Principal Safety Engineer

We are looking for a Principal Safety Engineer / Architect to join our Autonomous Driving team in Europe. You will serve as the primary technical authority for safety integrity across our SAE Level 4 Automated Driving System (ADS), owning the end-to-end safety argument—from hazard identification and system architecture through to regulatory approval and commercial robotaxi deployment.

As a Principal Safety Engineer, you will be the guardian of safety integrity across our SAE Level 4 Autonomous Product and the broader robotaxi ecosystem. You will own the complete, end-to-end L4 safety case—from hazard analysis (HARA) and operational design domain (ODD) definition through to system design, verification, and regulatory approval. Crucially, you will ensure that L4 product safety requirements and rigor extend throughout the entire lifecycle of robotaxi operations, guaranteeing seamless safety continuity from initial product development to live, on-road fleet service.

This is not a compliance checkbox role; you will carry accountability that matters. You will shape how safety is embedded across the organisation and the robotaxi ecosystem, influencing fail-operational system architecture, operational workflows, engineering practices, and decision-making at every level. You will work closely with engineering, product, fleet operations, and regulatory stakeholders to define what "safe enough" means for autonomous urban mobility—and ensure it is rigorously achieved, defended, and maintained across ongoing fleet operations.

• Own, structure, and maintain the system-level GSN/CAE safety case for the L4 ADS across the entire robotaxi operational lifecycle, ensuring full compliance and alignment with key L4 standards and regulations, including Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1426, UN Regulation No. 185 (ADS), ISO 26262, ISO 21448 (SOTIF), ISO/SAE 21434, and UN R155/R156 SUMS.
• Lead hazard analysis (HARA), ODD definition, and safety architecture across different products.
• Define and drive verification and validation strategies for different deployments.
• Define and drive verification and validation strategies for different deployments, establishing lifecycle safety metrics and monitoring to ensure continued operational safety across active robotaxi fleets.
• Drive L4 homologation pathways and compliance validation against regulatory frameworks (including Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1426, UN Regulation No. 185, UN WP.29, EU AV legislation, and national frameworks) to secure type approval readiness for commercial L4 robotaxi deployments.
• Collaborate across teams to embed safety principles into system design, development, and deployment.

• Extensive experience (10-12+ years) in automotive, robotics, or aerospace systems engineering, with proven technical leadership in safety-critical L4 autonomous driving domains.
• Strong expertise in functional safety (ISO 26262), SOTIF (ISO 21448), and automotive cybersecurity (ISO/SAE 21434).
• Proven track record delivering auditable safety cases (using GSN or CAE) and supporting L4 homologation, certification, or type approval for complex automated driving systems.
• Deep understanding of autonomous driving system architecture (perception, sensor fusion, planning, control).
• Deep expertise in fail-operational system architectures (redundant steering, braking, power), minimum risk maneuvers (MRM), and safety conformity for ML-based perception (e.g. ISO/PAS 8800).
• Familiarity with tools such as DOORS, Polarion, Codebeamer, or similar requirements and safety tooling.

• Accelerate your professional growth with unique career opportunities.
• Enjoy a rewarding salary and stock options, knowing that as Bolt succeeds, so do you.
• Take care of your physical and mental health with our wellness perks.
• Celebrate 5 years at Bolt with a 1-month paid sabbatical to recharge.
• Connect with colleagues at annual company events and smaller team gatherings.
• Balance flexibility and in-person collaboration with our hybrid model, including at least 12 monthly in-office days.