Functional Safety Architect

191 Altera Corporation; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 149,100 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Altera is seeking a Functional Safety Architect to lead safety activities across semiconductor and IP development for avionics, space, defense, automotive, and industrial markets.

You will own device safety architecture, guide teams, and deliver safety collaterals and certifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field with extensive silicon industry experience.
• 7+ years of safety professional experience including certifications (FSCP, FS Professional).
• 7+ years of device certification experience for ASICs/PLDs/CPUs with EXIDA/TUeV or equivalent.
• 7+ years of experience with SysML, FMEA/FMEDA, FTA, HAZOP and requirements-management tooling.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Architects, Silicon Design, Software teams to architect new safety concepts and safety mechanism features and guide future development.
• Perform safety analyses (FTA, FMEA, DFA) against CCF, CF to ensure FFI, independence & fault tolerance requirements are met.
• Define safety architecture techniques (lockstep CPUs, ECC memories, watchdogs, redundancy).
• Review and contribute to writing safety requirement specifications with FSEs.
• Guide teams on ASIL/SIL decomposition, fault tolerance, diagnostics coverage, etc.
• Review hardware/software safety designs for compliance and feasibility.
• Collaborate with design verification teams to define safety V&V strategy (fault injection, fault simulation, test methodologies).
• Ensure achievement of diagnostic coverage metrics (SPFM, LFM, PMHF).
• Document and present defensible safety case evidences aligned with IEC 61508, ISO 26262 ensuring clarity and traceability for stakeholders and assessors.
• Perform safety manager role on certain projects to meet management expectations per standard.
• Support process related activities in achieving systematic capability (SIL3/ASIL D).

Skills

Functional Safety

Safety analyses

System architecture

Customer engagement

Education

Bachelor's / Master's in Electrical Engineering

FSCP / FS Professional certification

Experience certifying devices (EXIDA/TÜV)

Tools

SysML

FMEA/FMEDA

FTA

HAZOP

Jama

Job description

About Altera

Altera™, the world's largest pure‑play FPGA solutions provider, leverages its independence to innovate quickly across markets such as AI, cloud, networking, and edge. With over four decades of FPGA expertise, Altera's mission is to deliver programmable technologies that enable customers to scale and differentiate.

About the Role

Altera is hiring a Functional Safety Architect to lead functional safety activities across semiconductor and IP development projects for Avionics, Space, Defense, Automotive, and Industrial market segments. The Architect will own device safety architecture and guide teams in achieving safety goals, develop safety concepts, allocate requirements to IP sub‑blocks, and collaborate with architects, IP owners, RTL designers, physical designers, firmware, verification teams, and external stakeholders to deliver safety collaterals and certifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Architects, Silicon Design, Software teams to architect new safety concepts and safety mechanism features and guide future development.
• Perform safety analyses (FTA, FMEA, DFA) against CCF, CF to ensure FFI, independence & fault tolerance requirements are met.
• Define safety architecture techniques (lockstep CPUs, ECC memories, watchdogs, redundancy).
• Review and contribute to writing safety requirement specifications with FSEs.
• Guide teams on ASIL/SIL decomposition, fault tolerance, diagnostics coverage, etc.
• Review hardware/software safety designs for compliance and feasibility.
• Collaborate with design verification teams to define safety V&V strategy (fault injection, fault simulation, test methodologies).
• Ensure achievement of diagnostic coverage metrics (SPFM, LFM, PMHF).
• Document and present defensible safety case evidences aligned with IEC 61508, ISO 26262 ensuring clarity and traceability for stakeholders and assessors.
• Perform safety manager role on certain projects to meet management expectations per standard.
• Support process related activities in achieving systematic capability (SIL3/ASIL D).

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field + 10 years silicon industry experience or MS + 8 years of silicon industry experience.
• 7+ years of safety professional experience, including possessing certifications (e.g., FSCP, FS Professional license).
• 7+ years of experience in certifying devices from concept through certification for ASICs/PLDs/CPUs with EXIDA, TUeV or Equivalent.
• 7+ years of experience with SysML, FMEA/FMEDA, FTA, HAZOP and requirements‑management tooling (e.g., Jama).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with RTL coding and simulations/debug of SoC architectures.
• Desire to develop deep understanding of end user needs and engage customers to enable SoC use in safety design applications.
• Desire to commit and follow through on complex, multi‑year programs.
• Ability to resolve complex issues creatively, efficiently, and effectively.
• Hands‑on experience with creating safety documents (Safety Cases, Safety Management Plans, Safety Manuals) is a plus.
• Functional Safety Management (safety manager) experience in achieving systematic capability SC3/ASIL D is a plus.
• US Citizenship is a plus.

Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations.

Salary Range

The pay range below is for Bay Area, California only. Actual salary may vary based on location, job‑related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. Incentive opportunities reward employees based on individual and company performance.

$149,100 - $215,000 USD

Job Type

Regular

Shift

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location

San Jose, California, United States

EEO 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.