Functional safety engineer

We begin with dreams. Dreams drive our motivation. Dreams are our future. The world's dreams, people's dreams, our dreams. Our passion creates ideas that make dreams come alive. Technology and products that were only dreams become reality.

All for dreams. Dreams challenge and the Nidec-Group will continue to meet the challenge. For the world's and people's tomorrows; the world's first, the world's best technologies and products; we will continue our part in creating a better society.

Job Summary

Nidec is the world's No.1 comprehensive motor and drive manufacturer handling "everything that spins and moves", miniature to gigantic. Nidec is a global enterprise comprised of over 300 subsidiaries/affiliates. We are a leading manufacturer of commercial motors, industrial motors, appliance motors, and controls. Nidec motors can be found in products that range from cell phones, computers and home appliances to industrial and mining equipment – and everything in between. Our product line features a full line of high efficiency motors for industrial applications in water treatment, mining, oil and gas, and power generation, and for commercial applications such as pool and spa, condensers, cooling towers and large refrigeration units.

From keeping us comfortable in our homes to pumping clean water to making our cars more safe, electric motors are an indispensable part of our daily lives. At Nidec, our employees are on the forefront of developing new motor technologies. As we move deeper into the age of robotics, the impact of motors will only increase.

With over 140,000 employees stationed worldwide, Nidec continues to be a unique organization, and each location maintains its individual personality.

Job Description

As a Functional Safety Engineer III, you will join a highly motivated team dedicated to developing innovative solutions for customers in the Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), Robotics, and Industrial Automation sectors. In this role, you will lead functional safety activities for motion control, robotic, AGV, and industrial automation products. This role combines functional safety management with hands-on technical work, including safety analyses, safety requirements, safety concepts, safety architecture reviews, certification documentation, and coordination with external certification bodies. You will work closely with hardware, software, validation, compliance, and project teams to ensure products meet applicable functional safety standards, including IEC 61508, ISO 13849, IEC 61800-5-2, and other relevant standards. The role will also ensure alignment between functional safety and product cybersecurity activities, including cybersecurity risk assessment/TARA, secure-by-design requirements, and Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) readiness where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Lead functional safety and cybersecurity compliance activities across product development projects as part of the overall NPD process.
• Define, maintain, and improve functional safety processes, procedures, workflows, work instructions, templates, and required project deliverables.
• Convert functional safety and cybersecurity compliance standards into practical engineering processes and documentation.
• Ensure alignment between functional safety and cybersecurity activities for embedded, connected, and safety-related products.
• Develop and maintain functional safety plans, safety cases, compliance matrices, and certification documentation.
• Perform and/or lead safety analyses such as HARA, TARA, FMEDA, HAZOP, de-rating analysis, and safety architecture analysis.
• Write, review, and approve functional safety requirements, technical safety requirements, and product safety characteristics.
• Develop functional safety concepts and technical safety concepts for motion control and robotic systems.
• Work with hardware, software, and test teams to ensure safety requirements and cybersecurity requirements are correctly implemented, verified, validated, and documented.
• Review system architecture, safety architecture, hardware design, software design, test plans, test results, and validation evidence from a functional safety perspective.
• Coordinate with certification agencies such as TÜV, UL, or equivalent bodies to support functional safety assessments and product certification.
• Prepare and review documentation, analyses, testing evidence, and certification packages for audits, witness testing, and final approval.
• Drive closure of certification findings, safety issues, open actions, and compliance gaps.
• Engage with customers to gather and clarify functional safety requirements, interface specifications, and application needs.
• Mentor engineering teams on functional safety standards, lifecycle requirements, best practices, and certification expectations.
• Support alignment of functional safety practices across projects and continuously monitor relevant standard and legislation updates.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in functional safety, product safety, embedded systems, motion control, robotics, industrial automation, automotive electronics, or related fields.
• Proven experience in functional safety certification projects by working with certification agencies such as TÜV, UL, or equivalent bodies.
• Strong knowledge of functional safety standards such as IEC 61508, ISO 13849, IEC 61800-5-2, or equivalent.
• Experience performing or reviewing safety analyses such as HARA, TARA, FMEA, FMEDA, FTA, HAZOP, de-rating analysis, or system safety analysis.
• Understanding of hardware, software, systems, and test development lifecycles.
• Ability to review safety-related hardware, software, system, and validation documentation.
• Certified Functional Safety Expert, TÜV Functional Safety Engineer, CFSE, or equivalent certification will be considered a strong plus.
• Familiarity with EU Cyber Resilience Act, IEC 62443, ISO/SAE 21434, ETSI EN 303 645, or equivalent cybersecurity standards will be considered a plus.
• Knowledge of motion control, robotics, AGV/AMR systems, industrial automation, or drive systems will be considered a plus.
• Knowledge of communication fieldbuses such as CAN, EtherCAT, Profinet, Modbus, or similar protocols will be considered a plus.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, mentoring, and problem-solving skills.
• Positive attitude, ownership mindset, and eagerness to continuously learn and improve.

Languages

Strong English verbal, written and presentation skills required.

Additional Job Details

Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action at Nidec Nidec is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, genetic information, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following website: EEOC Rights.

Work Shift Schedule

No Soliciting Nidec will not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies in response to Nidec job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers. Pre-approval from the Nidec Talent Acquisition team is required before any external candidate can be submitted and such candidate must be submitted to the Nidec Talent Acquisition team.