Functional Safety & AI - Technical Lead

We are supporting an advanced technology organisation seeking a Functional Safety for AI Technical Lead to shape the safe development and deployment of AI-enabled embedded systems.

This is a senior technical leadership position combining functional safety architecture, AI and machine learning, innovation delivery, and team leadership. You will turn a strategic Safety and AI roadmap into practical projects, ensuring new technologies can progress toward certification and real-world deployment.

The Role

You will lead the execution of AI safety activities across a portfolio of innovation projects. Working with specialists across safety, architecture, engineering, product introduction, and applications, you will define how AI-driven features behave safely within complex embedded systems.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Translating the Safety and AI roadmap into clearly defined innovation projects.
• Developing system safety concepts for AI-enabled features.
• Converting AI behaviour into safety requirements, controls, and verification mechanisms.
• Applying model validation, robustness testing, fault injection, and runtime safety mechanisms.
• Identifying technical or process gaps and feeding practical insights into the wider roadmap.
• Supporting the integration of standards such as ISO 8800 into development processes.
• Coordinating the transition of innovation projects into product introduction and application environments.
• Leading the Safety and AI innovation team, supporting performance and creating meaningful career development opportunities.
• Taking accountability for the successful delivery of complex, multidisciplinary programmes.

Your Background

• At least 10 years of industry experience architecting, designing, and validating safety-related embedded systems.
• Extensive knowledge of ISO 26262.
• Professional experience within an automotive environment.
• A strong understanding of the functional safety and AI landscape.
• A solid technical understanding of AI and machine learning in embedded systems.
• A track record of delivering complex technical projects.
• The ability to connect architecture, safety, and execution teams.
• A PhD or Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, or a closely aligned discipline.

Experience with IEC 61508 and previous people-management responsibility would be advantageous. Broader technical leadership experience is also highly valued.