Lead Safety Engineer, Robotics

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the product safety strategy for robotic systems across the entire development lifecycle
• Partner with engineering, research, and hardware teams to translate safety requirements into product architecture and design decisions
• Develop and maintain system-level hazard analyses, risk assessments (HARA, FMEA), and safety cases for robotic products
• Monitor and influence emerging regulatory frameworks, industry standards, and policy developments relevant to autonomous systems
• Establish safety requirements, verification strategies, and evidence-generation plans to support future certification activities
• Collaborate with legal and policy teams to assess regulatory risks and inform long-term product strategy
• Represent the company in discussions with standards bodies, regulators, and external safety experts

Requirements

• Expertise in product safety, functional safety, or systems safety
• Deep knowledge of robotics safety and hazard analysis processes
• Experience in risk assessment and safety case development for complex systems
• Ability to navigate ambiguity in evolving regulatory and technological landscapes
• Strong ability to influence engineering decisions across multiple disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with safety standards such as ISO 10218, ISO 13849, IEC 61508, or ISO 12100
• Experience with safety-critical technologies like autonomous systems, medical devices, automotive, or aerospace
• Experience working directly with regulators, certification bodies, or industry working groups

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $342K – $468K plus equity and performance bonuses
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents) and caregiver leave
• Flexible PTO and multiple paid company holidays
• Daily meals in the office and mental health support
• Annual learning and development stipend

About the Company

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. Our Robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and pushing towards AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world settings by integrating cutting-edge hardware and software.