Volkswagen of America, Inc
Director, Autonomous Driving Safety | Chief Safety Officer
Volkswagen of America, Inc, Austin, Texas, us, 78716
Director, Autonomous Driving Safety role at Volkswagen of America, Inc. The Director oversees and ensures that ADMT LLC’s autonomous driving vehicles and services are specified, designed, tested, and operated safely. The primary mission is to build and maintain the trust and confidence of the public, regulators, and government agencies at the federal, state and local levels.
The Director is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a comprehensive safety management system for ADMT LLC in cooperation with the responsible departments and other relevant VW structures globally. In this context, the Director will drive the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with safety regulations, industry standards and best practices for autonomous driving system development and operations in the US. The Director will have independence from the technology and business development organizations to provide the assurance that ADMT’s operations are safe, that risks are assessed, and sufficient plans are in place to manage risk to an acceptable level. The Director will be the primary point of contact for all safety related topics towards both company leadership and external stakeholders including regulators (NHTSA, state and local), business partners, suppliers, government agencies, industry bodies, first responders and more.
Role Responsibilities
Safety System, Strategy & Communications Develop and implement SMS (Safety Management Systems) processes and activities for in cooperation with the responsible departments globally. Be the face and voice of ADMT to the outside world on safety-related matters, including participation in national and international forums on autonomous vehicle safety. Actively drive the safety culture across all levels of the organization, ensuring that safety and security are an integral part of all planning and decision-making. Collaborate globally across multi-functional organizations and bodies to integrate and maintain necessary safety principles, processes, and procedures. Develop and execute a safety communication plan for supporting ADMTs expansion and community engagements. Ensure the safety of the autonomous driving fleet by establishing safe operating procedures, overseeing their implementation, and continuously improving based on lessons learned. Establish processes necessary to ensure continuous handling safety-related disruptions of ADMT LLC’s vehicle operations. Incident & Regulatory inquiry response Co-lead of the global AD Safety Board (ADSB) alongside the ADMT GmbH Chief Safety Officer (CSO) Lead investigations on Incidents on public road testing with ID.Buzz AD and decide on Safety measures, such as Grounding fleets, Request SW Updates, Deviation permits etc. Escalate and Feed in Crisis Comms for all ADMT related incidents, inform & update VWGoA Crisis Comms team Lead strategy and be the primary point of contact with internal safety departments, US regulatory agencies such as NHTSA, local safety agencies, first responders and similar in representing the company on establishing safety-related policies and procedures in conjunction with autonomous driving vehicles. Establish and implement incident- and investigation-response processes, including their reporting, resolution and timely responses to government and regulatory agencies, while mitigating reputational risks. Guide the communications teams on safety-related messaging. Safety Framework Lead activities for ADMT LLC to demonstrate product and operational safety compliance with relevant industry safety standards and guidelines (ISO, SAE, AVSC, etc.) for Autonomous Driving Systems, including third-party audits, assessments, and certifications, where applicable. Lead the update and publishing of the VSSA (Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment) document based on product improvements and learnings; ensure that ADMT’s product and operations fulfill the claims included in the VSSA. Review the global product Safety Assurance Case and drive the preparation of supplementary content where needed for US applications in support of the VSSA claims. Develop safety plans and assessments to meet operational needs and expectations for Mobility- or related operations. Transportation-as-a-Service (MaaS /TaaS) implementations and business partners Analyze global safety performance metrics for their sufficiency to release products and services in target US markets. Support the safety teams in technical reviews, including coordination of legal support where needed in the interpretations of US regulations, traffic laws and more. Implement, maintain, and develop Quality Management System for ADMT LLC. Experience
10+ years of relevant professional experience in a safety role in transportation, automotive, aviation or similar domain involving complex, safety-critical products 5+ years of leadership/supervisory experience preferred Education
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field PREFERRED: Master’s or PhD in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field is a plus Skills
Excellent team management/leadership and conflict resolutions skills Excellent English language skills mandatory Excellent written, communication and presentation skills with top management, internal / external partners, stakeholders, and project affiliates Ability to understand and extract action plans from complex technical discussions and translate into succinct messaging for cross-functional status reporting Self-motivated, flexible individual with high degree of innovation, ownership, and accountability for results Work globally and cross-functionally to ensure necessary project support and prioritization Strong initiative, and excellent influencing and negotiation skills Strong process orientation Analytical, strategical, and conceptual thinking – using logic and reason Strong desire to learn and close knowledge gaps related to technology and software used in the product Able to work in a highly dynamic, multi-disciplinary, timeline bound and target oriented global work environment Able to continuously question and challenge the status-quo, always documenting and applying the lessons learned Valid State Driving License Required Skills
Deep experience in the safety engineering of complex, software-controlled systems Knowledge and experience in the application of automotive and autonomous system safety standards and best practices (ISO 26262, ISO 21448, etc.) Experience with implementing Quality management systems, esp. ISO 9001 certification Knowledge of applicable safety regulations and best practices (NHTSA, DOT, AVSC, etc.) Expertise with modern systems engineering methods and tools, judgment and detail oriented in exercising careful planning Knowledge of recognized gaps in global safety standards, particularly when applied to autonomy Experience leading or overseeing accident/ incident investigations Knowledge and experience designing a safety management system (SMS): including proactive, reactive, and reporting strategies Desired Skills
Familiarity in developing and/or testing autonomous systems or those involving AI/ML Automotive, aviation or similar product development experience Experience interacting with regulatory agencies at the federal, state, and local levels (NHTSA, NTSB, etc.) Safety certification in relevant areas Work Flexibility
Accommodation for working time zone differences between US locations and Germany as needed Ready and able to travel (international and domestic) to remote offices, training facilities or other testing cities subject to business needs Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws. Job Details
Primary Location : United States-Texas-Austin Seniority level : Not Applicable Employment type : Full-time Job function : Management and Manufacturing Industries : Motor Vehicle Manufacturing and Manufacturing Work Arrangement : Hybrid
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Safety System, Strategy & Communications Develop and implement SMS (Safety Management Systems) processes and activities for in cooperation with the responsible departments globally. Be the face and voice of ADMT to the outside world on safety-related matters, including participation in national and international forums on autonomous vehicle safety. Actively drive the safety culture across all levels of the organization, ensuring that safety and security are an integral part of all planning and decision-making. Collaborate globally across multi-functional organizations and bodies to integrate and maintain necessary safety principles, processes, and procedures. Develop and execute a safety communication plan for supporting ADMTs expansion and community engagements. Ensure the safety of the autonomous driving fleet by establishing safe operating procedures, overseeing their implementation, and continuously improving based on lessons learned. Establish processes necessary to ensure continuous handling safety-related disruptions of ADMT LLC’s vehicle operations. Incident & Regulatory inquiry response Co-lead of the global AD Safety Board (ADSB) alongside the ADMT GmbH Chief Safety Officer (CSO) Lead investigations on Incidents on public road testing with ID.Buzz AD and decide on Safety measures, such as Grounding fleets, Request SW Updates, Deviation permits etc. Escalate and Feed in Crisis Comms for all ADMT related incidents, inform & update VWGoA Crisis Comms team Lead strategy and be the primary point of contact with internal safety departments, US regulatory agencies such as NHTSA, local safety agencies, first responders and similar in representing the company on establishing safety-related policies and procedures in conjunction with autonomous driving vehicles. Establish and implement incident- and investigation-response processes, including their reporting, resolution and timely responses to government and regulatory agencies, while mitigating reputational risks. Guide the communications teams on safety-related messaging. Safety Framework Lead activities for ADMT LLC to demonstrate product and operational safety compliance with relevant industry safety standards and guidelines (ISO, SAE, AVSC, etc.) for Autonomous Driving Systems, including third-party audits, assessments, and certifications, where applicable. Lead the update and publishing of the VSSA (Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment) document based on product improvements and learnings; ensure that ADMT’s product and operations fulfill the claims included in the VSSA. Review the global product Safety Assurance Case and drive the preparation of supplementary content where needed for US applications in support of the VSSA claims. Develop safety plans and assessments to meet operational needs and expectations for Mobility- or related operations. Transportation-as-a-Service (MaaS /TaaS) implementations and business partners Analyze global safety performance metrics for their sufficiency to release products and services in target US markets. Support the safety teams in technical reviews, including coordination of legal support where needed in the interpretations of US regulations, traffic laws and more. Implement, maintain, and develop Quality Management System for ADMT LLC. Experience
10+ years of relevant professional experience in a safety role in transportation, automotive, aviation or similar domain involving complex, safety-critical products 5+ years of leadership/supervisory experience preferred Education
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field PREFERRED: Master’s or PhD in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field is a plus Skills
Excellent team management/leadership and conflict resolutions skills Excellent English language skills mandatory Excellent written, communication and presentation skills with top management, internal / external partners, stakeholders, and project affiliates Ability to understand and extract action plans from complex technical discussions and translate into succinct messaging for cross-functional status reporting Self-motivated, flexible individual with high degree of innovation, ownership, and accountability for results Work globally and cross-functionally to ensure necessary project support and prioritization Strong initiative, and excellent influencing and negotiation skills Strong process orientation Analytical, strategical, and conceptual thinking – using logic and reason Strong desire to learn and close knowledge gaps related to technology and software used in the product Able to work in a highly dynamic, multi-disciplinary, timeline bound and target oriented global work environment Able to continuously question and challenge the status-quo, always documenting and applying the lessons learned Valid State Driving License Required Skills
Deep experience in the safety engineering of complex, software-controlled systems Knowledge and experience in the application of automotive and autonomous system safety standards and best practices (ISO 26262, ISO 21448, etc.) Experience with implementing Quality management systems, esp. ISO 9001 certification Knowledge of applicable safety regulations and best practices (NHTSA, DOT, AVSC, etc.) Expertise with modern systems engineering methods and tools, judgment and detail oriented in exercising careful planning Knowledge of recognized gaps in global safety standards, particularly when applied to autonomy Experience leading or overseeing accident/ incident investigations Knowledge and experience designing a safety management system (SMS): including proactive, reactive, and reporting strategies Desired Skills
Familiarity in developing and/or testing autonomous systems or those involving AI/ML Automotive, aviation or similar product development experience Experience interacting with regulatory agencies at the federal, state, and local levels (NHTSA, NTSB, etc.) Safety certification in relevant areas Work Flexibility
Accommodation for working time zone differences between US locations and Germany as needed Ready and able to travel (international and domestic) to remote offices, training facilities or other testing cities subject to business needs Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws. Job Details
Primary Location : United States-Texas-Austin Seniority level : Not Applicable Employment type : Full-time Job function : Management and Manufacturing Industries : Motor Vehicle Manufacturing and Manufacturing Work Arrangement : Hybrid
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