PLC Engineer - Industrial Automation Safety Specialist

About the role

You will drive functional safety compliance and validation for complex production equipment and lines (e.g., body, paint, battery/pack, assembly). The role includes auditing SCS designs, closing non-conformities, verifying control categories/performance levels, and guiding cross-functional teams and 3rd-party consultants to meet schedule, quality, and safety targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Standards & Compliance
• Audit Safety Control Systems (SCS) for compliance with ISO 13849-1 and ANSI B11
• Identify/document non-conformities; design and verify countermeasures to achieve target control category and PL (performance level)
• Audit SCS design changes to ensure correlation with intended design and hazard analysis
• Controls & Programming
• Read, interpret, modify, and configure Safety PLC logic
• Support PLC/SPLC communication protocols and system integration across cells/zones
• Perform hands-on troubleshooting during trials, startup, and production support
• Project Leadership
• Build area-level project plans with deliverables, milestones, risks, and KPIs
• Manage 3rd-party safety consultants by milestones, concerns, and KPI performance
• Lead cross-functional communication to ensure timely issue resolution and clear status reporting
• Documentation & Coaching
• Produce clear written/verbal updates for engineering and leadership stakeholders
• Mentor the Control Reliability team and coach plant personnel on functional safety best practices

Required Qualifications

• Functional Safety certification (e.g., TÜV Functional Safety Engineer or equivalent) — include credentials on resume
• 5+ years of functional safety engineering experience in industrial/automation environments
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a related technical discipline (engineering or controls/industrial technology)
• In-depth knowledge of ISO 13849-1, ANSI B11, and relevant machine safety standards
• Safety PLC experience: ability to read, interpret, modify, and configure logic
• Experience with PLC/SPLC communications and system integration
• Advanced problem-solving with proven countermeasure implementation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Availability to support weekends, off-shifts, holidays, and planned shutdowns (e.g., July/December)
• Ability to travel up to 30% (domestic/international) based on project timing
• Physical capability to navigate large facilities (standing, walking, stairs, bending, kneeling) and safely lift/push/pull up to 25 lbs

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with risk assessment tools, FMEA/FMEDA
• Proficiency with one or more Safety PLC platforms, such as:
• Allen-Bradley GuardLogix
• Siemens (TIA Portal / Step 7 Safety)
• Omron Sysmac (Safety)
• Toypuc – PCWin Safe
• Keyence – GC Configurator
• Automotive manufacturing background (body, paint, assembly, battery/pack)
• Experience leading multi-site or regional compliance initiatives

Work Environment & PPE

High-volume automotive manufacturing environment
Required PPE: steel-toe shoes and safety glasses; additional PPE (hard hat, vest, gloves, paint suit, etc.) provided per site policy

Why Join CrossSafety

Shape the safety performance of cutting-edge automotive manufacturing systems
High visibility and impact across cross-functional engineering teams
Opportunities for continued professional growth in functional safety and controls

Equal Opportunity Employer

CrossSafety is committed to an inclusive, respectful workplace. Accommodations are available upon request.