Senior Leader - Functional Safety & Product Cybersecurity

Polaris Inc; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 155,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Profit-sharing plan

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

401(k) matching contributions

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Wellness programs

Paid time off

Gym & personal training reimbursement

Life insurance and disability

Volunteer time off

Job summary

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

You will partner with Chief Engineers and product teams to shape strategy, prioritize work, and drive risk-based decisions throughout the product lifecycle. The role emphasizes pragmatic safety and cybersecurity practices, balancing regulatory obligations with customer value, development speed, and cost.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Systems, or Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in product development, embedded systems, systems, software, electronics, Functional Safety, Product Cybersecurity, or related engineering discipline, including at least 5 years leading teams or cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven track record influencing risk-based decisions and translating technical risk for business leaders.
• Experience applying Functional Safety and Product Cybersecurity methods (hazard and risk analysis, requirements, architecture, standards, risk treatment).
• Experience with ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, HARA, TARA, embedded or connected products, or safety-related industries preferred.
• Familiarity with secure product development, requirements management, ASPICE, AUTOSAR, DevSecOps, or comparable approaches 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.
• Improve risk-based, fit-for-purpose safety and cybersecurity approaches aligned with products, customers, markets, production scale, and operating conditions.
• Balance safety and cybersecurity risk, regulatory requirements, customer value, complexity, cost, and speed when guiding decisions.
• Improve methods, tools, automation, governance, measures, and product coverage while maintaining rigor and efficiency.
• Build alignment across product engineering, business units, systems, electrical, software, validation, quality, compliance, legal, supply chain, and leadership.
• Translate complex product safety and cybersecurity risks into clear engineering and business decisions with proportionate responses.
• Integrate Functional Safety and Product Cybersecurity throughout the product lifecycle with early input and issue resolution.
• Ensure application of ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, and applicable regulatory requirements, and manage plans, budgets, commitments, and roadmaps.

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 an experienced leader to guide the Functional Safety and Product Cybersecurity organization across multiple sites.

You will partner with Chief Engineers and product teams to shape strategy, prioritize work, and drive risk-based decisions throughout the product lifecycle. The role emphasizes pragmatic safety and cybersecurity practices, balancing regulatory obligations with customer value, development speed, and cost.