Machine Safety Engineer

Critical Systems Analysis, LLC; Township X (SD); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

HSA program

Medical, dental, vision, life, and/or

Job summary

CSA is hiring Machine Safety Engineers to work on industrial and automation system safety, applying ISO 12100 and ISO 13849 to machinery environments. Staff will serve as hands-on technical leads for risk assessments, while Senior roles will lead safety programs and client engagements across projects.

Two complementary profiles exist: On-site Risk Assessor and Risk Assessment Documentation and Planning Coordinator. Extensive travel is required, with remote work possible after initial engagements.

Qualifications

• 5–25 years of Safety Engineer experience in machinery or automation.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 12100 and ISO 13849.
• Experience documenting risk assessments and safety plans.
• Proven ability to lead safety programs and mentor engineers.

Responsibilities

• Perform on-site machine risk assessments in accordance with ISO 12100 and ISO 13849, including hazard identification, risk estimation, and risk evaluation.
• Document risk assessment findings, including hazard logs, assessment reports, and recommended risk reduction measures.
• Plan and coordinate risk assessment activities, including scoping, scheduling, and client coordination.
• Specify and review safety functions and performance levels (PL) for machinery and control systems in line with ISO 13849.
• Lead and manage safety programs for industrial automation and machinery projects, including project definition, budget compliance, schedule adherence, and reporting.
• Develop project plans, coordinate teams, and guide clients through the safety lifecycle.
• Review and interpret safety regulations, standards, and best practices related to machine safety and automation.
• Support clients in achieving conformity with applicable directives and standards, including Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (where applicable) and OSHA requirements.
• Apply IEC 61508 functional safety principles where relevant to machinery and industrial control systems.
• Provide consulting and training to clients on machine safety design, control reliability, and safety lifecycle implementation.
• Mentor and train junior engineers in risk assessment and standard application.
• Represent the company at industry events through technical presentations, publications, and networking.

Skills

Risk assessment leadership

Safety engineering

Communication

On-site inspection

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, or Industrial Engineering

Tools

ISO 12100

ISO 13849

IEC 61508

FTA

RBD

Safety PLCs

Job description

Employment: Full-time, contract, and part-time contracting positions available

Locations: Positions available in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia

CSA is hiring Machine Safety Engineers at two levels, a Staff role for engineers with 5–15 years of experience and a Senior role for those with 15+ years. Both work on industrial and automation system safety, applying ISO 12100 and ISO 13849 to machinery and manufacturing environments. The Staff role is a hands‑on technical lead for risk assessments and safety design, while the Senior role leads safety programs, client engagements, and technical direction across projects. Candidates should indicate which level they are applying for.

Summary

As a Machine Safety Engineer, you will serve as the subject matter expert for industrial and automation system safety. You will focus on on‑site machine risk assessments, applying ISO 12100 and ISO 13849 to identify hazards, assess risk, and specify risk reduction measures for machinery and manufacturing environments. You will also lead technical aspects and provide team leadership for safety engineering projects, guiding design teams and supporting clients in meeting international machine safety requirements. Two Ways to Contribute We are hiring for two complementary profiles. Applicants may be a strong fit for one or both.

• On‑site Risk Assessor: Travels to existing client sites to perform machine risk assessments, observe equipment and operations, and document hazards in the field.
• Risk Assessment Documentation and Planning Coordinator: Documents risk assessment findings and coordinates the planning needed to carry out risk assessments, including scheduling, scoping, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Perform on‑site machine risk assessments in accordance with ISO 12100 and ISO 13849, including hazard identification, risk estimation, and risk evaluation.
• Document risk assessment findings, including hazard logs, assessment reports, and recommended risk reduction measures.
• Plan and coordinate risk assessment activities, including scoping, scheduling, and client coordination.
• Specify and review safety functions and performance levels (PL) for machinery and control systems in line with ISO 13849.
• Lead and manage safety programs for industrial automation and machinery projects, including project definition, budget compliance, schedule adherence, and reporting.
• Develop project plans, coordinate teams, and guide clients through the safety lifecycle.
• Review and interpret safety regulations, standards, and best practices related to machine safety and automation.
• Support clients in achieving conformity with applicable directives and standards, including Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (where applicable) and OSHA requirements.
• Apply IEC 61508 functional safety principles where relevant to machinery and industrial control systems.
• Provide consulting and training to clients on machine safety design, control reliability, and safety lifecycle implementation.
• Mentor and train junior engineers in risk assessment and standard application.
• Represent the company at industry events through technical presentations, publications, and networking.

Qualifications

• 5–25 years of experience as a Safety Engineer, with a focus on machinery, automation, or industrial control systems.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 12100 and ISO 13849, including their application to control systems, safety PLCs, and risk reduction measures.
• Experience performing or supporting machine risk assessments, including hazard identification and risk estimation.
• Experience developing safety documentation, including risk assessment reports, hazard logs, verification reports, and validation protocols.
• Deep expertise in technical safety analysis, including fault tree analysis (FTA) and reliability block diagrams (RBD).
• Working knowledge of IEC 61508 and its relationship to machine and process safety.
• Familiarity with safety‑rated components, safety PLCs, and control circuit architectures.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly, both in writing and verbally.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, or Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

Preferred

• Functional Safety Engineer (TÜV, Exida, or equivalent certification) with emphasis on ISO 13849 or IEC 61508.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Work Environment

Extensive travel is required for the first few months until the on‑site risk assessments are complete. After that, work will be remote. Travel is occasional and may include client facilities, industrial sites, or test environments as required.

Benefits

Benefits apply to full‑time hires only. Contract and part‑time contracting positions are also available.

• Flexible scheduling.
• Company-matched 401(k).
• Company-matched HSA available.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance coverage.
• Generous PTO.

About CSA

CSA is a small safety consulting company that focuses on the rail, robotics, and industrial automation industries. The team is highly motivated to aid clients in the development of safety‑critical systems to accomplish CSA's core mission of creating a safer world. CSA believes the best way to maintain a driven, satisfied, and effective workforce is through self‑governance guided by core values including camaraderie, continual education, and safety.