Functional Safety Lead

FieldAI’s Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California’s robotics ecosystem, we build risk-aware, reliable, field-ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field. Who are We Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications.

Learn more at https://fieldai.com.

About the Job At FieldAI, we build autonomous robotic systems that operate in demanding, real-world environments where tight integration between hardware and software is critical. 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 role, you will serve as the team’s resident safety expert and primary individual contributor, owning our approach to UGV functional safety. First, you will design and deploy a supervised safety system featuring remote E-Stops and indicator lights to ensure safe personnel interaction. Next, you will lead the transition to a non-line-of-sight autonomous safety architecture. You will architect the system, get hands-on with configuring the PLCs, and ensure seamless control handoffs between the safety hardware, human operators, and the autonomy stack. This is a highly impactful role for a hands-on engineer who can drive our immediate safety milestones and lay the groundwork to build and lead a dedicated safety team as the company scales.

What You'll Get To Do
Hands-on Hardware Configuration

Select, integrate, and configure Safety PLCs, safety lidars, and related hardware components

Work closely with the Electrical Engineering team to guide wiring diagrams, harness designs, and physical integration of safety hardware

Directly write, implement, and test ladder logic and safety configurations on the PLCs

Autonomy & Human-Machine Interface Integration

Design and implement safe transitions of control, allowing a human operator to seamlessly take over via an E-Stop/RC unit to unstick a robot, and safely transfer control back to the autonomy stack

Ensure all vehicle safety states are clearly communicated to on-site personnel through visual indicators and lighting

Collaborate with the core software team to establish reliable interfaces between hardware safety loops and high-level autonomy software

Field Deployment & Testing

Deploy, verify, and validate safety systems directly on physical robots operating in real-world construction environments

Troubleshoot, debug, and optimize system configurations to ensure maximum reliability and uptime in the field.

Technical Leadership & Scalability

Serve as the resident functional safety expert, filling critical knowledge gaps and guiding technical strategy for the broader engineering team

Establish scalable safety testing and validation procedures for future vehicle platforms

Act as a foundational team member with the opportunity to hire, mentor, and build out a dedicated safety engineering team in the future

Safety Case & Site Certification

Develop and maintain the Safety Case for each platform and mission: define hazards, assess risk per MIL-STD-882E, and build a data-backed argument that residual risk is acceptable

Partner with FLAG engineers to determine which safety performance data to collect and convert it into traceable evidence

Own the site certification process for unsupervised customer handover, including staged gates, readiness metrics, and go, conditional-go, or no-go determinations for each site

Analyze why interventions occur, separating site conditions from product limitations, and assess network coverage and reliability at each site

Define post-handover monitoring and the triggers that return a site to supervised operation

What You Have

BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a related field with significant relevant industry experience

Deep, hands-on expertise in configuring, programming, and debugging Safety PLCs

Proven experience selecting and integrating hardware safety components such as remote E-Stops, safety relays, and safety lidars

Strong ownership mindset with the ability to operate as a self-directed individual contributor and technical authority

Ability to collaborate effectively with electrical engineers (for wiring/integration) and software engineers (for system handoffs)

The Extras That Set You Apart

Familiarity with relevant safety standards (e.g., ISO 13849, ISO 3691-4, IEC 61508, or ANSI/RIA R15.08)

Prior experience working with robotics, autonomous vehicles, off-road equipment, or heavy machinery

Experience deploying systems in demanding environments like construction, mining, or agriculture

Familiarity with software interfaces (ROS/ROS2, C++) to better understand the handoff between safety systems and the autonomy stack

Previous experience serving as a technical lead or mentoring junior engineers

Our salary range is generous and we consider each individual’s background and experience when determining final compensation. Base pay may vary based on role scope, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and the Irvine, California market.   Why Join FieldAI in Irvine? In Irvine, you will work where the robots are. Our local team builds and tests systems on real hardware with real sensors, then ships them to operate in unstructured, previously unknown environments around the world. We are solving one of robotics’ hardest challenges: reliable deployment outside the lab. Our Field Foundational Models™ raise the bar for perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, with an emphasis on explainability and safety for real-world use. You will collaborate with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. We bring deep experience from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, along with a track record of field deployments and strong performance in DARPA challenge segments.   Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution We are looking for builders who want their work to leave the whiteboard and show up on robots. If you enjoy tackling tough, uncharted questions and working across disciplines, you will find your people here. Our teams span AI, software, robotics engineering, product, field deployment, and technical communication, all focused on shipping systems that perform in the real world.   Our headquarters is in Irvine, and we partner closely with teams there as well as colleagues across the US and around the world. Join us in Southern California and help define what dependable, field-ready autonomy looks like.   We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.