Functional Safety Architect

Own the functional safety architecture for a Physical AI SoC, defining safety goals, mechanisms, fault handling, quantitative metrics, RTL and firmware requirements, safety cases, certification, audits, and cross-disciplinary processes.

Responsibilities

• Own the SoC functional safety architecture.
• Define safety goals, safety mechanisms, and hardware/software fault handling.
• Lead HARA, DFMEA, FMEDA, FTA, and dependent-failure analysis.
• Derive quantitative safety metrics and diagnostic-coverage targets.
• Define safety mechanisms for compute, AI/NPU, memory, and interconnect.
• Embed safety requirements into RTL, boot flows, and SDKs.
• Own safety cases and work products across the safety lifecycle.
• Coordinate with assessors and customers on certification and audits.
• Establish functional safety processes, standards, and design practices.
• Manage interfaces between functional safety, cybersecurity, reliability, and SOTIF.

Requirements

• 10+ years in functional safety or safety-critical hardware engineering.
• Experience taking silicon or embedded platforms through a full safety lifecycle.
• Deep expertise with ISO 26262 up to ASIL D and IEC 61508 up to SIL 3.
• Hands-on experience with HARA, FMEA/FMEDA, FTA, DFA, SPFM, LFM, and PMHF.
• Strong command of ECC, lockstep, BIST, redundancy, and safe-state design.
• Experience with RTL, silicon design, firmware, and low-level platform software.
• Ability to build and defend a safety case across multidisciplinary teams.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a related engineering or computer science field, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with functional safety for AI/ML accelerators or NPUs.
• Familiarity with SOTIF and safety-critical domains.
• Experience interfacing with certification bodies or assessors.

Benefits

• Performance-based incentives
• Equity participation
• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Paid time off
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development opportunities