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Functional Safety Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Kodiak

Functional Safety Engineer, Software

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$130K - $190K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are looking for a Functional Safety Software Engineer to join us and drive the development and management of our autonomous vehicle safety cases as we bring the Kodiak Autonomy System to market.

FieldAI

Lead Functional Safety Engineer-Federal

Irvine, CA · On-site

$70K - $300K/yr

We're looking for a Lead Functional Safety Engineer to support systems-level design, integration, and validation for our wheeled robotic platforms across both federal and commercial programs. In this ...

FieldAI

Lead Functional Safety Engineer-Federal

Irvine, CA · On-site

$110K - $144K/yr

We're looking for a Lead Functional Safety Engineer to support systems-level design, integration, and validation for our wheeled robotic platforms across both federal and commercial programs. In this ...

Waymo

Vehicle Systems Safety

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$204K - $252K/yr

Support and execute functional safety analyses (e.g., HARA) for base vehicle programs to identify hazards, assess safety risks, and identify safety goals for the vehicle systems. * Support supplier ...

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Functional Safety information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a functional safety engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Functional Safety Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering (typically electrical, electronics, or systems), a deep understanding of safety standards like ISO 26262 or IEC 61508, and experience in risk assessment. Familiarity with safety analysis tools (e.g., FMEA, FTA) and certifications such as TÜV Functional Safety Engineer are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and ensure rigorous safety compliance. These competencies are crucial to identify hazards, mitigate risks, and deliver safe, reliable products or systems in regulated industries.

How does a functional safety engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during product development?

Functional Safety Engineers work closely with hardware, software, and systems engineers throughout the product development lifecycle to identify and mitigate potential safety risks. They often facilitate safety assessments, conduct Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and ensure compliance with relevant safety standards such as ISO 26262 or IEC 61508. Effective communication and documentation are crucial, as Functional Safety Engineers must clearly convey safety requirements and findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This collaborative environment helps ensure that safety is integrated into every stage of development.

What is the difference between Functional Safety vs Safety Engineer?

AspectFunctional SafetySafety Engineer
CertificationsISO 26262, IEC 61508, TUV certificationsOSHA, NEBOSH, CSP certifications
Work EnvironmentAutomotive, industrial automation, machineryConstruction sites, manufacturing plants, industrial facilities
Industry UsageDesigning safety systems, risk assessment, safety lifecycle managementIdentifying hazards, implementing safety protocols, compliance audits

Functional Safety focuses on designing and managing safety systems within products and processes, ensuring they operate safely under all conditions. Safety Engineers typically perform hazard analysis, develop safety procedures, and ensure compliance. While both roles aim to enhance safety, Functional Safety is more technical and system-oriented, whereas Safety Engineers often work on safety policies and risk mitigation strategies.

What is functional safety?

Functional safety refers to the part of a system that ensures it operates correctly and safely in response to its inputs, even when there are faults or failures. It is crucial in industries like automotive, manufacturing, and energy, where malfunctioning systems could lead to hazards. Functional safety involves risk assessment, implementing safety mechanisms, and following standards such as ISO 26262. Professionals in this field work on designing, verifying, and validating safety-related systems to ensure compliance and protect people and equipment.

What are the most commonly searched types of Functional Safety jobs in California?

The most popular types of Functional Safety jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Functional Safety jobs in California?

For Functional Safety jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Functional Safety jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Functional Safety jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Functional Safety jobs?

Cities in California with the most Functional Safety job openings:

Functional Safety jobs near you
Infographic showing various Functional Safety job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 8% Nights. Highlights an 92% In-person, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Staff/Senior Staff Functional Systems Safety Engineer - Robot Safety

1X Technologies AS

San Carlos, CA • On-site

$170K - $259K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

About 1X
We're building humanoid robots that work in home - doing the chores, handling the tasks, and giving people their time back. Simple, but it's not.
To do this right, we have to solve robotics, AI, manufacturing - at the same time, at scale, in a form factor that has to be safe enough to live with your family. If you're inspired by this, you'll thrive here. We've been at this since 2014 and we're at the point where the hard problems are behind us and the hard work is in front of us.
NEO is our flagship - a home robot designed to move, learn, and operate in the real world alongside real people. We're not demoing it - we're shipping it. We're excited to meet you, if this excites you.
If you've spent your career working on problems that matter and want to see them actually reach the world - this is that moment. We're scaling, we're hiring with intention, and we need people who want to build something that will genuinely change how humans spend their time - safely creating abundance for all.
About the Team
The Autonomy & Safety Engineering team is responsible for ensuring 1X robots operate safely, reliably, and predictably in real-world human environments. We develop the systems, architectures, and operational frameworks that enable humanoid robots to safely interact with people, homes, and dynamic physical spaces.
The Functional Systems Safety team plays a critical role in identifying, mitigating, and validating safety risks across autonomy, controls, hardware, software, and operational robotics systems.
Your Charter
Lead the development of functional safety architectures, hazard mitigation strategies, and systems-level safety engineering practices for 1X humanoid robots. This role is responsible for ensuring safety requirements are properly defined, implemented, validated, and operationalized across complex integrated robotics systems as 1X scales embodied AI deployments globally.
Key Outcomes
  • Define and implement scalable functional safety frameworks across robot hardware, autonomy, controls, and operational systems
  • Lead hazard analysis, FMEA, fault-tree analysis, and risk assessment efforts across integrated robotics platforms
  • Partner cross-functionally with Autonomy, Controls, Hardware, Software, Manufacturing, and Operations teams to ensure safety requirements are embedded throughout the system lifecycle
  • Develop and validate safety mechanisms, fault detection systems, redundancy strategies, and operational fail-safe behaviors
  • Improve deployment readiness and operational reliability through rigorous safety testing, validation methodologies, and systems-level safety governance

Key Competencies
  • Deep expertise in functional safety engineering, systems safety, robotics safety, or other safety-critical engineering domains
  • Strong systems-level thinking across hardware, software, autonomy, controls, and operational environments
  • Experience applying safety engineering methodologies such as FMEA, HARA, fault-tree analysis, STPA, or equivalent frameworks
  • Strong technical communication and cross-functional leadership skills in highly collaborative engineering organizations
  • Ability to drive ambiguous, large-scale technical initiatives in fast-moving startup environments

Minimum Requirements
  • 10+ years of experience in functional safety, robotics safety, autonomous systems, aerospace, automotive, industrial automation, or related safety-critical engineering fields
  • Experience designing and implementing functional safety architectures for complex integrated systems
  • Strong understanding of safety standards such as ISO 13849, IEC 61508, ISO 26262, IEC 62061, or equivalent frameworks
  • Experience working with robotics systems, controls systems, embedded systems, or autonomous platforms
  • Bachelor's degree in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or related technical field

Preferred Skills
  • Experience working on humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles, industrial robotics, aerospace systems, or embodied AI platforms
  • Familiarity with autonomy stacks, perception systems, motion planning, or controls engineering
  • Experience with simulation environments, safety validation tooling, or operational incident analysis
  • Background in reliability engineering, redundancy architectures, or fault-tolerant systems
  • Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Robotics, Systems Engineering, Safety Engineering, AI, or related field

What does a successful 1X Team Member look like:
Team members at 1X who thrive here are builders. They move fast, own their work completely, and treat time like it's the one thing you can't get back - because it is. They say what they mean, finish what they start, and hold themselves to a standard before anyone has to ask. We push each other to be better, and we do it with honesty and respect.
Compensation Range:
$170,000 - $259,000 + Equity
Benefits:
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Generous paid time off, company holidays, and parental leave
  • 401(k) plan with company match (100% on the first 3% of contributions, 50% on the next 2%)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) options
  • Commuter benefits (transit and parking)
  • Short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, financial, and personal support
  • Onsite snacks and catered lunches

Equal Opportunity Employer
1X is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, military or veteran status, justice system impact, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

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