of Quality Engineering

    Director of Quality Engineering

    VirtualVocations • Ontario, California, United States
    [job_card.full_time]
    A company is looking for a Director of Quality Engineering & AI-Driven Testing.Key Responsibilities Evaluate and integrate AI-powered testing solutions to enhance automation efficiency and covera...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_1_day] • [promoted]
    Director, Test and Product Engineering

    Director, Test and Product Engineering

    Menlo Microsystems • Irvine, CA, United States
    [job_card.full_time]
    Menlo Micro has reinvented one of the most fundamental building blocks of electronic systems - the electronic switch.Menlo Micro's technology creates a new switch category that eliminates compromis...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_days] • [promoted]
    Director of Programs

    Director of Programs

    Verus Aerospace • Irvine, CA, US
    [job_card.full_time]
    When you join the Verus Aerospace team, you are more than a number you are a valued part of our company family.Superior craftsmanship, employee pride and a shared commitment to continuous improvem...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_variable_hours] • [promoted] • [new]
    Environment, Health and Safety Manager

    Environment, Health and Safety Manager

    Brothers Desserts • Irvine, CA, US
    [job_card.full_time]
    The EHS Manager is responsible for leading and managing all Environmental, Health, and Safety programs within a food manufacturing facility, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regul...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_1_day] • [promoted]
    Director of Engineering, Smart Home

    Director of Engineering, Smart Home

    TP-Link Systems Inc. • Irvine, CA, US
    [job_card.full_time]
    [filters_job_card.quick_apply]
    Headquartered in the United States, TP-Link Systems Inc.The company is committed to delivering innovative products that enhance people’s lives through faster, more reliable connectivity.With a comm...[show_more]
    [last_updated.last_updated_30]