Technical Specialist - Safety Restraints

Karma Automotive; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Plan

Dental & Vision Plans

401(k) with Employer Match

Relocation Assistance

Sick Time & Vacation

Job summary

Karma Automotive in Irvine, CA, seeks a Technical Specialist – Safety Restraints to design and validate safety restraint components and steering wheel systems. You will benchmark competitors, identify suppliers, and develop test plans for virtual and physical validation, coordinating with interior teams to optimize performance.

The role requires a decade of automotive safety experience, strong FMVSS knowledge, and the ability to lead cross-functional programs in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in automotive passive safety, occupant restraint systems, interior systems, or related design and development.
• Strong knowledge of passive occupant safety and restraint systems, including seats, belts, airbags, and steering wheels.
• Knowledge of automotive interior systems including doors, trim, seats, dashboards, and HVAC.
• Strong knowledge of validation testing and development of countermeasures to improve performance.
• Experience with virtual validation methods and simulation tools for occupant safety or restraint-system development.
• Experience with FMVSS and other vehicle safety requirements.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 as applicable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify issues and propose solutions.
• Ability to own complex engineering, analytical, and planning assignments.
• Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams and drive programs forward.
• Ability to travel frequently in the U.S. and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Design and release restraint components and steering wheel with surrounding interior parts.
• Benchmark competitive vehicles, restraint systems, and technologies to set performance targets.
• Identify and assess viable suppliers based on capability, performance, quality, cost, timing, and risk.
• Develop test plans for component and system deployment tests (DVP&R).
• Plan and conduct virtual validation and correlate analytical results with physical tests.
• Analyze deployment, OOP, and sled test results.
• Optimize safety restraint systems with safety and interior teams via sled tests.
• Prepare test requirements for sled and OOP performance.
• Track development timing for each safety component and system.
• Propose design approaches to safety-related technical challenges across teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Automotive safety knowledge

Validation and analysis

Problem solving

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Fast-paced environment

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Automotive Engineering

Tools

Simulation tools

DVP&R

Job description

Brief Description

Technical Specialist – Safety Restraints

The responsibilities of the Technical Specialist – Safety Restraints will include designing safety restraint and steering wheel components; benchmarking competitive systems and technologies; identifying and assessing viable suppliers; and planning and executing component- and system-level development and validation through virtual analysis and physical testing. The role will analyze validation results, develop countermeasures, and improve the performance of safety components and systems. Findings and recommendations will be communicated through reports, summaries, and small-group meetings.

Responsibilities (include, but are not limited to):

• Design and release the restraints components/steering wheel with surrounding interior parts and design.
• Benchmark competitive vehicles, restraint systems, components, and emerging technologies to establish performance targets and inform technical direction.
• Identify, assess, and recommend viable suppliers based on technical capability, product performance, quality, cost, timing, and program risk.
• Develop the test plans for component and system deployment tests (DVP&R).
• Plan and conduct virtual validation, including simulation-based assessment of restraint-system performance, and correlate analytical results with physical testing.
• Analyze the deployment, OOP, and sled test results.
• Develop optimization of safety restraint system with safety and interior team through sled tests.
• Prepare the test requirements for sled and OOP performance.
• Track the development timing for each safety components and safety system.
• Recommend design approaches and solutions to technical problems directly to other teams on technical matters relating to safety restraint systems.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in automotive passive safety, occupant restraint systems, interior systems, or related design and development.
• Strong knowledge of passive occupant safety and restraint systems, including seat belts, airbags, steering wheels, and related components.
• Knowledge of automotive interior systems and components, including doors, trim, seats, instrument panels/consoles, and HVAC systems.
• Strong knowledge of validation testing, test result analysis, and development of countermeasures to improve component and system performance.
• Experience with virtual validation methods and simulation tools for occupant safety or restraint-system development, including correlation of analytical models with physical test results.
• Experience with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and other relevant vehicle safety requirements.
• Basic knowledge of Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2015) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001:2015), as applicable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify technical issues, evaluate alternatives, and recommend effective solutions.
• Ability to take ownership and accountability for complex engineering, analytical, and planning assignments.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills, with the ability to build consensus across cross-functional teams and drive programs forward.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced development environment, manage competing priorities, and respond with an appropriate sense of urgency.
• Ability to travel frequently within the U.S. and internationally based on business and program needs.

Physical Requirements:

Note: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to frequently use or operate a computer, mouse, and/or other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, computer printer, etc.
• Ability to frequently use hand(s) for repetitive actions (grasping and fine manipulation).
• Ability to frequently walk or move – to regularly move about inside the office.
• Ability to frequently see or detect, identify, recognize, or assess surroundings while in the office.
• Ability to occasionally bend, kneel, crouch, turn, and stoop.
• Ability to frequently sit or be stationary for extended continuous periods of time.
• Ability to stand for occasional periods of time.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or push/pull up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing their job.

Total Rewards (Benefits, Perks & Compensation)

In addition to our competitive compensation, you will also be eligible for the following at Karma:

• Medical Plan
• Dental & Vision Plans
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Health & Well-Being Program Events
• Company Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• 401(k) with Employer Match
• Relocation Assistance (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Sick Time, Vacation time and Personal Floaters
• Paid Holidays including Company’s Annual Year End Shutdown
• Karma Cares Program (Quarterly Lunch)
• Work life Balance (Flexible and Hybrid Work Schedule)
• Employee Driving Program
• Pre-taxed Commuter Benefits & much more!

Compensation

$170,000 - $190,000 /annual salary. Compensation will vary DOE.

At Karma, our base pay is one part of our total rewards package.

Compensation offered may vary on multiple factors, including market location, education, skills and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position being offered.

Karma Automotive, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender identity and expression, color, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions (including breastfeeding), national origin/ancestry, religion, military/veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, intersectionality or any other characteristic and group protected by applicable law. Karma Automotive, Inc complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure equal access to all qualified individuals with a physical or mental disability. Valid driver’s license may be required based on essential duties.