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Salary: USD 166,000 - 249,000 / annual
Third Wave Automation is a rapidly growing Series C-funded startup applying machine learning to materials handling, delivering autonomous reach truck navigation and infrastructure-free pallet handling. The company is seeking a Staff Safety Engineer to serve as the primary technical authority on system safety and compliance, reporting directly to the CEO.
This is a high-impact role architecting safety for physical AI systems. You will partner directly with Product and Engineering leaders to embed safety into the robotics platform, ensuring systems move fast while exceeding baseline safety requirements. Key responsibilities include:
• Architect the safety system by weaving safety into the DNA of the robotics platform, working with Product and Engineering to enable rapid, compliant innovation.
• Represent Third Wave Automation on national and international standards committees, advocating for standards that accommodate next-generation embodied AI.
• Leverage AI and advanced tooling to parse regulatory updates, draft technical documentation, and streamline hazard analysis.
• Own end-to-end certification processes for complex autonomous systems across hardware, software, and cybersecurity.
• Act as the definitive safety authority for Tier-1 OEM partners and customers, translating rigorous safety architecture into customer confidence.
• Oversee internal Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs, ensuring field engineers, deployment teams, and lab staff have proper training and protection.
In your first 90 days, you will conduct a deep-dive audit of existing safety architecture and compliance documentation, establish cross-functional partnerships, take ownership of ongoing certifications (IEC 61508, ISO 13849, ISO 21434), engage with standards bodies, and elevate internal EHS protocols.
The role offers full autonomy to refine, correct, or rebuild safety frameworks. You will inherit a strong foundation but have absolute authority to innovate beyond baseline compliance.
REQUIREMENTS:
• 10+ years of hands-on experience in safety engineering within robotics, autonomous systems, automotive, or heavy industrial automation.
• Deep, working knowledge of OSHA regulations and core autonomy standards: IEC 61508, ISO 13849 (Parts 1 & 2), and ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity).
• First-principles mindset with technical depth to challenge engineering assumptions and propose innovative safety solutions.
• Comfortable leveraging LLMs and modern software tools to enhance efficiency in research, technical writing, and workflow automation.
• Proven experience participating in industry standards committees with ability to influence C-suite executives, OEMs, and regulatory bodies.
• Ability to operate autonomously in a high-growth startup environment, defining roadmaps rather than executing others' plans.
• Preferred: Bachelor's degree or higher in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• Preferred: Deep experience navigating functional safety audits and achieving safety certifications for complex hardware/software systems.
• Preferred: Outstanding interpersonal communication skills to translate complex safety standards into actionable engineering requirements.
