Functional Safety Manager - Aerospace, Defense & Government

Job Description:

About Altera

At Altera™, our independence as the world’s largest pure‑play FPGA solutions provider gives us the focus, speed, and agility to innovate without compromise. With more than four decades of industry‑leading FPGA expertise, our singular mission is to deliver the programmable technologies that help customers differentiate, innovate, and scale across rapidly evolving markets like AI, cloud, networking, and edge. As an independent company, we move faster, invest deeper, and partner more closely—empowering our teams to drive breakthrough innovation and shape the future of the FPGA industry.

About the Role

Altera is seeking an ADG (Aerospace, Defense, and Government) Functional Safety Manager to lead customer-facing & cross-functional safety engagements focused on programmable logic and adaptive compute platforms in the Aerospace, Defense and Government (ADG) market implementing mission-critical and long-life systems.

This role is responsible for ensuring that all safety and certification objectives in DO-254 (Hardware), DO-178C (Software where applicable), and AC 20-152A (Complex COTS/Custom Microcoded Components) are achieved throughout the program lifecycle.

This role focuses on helping defense contractors and aerospace partners with collaterals to enable DO-254, DO-178C, AC 20-152A certifications for Design Assurance Level (DAL) A - D type applications.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Manager (ADG Focus)

• Lead Functional Safety program (ADG focus) execution for enablement of customer design wins.
• Oversee software (microcode) safety and certification efforts aligned with RTCA DO‑178C.
• Manage compliance with AC 20‑152A for FPGAs
• Develop and decompose safety requirements with full bidirectional traceability.
• Drive execution of hardware safety analyses (FMEA, FMECA, FMEDA, FTA, CCA, DFA, FFI).
• Ensure verification meets DO‑254 and DO‑178C objectives.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or government programs
• Experience working directly with customers in a technical or advisory capacity.
• Release & Maintain ADG safety package for ADG customers
• Oversee tool assessment and qualification per DO‑330.
• Mentor engineering teams on safety and design assurance to ADG requirements
• Translate customer use cases, mission requirements, regulatory requirements, and safety analyses into clear FPGA safety collateral deliverables part of Product Lifecycle Management.
• Support engagements involving sensitive or controlled program constraints
• Engage with senior technical and business stakeholders, including architects, safety teams, and executives

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide customer-driven feedback into Altera’s FPGA product safety roadmaps
• Share ADG market insights, regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and program requirements with internal teams
• Collaborate with internal safety, engineering, and product stakeholders

Salary Range

The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.

$149,100 - $215,900 USD

*We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations.*

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Aerospace, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 5 years aerospace/defense hardware or software safety & reliability experience.
• 5 years of hands‑on DO‑254 certification experience (DAL A/B preferred).
• 5 years of experience with DO‑178C, DO‑330, AC 20‑152A, IEC 61508, ISO 26262

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with FAA/EASA or MIL‑STD safety processes.
• Background in FPGA/ASIC/SoC architecture and verification.
• Familiarity with AS9100 QMS.
• Safety certifications (FSCP, TÜV FS Professional).
• Experience leading multi‑year, safety‑critical programs in ADG space.
• Experience in Industrial Automation and Automotive market segment is a plus.

Job Type:

Regular

Shift:

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location:

San Jose, California, United States

Additional Locations:

Posting Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.