Sr Dir, System Safety & Validation

We are CARIAD, an automotive software development team with the Volkswagen Group. Our mission is to make the automotive experience safer, more sustainable, more comfortable, more digital, and more fun. To achieve that we are building the leading tech stack for the automotive industry and creating a unified software platform for over 10 million new vehicles per year. We’re looking for talented, digital minds like you to help us create code that moves the world. Together with you, we’ll build outstanding digital experiences and products for all Volkswagen Group brands that will transform mobility. Join us as we shape the future of the car and everyone around it. 

Role Summary 

The role is responsible for bootstrapping and leading a team to define & implement the hardware & software safety methods & processes as part of CARIAD’s next generation Software defined Vehicle Operating System (SDV-OS) across the Infotainment, ADAS & Controls domains. 

The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with extensive experience in a safety critical industry, particularly with safety-critical software development standards, software safety fault/hazard analysis, and requirements-driven software verification and validation strategies.  A demonstrated proficiency in the application of ISO 26262 (FuSa) / 21448 (SOTIF) or equivalently applicable international standards is required.  The role is part of CARIAD’s senior technical team and involves interfacing with multiple stakeholders across the VW Group. 

Role Responsibilities  

• Closely collaborate with engineering, product, and operations integrating product and safety measures seamlessly into the product development lifecycle. 
• Improve upon Cariad’s overall product safety strategy while leading the continuous improvement of safety protocols and policies in alignment with industry best practices. 
• Promote a culture of product safety first by ensuring that product safety considerations are integral to decision-making at all levels of the software organization. 
• Drive product safety roadmaps in compliance with existing standards (e.g. EU UNR 155 / 156, ISO 21434, ISO 26262, etc.) with flexibility for future compliance and best practice requirements. 
• Help develop the Product Safety Incident Response Steering team to guide the programs growth and provide leadership and directions for significant deviation events that may impact compliance status or present significant business risk. 
• Represent Cariad externally as the spokesperson on product safety topics. 
• Take an adversary perspective on how our products can be misused and identify reasonable countermeasures for the next generation of safety threats. 
• Work with outside consultants to improve and pressure-test our product safety plans and processes. 
• Champion, foster and model a cultural shift towards a high-tech software approach to vehicle program software development across Cariad 
• Build an SDV Hub organization that will establish new methods to deliver software and vehicle architectures efficiently and at an accelerated pace to meet the needs of future vehicle programs. This team will: 
• Collaborate with each of the major VW/Audi Group brands to deliver validation and homologation strategies to meet timeline goals for two upcoming vehicle platforms 
• Develop an understanding of existing processes and architectures within each business segment 
• Reshape software architecture to optimize efficiencies and curate high-tech best practices into all processes, methods and resources  
• Deliver a new flexible architecture framework to support multiple future vehicle programs 
• Partner with internal and external safety experts to assess, validate and certify the vehicle safety functions 

Years of Experience 

•  15+ years of hands-on experience in System Safety 

Required Education 

• BS in Computer Science or a related field 

Desired Education 

• MS/PhD in computer science or a related field 

Skills: 

• Experienced developing, implementing, advising, and/or managing safety programs and teams in the Automotive industry. 
• Prior engineering management experience shipping complex software and products. 
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with cross functional partnerships. 
• Familiarity with relevant standards and regulations. 
• Experience working internationally and with remote organizations. 
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships/trust and to work across multiple business segments to drive common goals, find opportunities to refine processes and adjust priorities based on shifting business climate and resources  
• Executive level communication skills