Director, Functional Safety & Product Cybersecurity

Polaris Inc; Wyoming (MN); On-site; USD 155,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Polaris Inc. is seeking a senior leader to guide the Functional Safety and Product Cybersecurity organization across multiple sites.

You will shape risk-based safety and cybersecurity strategies, translate technical risk for executives, and drive cross-functional collaboration with product engineering, quality, and compliance teams. This leadership role requires extensive experience in safety methods and regulatory standards, with a focus on scalable capability growth and program execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Systems, or Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in product development, embedded systems, systems, software, electronics, Functional Safety, Product Cybersecurity, or a related engineering discipline, including a minimum of 5 years leading teams or complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven track record making and influencing risk-based decisions, translating technical risk for business leaders, developing talent, building capability, and leading change.
• Practical experience applying Functional Safety and Product Cybersecurity methods, including hazard and risk analysis, requirements, architecture, standards, and risk treatment throughout the product lifecycle.
• Experience with ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, HARA, TARA, embedded or connected products, or safety-related industries is preferred.
• Familiarity with secure product development, requirements management, ASPICE, AUTOSAR, DevSecOps, or comparable approaches is preferred.
• Experience building or scaling engineering capability is strongly preferred.
• This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and grow the Functional Safety and Product Cybersecurity organization across sites and engineering disciplines.
• Own hiring, coaching, performance management, resource planning, succession planning, and capability development for the organization.
• Partner with Chief Engineers and technical experts to translate technical strategy into clear priorities, plans, and execution.
• Continue to improve risk-based, fit-for-purpose safety and cybersecurity approaches aligned with Polaris products, customers, markets, production scale, and operating conditions.
• Balance safety and cybersecurity risk, regulatory requirements, customer value, complexity, cost, and speed when guiding engineering and business decisions.
• Improve methods, tools, automation, governance, measures, and product coverage while maintaining an appropriate balance of rigor and efficiency.
• Build alignment across product engineering, business units, systems, electrical, software, validation, quality, compliance, legal, supply chain, and senior leadership.
• Translate complex product safety and cybersecurity risks into clear engineering and business decisions, distinguishing required actions, meaningful risk reduction, and proportionate responses.
• Integrate Functional Safety and Product Cybersecurity throughout the product lifecycle by prioritizing resources, providing early architecture and program input, and driving issue resolution and escalation.
• Ensure appropriate application of ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, and applicable regulatory requirements, and manage plans, budgets, commitments, support, roadmaps, and measures.

Skills

Leadership

Critical Thinking

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Systems, or Software Engineering

Tools

ASPICE

AUTOSAR

DevSecOps

Job description

Polaris Inc. is seeking a senior leader to guide the Functional Safety and Product Cybersecurity organization across multiple sites.

You will shape risk-based safety and cybersecurity strategies, translate technical risk for executives, and drive cross-functional collaboration with product engineering, quality, and compliance teams. This leadership role requires extensive experience in safety methods and regulatory standards, with a focus on scalable capability growth and program execution.