At TÜV SÜD Group we are passionate about technology. Innovations impact our daily lives in countless ways, and we are dedicated to being a part of that progress. We test, we audit, we inspect, we advise. We never stop challenging ourselves for the safety of society and its people. We breathe technology, we strive for professional excellence, and we leave a mark. We take the future into our hands. We are TÜV SÜD Group.

Position Summary

The Automotive Safety Engineer is responsible for conducting independent technical assessments, providing safety engineering advisory services, and supporting safety assurance activities for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), highly automated driving (HAD), autonomous vehicles, and other safety-critical automotive technologies.

This position evaluates system-level safety throughout the product lifecycle, including design, development, validation, deployment, and operation, with an emphasis on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and organizational Safety Management Systems (SMS).

Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, customers, and international stakeholders, the Automotive Safety Engineer applies globally recognized standards, regulatory frameworks, and engineering best practices to assess safety risks, evaluate technical evidence, and support effective safety assurance.

The successful candidate will demonstrate sound technical judgment, analytical capabilities, independence, and the ability to communicate complex safety findings clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.

Responsibilities

Safety Engineering and Independent Assessment

• Conduct independent technical assessments, audits, gap analyses, and safety evaluations in accordance with applicable international standards, including ISO 26262, ISO 21448 (SOTIF), UL 4600, and ISO/TS 5083.

• Evaluate safety engineering documentation, including item definitions, hazard analyses, risk assessments, functional and technical safety concepts, safety requirements, system architectures, and verification and validation strategies.

• Review safety cases, structured assurance arguments, supporting technical evidence, assumptions, and limitations to assess alignment with applicable safety objectives and Operational Design Domains (ODDs).

• Assess safety-critical interfaces involving hardware, software, sensors, perception systems, planning, vehicle controls, human-machine interaction, remote assistance, and operational processes.

• Identify safety risks, technical deficiencies, and evidence gaps, providing clear findings and recommendations for risk reduction and continuous improvement.

Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Automotive Technologies

• Support safety assessments of AI-enabled and machine learning (ML) automotive systems using relevant international standards and guidance, including ISO/PAS 8800 and ISO/IEC 42001.

• Evaluate AI/ML safety considerations, including data quality, representativeness, model robustness, performance limitations, uncertainty, explainability, distribution shifts, and lifecycle monitoring.

• Assess scenario-based testing, simulation evidence, safety performance indicators, and validation methodologies for autonomous and AI-enabled technologies.

• Contribute to the development and improvement of assessment methodologies for emerging automotive technologies, including non-deterministic and continuously evolving systems.

Safety Management Systems and Operational Assurance

• Evaluate organizational Safety Management Systems, including safety policies, risk management practices, safety assurance processes, safety promotion, and continuous improvement activities.

• Assess operational readiness, ODD controls, deployment processes, change management, incident and near-miss reporting, corrective actions, and ongoing safety performance monitoring.

• Review the effectiveness of safety governance practices and their integration with engineering development, operational processes, and deployment decision-making.

• Apply relevant industry guidance, including Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium (AVSC) best practices, when evaluating autonomous vehicle safety management and operational assurance.

Project Delivery and Customer Engagement

• Prepare technical reports, assessment summaries, risk evaluations, and evidence-based recommendations for customers and internal stakeholders.

• Plan, coordinate, and execute assigned project activities to ensure deliverables meet established scope, schedule, quality, and customer requirements.

• Collaborate with cross-functional and international engineering teams to support consistent assessment methodologies and successful project delivery.

• Provide technical guidance, standards interpretation, training, and appropriately scoped advisory services while maintaining independence and professional objectivity.

• Support business development activities, including technical proposals, customer consultations, and the development of new safety assessment services.

• Maintain awareness of emerging automotive technologies, international standards, regulatory developments, and industry best practices.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Physics, or a related technical discipline.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in automotive safety engineering, functional safety, systems engineering, technical safety assessments, or a comparable safety-critical industry. Typically, 5–8 years of experience is preferred.

• Experience applying ISO 26262, ISO 21448 (SOTIF), or comparable structured safety engineering methodologies.

• Demonstrated experience with hazard identification, risk assessment, safety lifecycle processes, system verification and validation, and technical safety documentation.

• Experience evaluating engineering work products, identifying safety-related gaps, and developing technically defensible recommendations.

• Advanced degree in a relevant engineering or technical discipline is preferred.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

Required

• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of functional safety, systems engineering principles, automotive technologies, and risk-based safety assessment methodologies.

• Analytical Skills: Ability to critically evaluate complex technical information, identify safety risks and evidence gaps, and develop defensible technical conclusions.

• Safety Engineering: Knowledge of hazard and risk analysis, safety lifecycle processes, verification and validation methodologies, and safety case development.

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports and present findings to engineering, management, and customer audiences.

• Project Coordination: Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver assignments within established timelines.

• Collaboration: Ability to work independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, international colleagues, customers, and external stakeholders.

• Professional Judgment: Demonstrated commitment to technical integrity, independent assessment, confidentiality, and professional standards.

Preferred

• Knowledge of AI/ML safety assurance methodologies and applicable standards, including ISO/PAS 8800 and ISO/IEC 42001.

• Experience with ADAS, automated driving systems (ADS), robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other advanced mobility technologies.

• Familiarity with organizational Safety Management Systems and safety governance practices for autonomous vehicle development and deployment.

• Understanding of automotive cybersecurity, including ISO/SAE 21434, software update management, and related safety implications.

• Experience with scenario-based validation, simulation, field operational data analysis, safety performance metrics, or operational readiness assessments.

• Familiarity with U.S. and international automotive regulatory and approval frameworks.

• Knowledge of additional safety and quality standards, including IEC 61508, ISO 13849, or applicable quality management systems.

• Ability to adapt to evolving technologies, international standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Additional Information

• Work Location: Remote – United States. Candidates must reside and be authorized to work in the United States.

• Base Salary Range: $110,000–$140,000 USD annually, based on qualifications, experience, and applicable compensation guidelines.

• Annual Bonus: 10% target annual performance bonus, subject to company incentive plan terms and eligibility requirements.

• Work Authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. TÜV SÜD is not offering employment visa sponsorship for this position at this time.

Equal Opportunity Employer - Disability and Veteran

TÜV SÜD America, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, marital status, genetics, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status and those laws, directives, and regulations of Federal, State, and Local governing bodies or agencies. We participate in the E-Verify Employment Verification Program.