Applied Methods
~The MetaPhysical SystemsSystems Safety Engineer

Systems Safety Engineer

Systems Safety Engineers at autonomous vehicle and robotics companies conduct comprehensive hazard analyses, risk assessments, and functional safety evaluations to ensure AI-driven systems operate safely in real-world environments. They lead cross-functional efforts to define safety requirements, develop mitigation strategies, and verify that implemented controls effectively reduce risk across hardware, software, and operational domains. What distinguishes this role is its focus on safety-critical AI systems where failures can directly impact human safety, requiring deep engagement with international standards like ISO 26262 and continuous validation against field data. These engineers typically embed within dedicated safety teams, working alongside product, engineering, and regulatory stakeholders to navigate novel safety challenges in emerging autonomous technologies.

$ titles --canonical
System Safety EngineerSystems Safety EngineerFunctional Safety EngineerSafety Systems ArchitectSafety EngineerRisk Management EngineerField Safety EngineerSenior System Safety Engineer
Open Jobs21
Companies Hiring8
$ expectations --role systems-safety-engineer

Measured across 20 of 21 open postings.

15%
expect AI in the role's own work
5% state it as a requirement
0%
work directly with customers
0%
manage people
Mid
most common level
40% of open postings
WHAT THEY ASK FOR, VERBATIM

“Assess risks introduced by AI model updates and retraining cycles, including regression of safety-critical behaviors”

Rhoda · Senior System Engineer- AI Safety

“Drive the integration of safety case claims related to design and development processes, such as those related to: software development best practices, launch reviews, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) safety.”

Waymo · Safety Case Research - Product Development Lead

“Machine learning (e.g., integrating ML models into simulation and test environments)”

Helsing · Software Engineer - Autonomous Air System V&V
$02

Skills

What companies are looking for in this role.

$ skills --core

Functional safety engineering

75%

Threat modeling and architecture review

35%

Quality management systems

30%

Compliance program management

25%

Hardware test and validation

20%

Hardware and embedded systems

20%

Reliability and failure analysis

20%

Regulatory compliance and document control

15%

Simulation and physical modeling

15%

Incident response and reliability

10%

Research experiment design

10%

Security engineering

10%

Statistical modeling and uncertainty

10%

Systems performance optimization

10%

Design for manufacturability

10%
$ skills --emerging

AI autonomy safety assurance

80%

Robotics systems engineering

20%

AI risk and safety evaluation

10%
$ skills --soft

Cross-functional collaboration

40%

Technical communication

25%

Technical documentation

15%

Mentoring and code review

10%
$03

Technology

The tools and technologies that define this role.

$ tech --language
Pythonmoderate
SQLlow
$ tech --concept
CADlow
Simulationlow
$04

Open Jobs

21 open Systems Safety Engineer jobs across 8 companies.

OpenAI3d
Lead Safety Engineer, Robotics
San Francisco·Physical Systems
Crusoe1w
Safety Engineer
Arvada, CO - US·Physical Systems
Helsing1w
(Senior) Systems Safety Engineer - Land
Munich·Physical Systems
Waymo2w
System Safety Engineer, Strategic Programs & Integration
Mountain View, CA, USA, Kirkland, WA, USA·Physical Systems
Shield AI3w
Mission Assurance Lead (R5896)
Dallas, Texas·Physical Systems
Waabi4w
Staff Systems Engineer - Safety Methodologies
Remote US & Canada·Physical Systems
Rhoda1mo
Senior Hardware Reliability Engineer
Mountain View·Physical Systems
Helsing2mo
Safety Manager (System Safety)
Munich - Berlin·Physical Systems
Waabi2mo
Staff Systems Engineer, Embedded Safety & Architecture
San Francisco, CA·Physical Systems
xAI2mo
Fire Protection Engineer - Memphis
Memphis, TN·Physical Systems
Waymo2mo
Safety Engineer - Risk Management
Mountain View CA USA; San Francisco CA USA·Physical Systems
Waymo2mo
Vehicle Systems Safety
Mountain View CA USA; San Francisco CA USA; Kirkland WA USA·Physical Systems
Rhoda3mo
Staff Robotics System Safety Engineer
Mountain View·Physical Systems
Rhoda3mo
Senior System Engineer- AI Safety
Mountain View·Physical Systems
Waymo4mo
Safety Case Research - Product Development Lead
Mountain View, CA, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA·Physical Systems
Waymo5mo
System Safety Engineer, Operations & Fleet Response
Mountain View, CA, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kirkland, WA, USA·Physical Systems
Waymo6mo
Senior System Safety Engineer, Operations & Fleet Response
Mountain View, CA, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Seattle, WA, USA·Physical Systems
Helsing6mo
(Senior) Systems Safety Engineer - Air
Munich·Physical Systems
Rhoda7mo
Senior System Safety Engineer- Robot Stability
Mountain View·Physical Systems
Helsing7mo
Software Engineer - Frontend Autonomous Air System V&V
Berlin; Munich·Physical Systems