1403_Head of Safety Strategy

[Background] To become a platformer in the autonomous driving field and provide solutions for Level 4 service realization, it is essential that TIER IV’s solutions possess safety assurances recognized globally. We are seeking a leader to establish the framework for explaining the safety of our organization, products, and processes.

[Job Content] You will be responsible for coordinating the formulation and implementation of a global-standard safety strategy. This involves establishing a Safety Management System (SMS) that integrates all elements of the organization, product, and process, and translating this into organizational activities that enable the creation of Safety Cases for individual products or projects.

Specific Responsibilities:

SMS Establishment: Lead the development of strategic and tactical Safety Management System (SMS) implementation plans. Define the ideal state of SMS based on the current status and clarify the gap between the current state and the ideal.

Safety Case Framework: Build the organizational capability to create Safety Cases that explain the safety of individual products and projects. Establish a working structure to identify logical gaps and evidence needs for the safety case for continuous improvements.

Gap Analysis & Execution: Identify gaps in current SMS and Safety Cases; prioritize activities to address them and build an execution structure in collaboration with other departments (D&T, DevOps, etc.).

Stakeholder Consensus: Gain consensus among internal stakeholders, partners, and customers on safety definitions and risk acceptance strategies using the established SMS and Safety Case frameworks.

Global Benchmarking and activity promotion: Research global standards for SMS and Safety Cases to ensure our policy is aligned with industry best practices and promote TIER IV’s safety activities globally.

[Challenges / Rewarding Aspects]

Global Impact: You will shape the company wide safety strategy in a high-paced and interdisciplinary environment aiming to be a global platformer for L4 autonomous driving, ensuring our technology is trusted worldwide.

Strategic Leadership: This role moves beyond execution into defining "How" organizational safety is managed, directly influencing the company's ability to deploy services. You will be working with first-in-class colleagues of various functions on a daily basis.

Cross-Functional Influence: You will act as the bridge between engineering, operations, and external stakeholders, creating the "Safety Logic" that underpins our commercial success.

・10+ years of experience in safety-critical industries (Automotive, Aviation, Nuclear, Medical Devices, etc.).
・Proven experience with Safety Management Systems (SMS): Developing, implementing, and maintaining SMS frameworks and policies.
・Safety Case Experience: Experience developing technical safety cases, argument structures (GSN), and evidence collection for complex systems.
・Standards Knowledge: Deep knowledge of relevant safety standards such as, but not limited to, ISO 26262, ISO 21448 (SOTIF), UL 4600, and STPA methods.
・Strategic Planning: Ability to perform gap analyses between current capabilities and regulatory/industry requirements and act on the identified gaps collaboratively with leaders of various organizations and teams within the company and with external partners.

・Advanced Degree: Master’s or PhD in Engineering, Robotics, or a related discipline.
・AI/ML Safety: Familiarity with safety challenges specific to AI/ML-based perception and decision-making systems.
・Certifications: PMP, SMP, or functional safety certification (e.g., CFSE/CFSP).
・Audit Experience: Experience leading internal or 3rd party safety assurance activities or audits

・Ambiguity Tolerance: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and create structure from ambiguity.
・Collaborative Leader: A team player who works effectively across functional boundaries (Engineering, Legal, Operations) and can mentor peers.
・Excellent Communicator: Excellent skills in conveying (both verbal and written) complex safety arguments to both technical and non-technical stakeholders (including customers and regulators).