About the role

As a Functional Safety Specialist, you play a critical role in ensuring that Yokogawa’s European and global organisations — as well as customer projects and organizations — comply with international Functional Safety standards, Functional Safety Management (FSM), and best practices. You will act as a subject matter expert in the IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 standards, helping to maintain compliance, deliver safety services, and build functional safety awareness within and outside the organisation.

This role combines technical expertise with training, project assessments, company audits and consultancy, positioning you as a key contributor to Yokogawa’s reputation as a global functional safety authority.

Key responsibilities

1. Functional Safety Assessments & Validation

· Review and validate Safety Validation Plans (SVPs) for Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) projects.

· Conduct functional safety assessments across project phases to ensure compliance with IEC standards and internal procedures.

· Document the results of these functional safety assessments and issue Declarations of Conformance to confirm compliance.

· Advise project teams on safety challenges, safety calculations, and validation planning.

· Evaluate supplier reliability data and standardise its for global use.

· Recommend improvements to FSM procedures, templates, and global project execution practices.

Functional Safety Management (FSM)

· Implement, maintain, and improve Functional Safety Management across Europe and globally.

· Monitor corporate, industry, and governmental safety regulations and advise management on impacts.

· Execute internal functional safety audits for Yokogawa offices and affiliates.

· Execute external functional safety audits for customers.

· Support second- and third-party audits, including certification bodies such as TÜV Rheinland, LR, ABS, DNV, BV, etc.

· Report audit findings and manage non-conformances with actionable improvement plans.

· Participate in management consultations on functional safety matters.

Functional Safety Services to Customers

· Deliver safety assurance and consultancy services to internal and external customers.

· Facilitate hazard and risk assessments and SIL verification studies.

· Support Safety Requirements Specifications and brownfield/legacy assessments.

· Lead site validations and Systematic Capability (SC) screenings.

· Advise customers on implementing Functional Safety Management systems.

· Develop and deliver tailored functional safety training and workshops.

Functional Safety Awareness

· Promote functional safety awareness internally and externally through seminars, publications, and presentations.

· Contribute to industry committees and governance boards.

· Support customer awareness sessions and safety culture initiatives.

· Enable Sales teams with tools and knowledge to effectively position safety services.

Functional Safety Training

· Plan and deliver internal and external functional safety training programs.

· Conduct personal certification training within the TÜV Rheinland FS Engineer Training program.

· Develop and maintain training materials, exams, and assessment frameworks.

· Provide tailored in-house training for customers.

· Ensure continuous competence development across the organisation.

Development & Continuous Improvement

· Develop and maintain functional safety tools, templates, and work instructions.

· Manage global infrastructure supporting safety assessments and audits.

· Maintain reliability data, verification tools, and calculation templates.

· Continuously develop personal expertise to support Yokogawa’s Safety Assurance as the global Center of Excellence.

Standards & frameworks you will work with

· IEC 61508 and IEC 61511

· Yokogawa Global Management Rules (i.e. GMS-600-14-)

· Yokogawa Management System for Europe (YMS)

· QHSE standards & Code of Conduct

· International regulations and customer standards e.g.: NFPA, ISA, NAMUR, Marine, etc

What you bring

· Strong expertise in Functional Safety and IEC standards.

· Experience with SIS, SIL verification, and safety lifecycle management.

· Audit, consultancy, and stakeholder management skills.

· Ability to translate complex regulations into practical guidance.

· Excellent communication skills and a passion for safety culture.

· Technical education level: bachelor or master degree.

· Critical attitude, strict, able to provide and handle feedback, debater

· Possible (TÜV Rheinland) certification as a Functional Safety Engineer or Expert would be in your favour

· Willingness to travel regularly globally

· Preferably Process Safety Management (PSM) knowledge for HAZOP studies, process risk analysis assessments on customers premises

· Preferably experience in giving presentations/training to groups or audience of different knowledge level and/or different disciplines

Why join Yokogawa?

· Work at the forefront of global functional safety excellence.

· Influence safety standards across international projects and industries.

· Collaborate with global teams and certification bodies.

· Contribute to a safer, more sustainable industrial future.

Not just a job, but a career

Yokogawa, award winner for ‘Best Asset Monitoring Technology’ and ‘Best Digital Twin Technology’ at the HP Awards, is a leading provider of industrial automation, test and measurement, information systems and industrial services in several industries. 

Our aim is to shape a better future for our planet through supporting the energy transition, (bio)technology, artificial intelligence, industrial cybersecurity, etc. We are committed to the United Nations sustainable development goals by utilizing our ability to measure and connect.

About the Team
Our 18,000 employees work in over 60 countries with one corporate mission, to "co-innovate tomorrow". We are looking for dynamic colleagues who share our passion for technology and care for our planet. In return, we offer you great career opportunities to grow yourself in a truly global culture where respect, value creation, collaboration, integrity, and gratitude are highly valued and exhibited in everything we do.

Diverse, Equitable & Inclusive culture

Yokogawa is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Yokogawa wants a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture.  We will actively recruit, develop, and promote people from a variety of backgrounds who differ in terms of experience, knowledge, thinking styles, perspective, cultural background, and socioeconomic status.  We will not discriminate based on race, skin color, age, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, belief, political opinion, nationality, ethnicity, place of origin, disability, family relations or any other circumstances. Yokogawa values differences and enables everyone to belong, contribute, succeed, and demonstrate their full potential.

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