Director, System Safety

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Michigan.

📋 Description

• Lead a cross-functional team focusing on systems, test execution, and safety risk and process/Safety Management System (SMS).

• Drive the Driver-Out (DO) gated deployment strategy with key ride-hail partners (Lyft, Uber) — overseeing internal gating, conducting partner safety onsite assessments, and preparing recommendation packages to inform go/no-go decisions.

• Take ownership of the Safety Case Framework for May's Level 4 systems, including Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and runtime monitoring coverage for the Model Predictive Decision-Making (MPDM) stack, incorporating machine learning-aware safety analysis.

• Develop and implement the Safety Management System (SMS): incident risk assessment processes, automation of risk registers, recall response plans, safety gating test suites, and the Product Safety Competency Register.

• Establish safety architecture in collaboration with Autonomy, Validation, and Hardware teams to ensure safety-by-design across future releases (including scalable runtime monitoring, Operational Design Domain enforcement, and Driver-Anomaly response systems).

• Implement May's Level 4 compliance strategy for Japan — collaborate with the Systems & Japan Programs Manager and the Japan Regulatory Safety Engineer for partner engagement and bilingual regulator communication.

• Co-lead strategic partner safety onsite visits (e.g., Uber Safety Onsite cadence) alongside the VP, Safety & Validation; manage the technical narrative in OEM, ride-hail, and regulatory discussions.

• Recruit and onboard for open safety positions and cultivate the development of current leaders within the organization.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 8 years in product or system safety engineering, with at least 3 years focused on Level 3+ autonomous vehicles or similar high-tech safety initiatives (aviation, rail, robotics).

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline; an advanced degree is preferred.

• Proven experience in authoring safety case documentation (HARA, FTA, FMEA, safety case development) for a production vehicle or an equivalent cyber-physical program.

• Hands-on involvement in at least one driverless or driver-out commercial deployment milestone, being recognized in the safety recommendations.

• Over 3 years of experience managing engineers, including at least one role overseeing a manager or leading a team of senior individual contributors and prepared to transition to a manager-of-managers position.

• Experience engaging with regulators (NHTSA, FMCSA, FTA, state DMVs, MLIT, or equivalent international bodies) — either directly or in close collaboration with an executive sponsor.

• Familiarity with machine learning-driven safety standards (ISO 21448 SOTIF, ISO 8800) and traditional functional safety standards (ISO 26262) preferred.

• Experience in the Automotive, Autonomous Vehicle (AV), Aerospace, or another safety-critical regulated industry is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated success in a startup or small business environment where resources are limited, challenges are frequent, and outcomes are not always predictable.

• Strongly preferred: previous experience at an AV or AI-focused company with a comprehensive learned or machine learning-heavy autonomy stack.

• Preferred: background in contributing to a published safety assurance framework or runtime-monitoring methodology for learned components.

• Knowledge of the intersection between safety and cybersecurity (ISO/SAE 21434, NHTSA Cybersecurity Best Practices) is an advantage — May's product cyber and safety teams collaborate closely.

• Must be able to pass a driving record check.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare packages that include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage. Domestic partners who have cohabitated for at least one year are also eligible to enroll.

• Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care are available.

• Attractive retirement benefits featuring an immediately vested employer safe harbor match.

• Generous paid parental leave alongside a phased return-to-work program.

• Flexible vacation policy in addition to paid company holidays.

• A Total Wellness Program that offers a variety of resources to support overall well-being.