The Functional Safety Engineer is a technical role responsible for managing functional safety activities across the full safety lifecycle for industrial automation and controls projects. This role will serve as Altec’s subject matter expert in functional safety, supporting the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safety-related control systems and engineering practices across the organization.
This position plays a critical role in ensuring that safety is integrated into all phases of engineering design, system architecture, software, commissioning, and validation. Working closely with Controls Engineers, Project Managers, customers, and third-party stakeholders, the Functional Safety Engineer will support the development of compliant, reliable, and practical safety solutions for industrial automation systems within Altec’s industries and applications.
This role requires a strong systems-thinking mindset, practical industrial automation experience, and the ability to balance compliance, operational realities, and engineering innovation within custom-engineered environments.
The successful candidate will help strengthen Altec’s internal functional safety capabilities, support the development of standardized engineering practices, and provide technical mentorship to engineering teams.
Key Responsibilities:
- Functional Safety Leadership: Develop, implement, and maintain Functional Safety Management (FSM) plans, procedures, and engineering practices across projects and divisions. Ensure compliance with applicable functional safety standards including IEC 61508, IEC 62061, ISO 13849, and other relevant regulatory requirements while serving as Altec’s internal functional safety authority and technical resource.
- Safety Lifecycle Ownership: Lead and oversee all phases of the functional safety lifecycle including hazard and risk assessments, Safety Requirements Specifications (SRS), SIL/PL determination, safety architecture development, verification and validation activities, and functional safety assessments. Ensure traceability between identified hazards, safety requirements, implemented safety functions, and validation activities throughout the project lifecycle.
- Risk Assessments & Hazard Reduction: Lead machine risk assessments and risk reduction activities for industrial machinery and automation systems utilizing methodologies such as HAZOP, FMEA, LOPA, and machine safety assessments. Develop practical and maintainable safety solutions that align with regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and operational realities.
- Engineering & Technical Leadership: Provide technical leadership and guidance related to the design of safety-related control systems. Review and approve safety-related calculations, system designs, and engineering documentation while supporting troubleshooting and resolution of complex technical challenges.
- System Integration, Testing & Validation: Support system integration, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, and validation activities to ensure safety systems perform as intended and meet project and regulatory requirements. Collaborate closely with engineering and project teams to integrate safety into overall machine and system functionality.
- Regulatory Compliance & Customer Support: Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, customer, and industry safety requirements including CE, OSHA, and local codes where applicable. Interface with customers, third-party assessors, integrators, and regulatory bodies to support technical reviews, audits, compliance discussions, and certification activities.
- Training, Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Develop and deliver functional safety training, guidance, and mentorship to engineering and technical teams. Support the ongoing development of internal functional safety knowledge, standardized engineering practices, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.
- Continuous Improvement & Standardization: Support the development and continuous improvement of engineering standards, safety documentation practices, validation procedures, and internal safety processes to strengthen Altec’s overall functional safety capabilities and consistency across projects.
- Industry Standards & Best Practices: Maintain awareness of evolving functional safety standards, technologies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices to support continuous improvement and innovation across Altec’s engineering and safety programs.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechatronics, Instrumentation, or related Engineering discipline
- Licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in British Columbia
- Functional Safety certification (e.g., TÜV Functional Safety Engineer/Expert)
- Minimum 5 years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or electrical system design
- Minimum 3 years of practical experience in the areas of Functional Safety
- Demonstrated experience leading or supporting functional safety lifecycle activities within industrial or OEM environments
- Strong hands-on experience with safety PLCs, industrial control systems, servo systems, and machine safety applications
- Experience with SIL (Safety Integrity Level) and/or PL (Performance Level) determination and validation methodologies
- Strong understanding of:
- IEC 61508 / IEC 62061
- ISO 13849-1
- Risk assessment methodologies (HAZOP, FMEA, LOPA, machine risk assessments)
- Industrial control architectures and communication networks
- Excellent technical documentation, communication, and project coordination skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across engineering, operations, project management, and customer teams
- Strong organizational and leadership skills with the ability to support multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
