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Process Safety Specialist

  • Location: Sunderland, SR5
  • Salary: Competitive
  • Job Type:Permanent

Posted 24 days ago

  • Sector: Advanced Facilities
  • Contact: Laura Smith
  • Contact Email: lsmith@nrl.co.uk
  • Contact Phone: 0191 415 3300
  • Start Date: 29 May 2025
  • Expiry Date: 29 June 2025
  • Job Ref: V-256249

Functional Safety Engineer

Location: Northeast England

Department: EHS

Reports to: Process Safety Manager


About the Role

We’re looking for a highly skilled Functional Safety Engineer to support the development and compliance of electromechanical systems within an upper-tier COMAH-regulated manufacturing facility.

This role requires a strong background in functional safety engineering and systems integration, ensuring that new systems, products, and machinery are designed and developed in line with industry safety standards. You will work on cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, supporting the safe design, validation, and compliance of equipment throughout its lifecycle.

Open to candidates with systems engineering, validation, or integration backgrounds, provided they have strong familiarity with functional safety methods and standards.


Key Responsibilities

As a Functional Safety Engineer, you will:

  • Lead functional safety engineering activities, ensuring adherence to ISO 13849, ISO 26262, and IEC 61508 standards.

  • Perform risk assessments, conducting DFMEA, FTA, and FMECA analyses for new and existing systems.

  • Review equipment designs, ensuring compliance with UK workplace safety regulations.

  • Inspect manufacturing systems, validating their safe function and operational reliability.

  • Conduct functional testing of safety features, ensuring regulatory and performance standards are met.

  • Confirm compliance with CE and UKCA requirements, along with PUWER legislation.

  • Develop and oversee validation processes, ensuring new technologies meet safety expectations before deployment.

  • Support systems integration, working closely with cross-functional teams in engineering, safety, and compliance.

  • Engage with regulators, ensuring machinery safety aligns with regulatory expectations.

  • Provide technical guidance on automation and machine safety, including autonomous systems, and ADAS

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Qualifications & Experience

To succeed in this role, you’ll need:

  • Degree or master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electronics, or a related field.

  • FS TUV certification

  • Proven experience in systems engineering, functional safety, validation, or systems integration.

  • Strong knowledge of electromechanical systems and whole-machine architecture.

  • Exposure to functional safety standards, including ISO 13849, ISO 26262, or IEC 61508, 61511.

  • Expertise in analytical and simulation tools such as DFMEA, FTA, FMECA, Matlab, Simulink, reliability modelling.

  • Experience in machine design, systems validation, or functional safety implementation within manufacturing or industrial environments.

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Preferred (Beneficial) Experience:

  • Knowledge of safety-critical control systems (e.g. autonomous systems, ADAS, electric vehicle/hybrid powertrain).

  • Understanding of software engineering and electronics development, supporting functional safety integration.

  • Experience conducting compliance audits, inspections, and validation trials for industrial machinery.

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Why Join Us?

You’ll work at the forefront of functional safety and systems engineering, supporting the development of advanced machinery and automation technologies. Your expertise will directly contribute to high-impact engineering projects within a COMAH-regulated facility, ensuring safety and compliance at every stage.

  • Competitive salary & benefits package

  • Opportunity to lead functional safety initiatives in a high-tech manufacturing environment

  • Career progression & training in cutting-edge engineering fields

  • Collaborative, forward-thinking workplace, driven by sustainability and safety


About NRL
The NRL Group connect global companies with the right people to bring engineering projects to life. Supporting contracting companies with energy transition plans and working with our clients to create a cleaner, greener future.

We welcome applications from every walk of life and are committed to diversity within the industries we support, as a certified Inclusive Recruiter and Armed Forces friendly employer. You can ensure you stay safe when job searching online by visiting the JobsAware website.