What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Machine Safety Engineer (Functional Safety) position at LER TechForce?
Senior Machine Safety Engineer (Functional Safety)
Are you looking to work for a company that provides an innovative work environment where your voice is heard? We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Machine Safety Engineer (Functional Safety) to join our team and support a world-class manufacturing operation in Liberty, NC.
Who We Are
LER TechForce is an industry leader in embedded controls, software, functional safety, and engineering talent. For over 20 years, we've partnered with leading companies across North America to solve their most challenging engineering and technical resource needs.
What You Will Be Doing
As the Senior Machine Safety Engineer, you will serve as a technical authority for machine safety, industrial control systems, and functional safety compliance within a large-scale manufacturing environment. You will lead safety improvement initiatives, evaluate safety control systems, and ensure compliance with industry standards while working closely with operations, engineering teams, suppliers, and third-party validation partners.
Responsibilities
- Lead machine safety and functional safety projects from planning through implementation.
- Audit Safety Control Systems (SCS) for compliance with ISO 13849, ANSI B11, OSHA, and related standards.
- Identify safety-related gaps, non-conformities, and reliability concerns within machine control systems.
- Develop and implement countermeasures to achieve required control categories and performance levels.
- Review, troubleshoot, and modify Safety PLC logic and safety circuitry as required.
- Evaluate electrical schematics, machine safeguarding systems, and safety architectures.
- Manage third-party consultants and validation providers, ensuring technical accuracy and milestone achievement.
- Conduct field audits and verify safety-related design modifications.
- Develop project schedules, KPIs, milestone tracking, and executive-level status reporting.
- Provide technical mentorship and support to Control Reliability and engineering teams.
- Support manufacturing operations during shutdowns, launches, and critical troubleshooting events.
What You'll Need to Be Successful
Required Qualifications
- 7 years of experience in machine safety, industrial controls, automation, manufacturing engineering, or functional safety.
- TÜV Functional Safety Engineer certification or equivalent functional safety credential (must be listed on resume).
- Strong knowledge of ISO 13849-1, ANSI B11, OSHA requirements, and machine safeguarding principles.
- Hands-on experience reviewing, troubleshooting, modifying, and validating Safety PLC logic.
- Experience with industrial automation systems and machine control architectures.
- Strong technical problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
- Associate's Degree or higher in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Automation, Electrical Technology, or a related field.
- Ability to support off-shift, weekend, holiday, and plant shutdown activities as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience conducting machine risk assessments.
- Knowledge of FMEA/FMEDA methodologies.
- Experience with one or more of the following platforms:
- Allen-Bradley GuardLogix
- Siemens TIA Portal / Safety
- Omron Sysmac Safety
- Keyence GC Configurator
- Toyopuc PCWin Safe
What You'll Get
- Competitive compensation
- Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
- HSA and FSA options
- 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
- Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Discount Programs
- Technical Training and Leadership Development opportunities
- The opportunity to work on industry-leading manufacturing and automation projects
If you're a seasoned machine safety professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and driving safety excellence in a manufacturing environment, we'd love to hear from you.