Sr. Engineer - Architect Software Functional Safety

Magna-International-6df39721; Southfield (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Magna Electronics in Michigan seeks a Lead Software Functional Safety Architect to ensure embedded platforms meet high safety standards. You will act as a shadow architect, driving safety-critical decisions for ASIL D, with emphasis on SoC/MCU systems and safety manual interpretation.

You will own safety analyses, SSRs, and safety-oriented design reviews, mentoring team members on MISRA/C CERT while aligning hardware-safety features with software architectures.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Embedded SoC development.
• 3+ years as Software Architect.
• Hands-on experience with ISO 26262 (Parts 4, 6, 9).

Responsibilities

• Lead safety analyses and designs to meet ASIL D requirements.
• Own Software FMEA and FTA, ensuring traceability to SSRs.
• Collaborate with hardware teams to align safety goals with architecture.
• Mentor engineers on MISRA/C CERT safety coding standards.

Skills

Safety mindset

Analytical thinking

Independent leadership

Communication

Tools

MISRA C/C++

CERT

Ansys Medini Analyze

APIS IQ-FMEA

Job description

Job descriptions may display in multiple languages based on your language selection.What we offer:At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects. Because we believe that your career path should be as unique as you are.Group Summary:Transforming mobility. Making automotive technology that is smarter, cleaner, safer and lighter. That’s what we’re passionate about at Magna Electronics, and we do it by creating world-class Electronic systems. We are a premier supplier for the global automotive industry with full capabilities in design, development, testing and manufacturing of complex Electronic systems. Our name stands for quality, environmental consciousness, and safety. Innovation is what drives us and we drive innovation. Dream big and create the future of mobility at Magna Electronics.Job Responsibilities:This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have current and ongoing authorization to work in the United States.About the Role:As a Lead Software Functional Safety Architect, you will serve as the technical authority ensuring our embedded software platforms meet the highest standards of safety integrity. You aren't just an observer; you are a "shadow architect" who operates independently of the primary software architect to provide critical checks, balances, and safety-first design leadership.Your primary focus will be on high-performance SoC/MCU systems targeting ASIL D compliance, ensuring that every line of code and architectural decision contributes to a fail-safe environment.Key Responsibilities1. Safety Analysis & Architectural DesignSafety Manual Interpretation: Deep-dive into SoC/MCU Safety Manuals to extract hardware-software interface requirements (HSIs).Safety Context Identification: Identify which hardware modules (e.g., DMA, Memory Protection Units, Watchdogs) are relevant to the safety case.System Alignment: Collaborate with the System Engineering team to align on diagnostic coverage and error handling strategies.Fault Management: Define the end-to-end fault propagation paths—from hardware fault detection to the transition into a defined Safe State.Architecture Modeling: Develop and maintain software architectures that explicitly prove the achievement of functional safety goals.2. Safety Assessments & Work ProductsAnalytical Ownership: Lead and "own" the creation of the Software FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and Software FTA (Fault Tree Analysis).Requirements Engineering: Define and review Software Safety Requirements (SSRs), ensuring they are technically sound and fully traceable to specific architectural elements.Independent Verification: Act as the independent technical voice to challenge the main software architecture, ensuring safety is never compromised for performance or features.3. Technical LeadershipDrive the team toward successful Safety Audits and assessments.Mentor junior engineers on ASIL-compliant coding standards (e.g., MISRA C/C++, CERT).Bridge the gap between hardware-level safety features and high-level software application safety.Required Experience & QualificationsExperience: 10+ years in Embedded SoC development with a proven track record in complex silicon environments.Architecture: 3+ years of experience specifically as a Software Architect.Safety Expertise: Hands-on experience developing software components that have successfully achieved ASIL C or D certification.Regulatory Knowledge: Expert-level understanding of ISO 26262 (Parts 4, 6, and 9).Evaluations: Direct experience participating in (and defending architectures during) formal safety evaluations or external audits.Analytical Tools: Proficiency with safety analysis tools (e.g., Ansys medini analyze, APIS IQ-FMEA, or similar).Skills & CompetenciesCritical Thinking: The ability to "think like a failure"—predicting how a system might break before it does.Independence: Strong enough to push back against the primary development team to maintain safety integrity.Communication: Ability to translate complex safety manuals into actionable development tasks for the software team.Awareness, Unity, Empowerment:At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That’s why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.AI-Assisted Screening DisclosureAs part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our Workday system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies.Under conditions defined by applicable law, you may have the right to request an explanation of how AI is used to support decision-making.If you have any questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact our Talent Attraction team.Worker Type:Regular / PermanentGroup:Magna Electronics