Field Ai5mo ago

USD 70000–300000/yr

Director of Safety Engineering, Robotics & Autonomous Systems

United States·IrvineFull timeexecutive

Data ScienceOtherDirectorSystems

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Quick Summary

Overview

Field AI builds autonomous robotic systems designed to operate in complex, unstructured, and safety-critical real-world environments. Our robots work alongside humans in outdoor settings where uncertainty, scale, and operational risk are fundamental challenges.

Technical Tools

Data ScienceOtherDirectorSystems

Field AI builds autonomous robotic systems designed to operate in complex, unstructured, and safety-critical real-world environments. Our robots work alongside humans in outdoor settings where uncertainty, scale, and operational risk are fundamental challenges. Safety is a core product capability at Field AI. As our systems transition from advanced R&D into scaled field deployment, we are seeking a Director of Robotics Product Safety to define and lead the company’s product safety vision, strategy, and execution.

As Director of Robotics Product Safety, you will own Field AI’s end-to-end product safety function. You will set the safety strategy for autonomous robotic systems, establish scalable safety processes, and serve as the executive-level authority on product safety across the organization. This role combines deep technical judgment, systems safety leadership, and cross-functional influence. You will work closely with executive leadership, engineering, operations, and external stakeholders to ensure Field AI’s robots are safe, deployable, and trusted in the field.

Safety Strategy & Leadership

Define and own Field AI’s product safety vision, strategy, and roadmap

Establish company-wide safety principles, policies, and governance for robotic systems

Act as the executive point of contact for product safety decisions and risk acceptance

Balance innovation speed with rigorous, risk-based safety practices

System, Autonomy & AI Safety Oversight

Provide technical leadership on system-level safety for autonomous robotic platforms

Guide safety approaches for:

Autonomous navigation, perception, and planning

Human–robot interaction in field environments

Fault tolerance, degraded modes, and fail-safe behaviors

Oversee safety treatment of AI/ML-driven components, including uncertainty and edge cases

Review and approve safety architectures, concepts, and safety cases

Cross-Functional & Executive Collaboration

Partner with leaders across:

Autonomy, perception, software, hardware, and systems engineering

Field operations, deployment, and customer programs

Influence product architecture and roadmap decisions through a safety lens

Provide clear, actionable guidance to executives on safety risks, tradeoffs, and mitigations

Standards, Compliance & External Engagement

Own Field AI’s approach to safety standards, regulatory alignment, and compliance

Guide interpretation and application of relevant standards (e.g., ISO 12100, IEC 61508, ISO 13849, ISO 10218)

Lead engagements with customers, partners, regulators, and third-party assessors

Ensure safety arguments are credible, defensible, and scalable across products

Team Building & Organizational Scale

Build, lead, and mentor a high-impact product safety team

Define roles, responsibilities, and career growth paths for safety engineers

Establish scalable safety processes that integrate naturally with engineering workflows

Champion a strong safety culture without slowing execution

Field Risk & Incident Management

Provide executive oversight for:

Field deployment risk assessmentsIncident response, investigations, and corrective actions

Define thresholds for risk acceptance and deployment readiness

Ensure lessons learned from the field are systematically fed back into product design

Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Systems Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, or Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience

10+ years of experience in robotics, autonomous systems, product safety, or functional safety

Proven experience leading system-level safety for complex electromechanical and software-driven products

Track record of influencing architecture and product decisions at a senior level

Deep understanding of real-world robotics deployment risks

Strategic thinker with strong technical judgment

Able to make and defend difficult safety decisions under uncertainty

Credible with both executives and hands-on engineers

Pragmatic, risk-based, and outcome-focused

Passionate about deploying safe autonomy in the real world

Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field

Experience with autonomous mobile robots, outdoor robotics, or defense-adjacent systems

Functional Safety certification (e.g., TÜV Functional Safety Engineer)

Experience interfacing with regulators, customers, and safety assessors

Background in AI/ML-enabled systems and autonomy safety

Location & Eligibility

Where is the job

Irvine, United States

On-site at the office

Who can apply

Listed under

United States

Listing Details

Posted: December 16, 2025
First seen: March 26, 2026
Last seen: May 17, 2026

Posting Health

Days active: 51
Repost count: 0
Trust Level: 42%
Scored at: May 17, 2026

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Field Ai

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Field AI develops field-proven embodied artificial intelligence (AI) technology, specifically Field Foundation Models™ (FFMs), to enable robots to operate autonomously in complex, real-world environments across various industries.

Employees

Founded

2023

Domain

fieldai.com

Jobs

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Salary

USD 70000–300000

per year

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