Senior Principal Engineer - Autonomous Vehicle Safety

Company Description

About Grab and Our Workplace

Grab is Southeast Asia's leading superapp. From getting your favourite meals delivered to helping you manage your finances and getting around town hassle-free, we've got your back with everything. In Grab, purpose gives us joy and habits build excellence, while harnessing the power of Technology and AI to deliver the mission of driving Southeast Asia forward by economically empowering everyone, with heart, hunger, honour, and humility.

Job Description

Get to Know the Team

Grab is leading the charge in integrating autonomous vehicles (AV) technology into its platform, enhancing mobility and delivery services. As we work with key AV partners, our main focus is ensuring the safe, seamless, and efficient adoption of self-driving technology. We aim to achieve the highest industry and regulatory standards across Southeast Asia. To help us realize this vision, we're seeking a Senior Principal Autonomous Vehicle Safety Engineer to spearhead our AV safety initiatives.

Get to Know the Role

Reporting to Head of Engineering, Fulfilment , you'll define and enforce safety protocols for Grab's autonomous vehicle endeavours. As the focal point for safety, you'll bridge engineering, operations, and regulatory affairs, combining advanced technical knowledge with strategic leadership. You'll manage the safety integration of our AV systems—from design and testing to deployment—ensuring compliance with premier industry standards and regulatory directives in Southeast Asia and beyond. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you'll drive validation and continuous improvements in safety measures, delivering a trustworthy and secure autonomous vehicle experience.

You will work onsite at Grab Singapore's office located at One-north.

The Critical Tasks You Will Perform

Establish AV Safety Standards

• You will define safety requirements in line with ISO 26262, UL 4600, and relevant industry regulations.
• You will lead technical evaluations, integrations, and validations of AV safety systems, including perception systems, control architectures, and hardware systems.
• Develop testing strategies to conduct risk assessments (FMEA, FTA, STPA), and oversee functional safety validation.
• Assess system designs and integrate safety features in accordance with established standards and practices.
• You will design mixed-fleet safety protocols that ensure safe interactions between autonomous and human-driven vehicles.
• Implement and track key performance metrics concerning AV operational safety.
• Conduct safety audits and inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards, covering ride quality, incident response, and compliance matters.
• Define and monitor safety metrics, investigate incidents, enforce corrective measures, and update procedures.
• Manage comprehensive safety documentation such as safety cases, checklists, and validation reports.Lead Regulatory Engagement & Safety Culture
• Engage with regulators, certification bodies, and industry forums to set AV safety measures aligned with regional and global regulations like SAE J3016, UNECE WP.29.
• Collaborate on AV pilot projects, shaping policy and industry standards.
• Cultivate a safety-conscious culture by developing long-term safety roadmaps and embedding proactive risk management strategies.
• Mentor colleagues and communicate safety concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Keep abreast of emerging AV safety technologies and regulatory trends, contributing to ongoing improvements.

Qualifications

What Essential Skills You Will Need

Essential Skills

• A degree (Bachelor's or Master's) in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Over 10 years of experience in robotics, autonomous vehicles, automotive software, or safety engineering, with significant leadership in cross-functional programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in creating and validating AV safety strategies from concept to integration and deployment.
• Thorough knowledge of autonomous vehicle systems, encompassing perception technologies (LiDAR, radar, cameras), control architectures, hardware, and fail-safe mechanisms.
• Leadership in cross-functional safety initiatives, including collaboration with engineering, policy, and regulatory teams.
• Strong capability in safety analysis methodologies like FMEA, HAZOP, STPA, and fault tree analysis (FTA).
• Experience with safety standards such as ISO 26262, UL 4600, and ASPICE.
• Technical skill in safety-critical software development and validation techniques, including real-world testing and simulation.
• Proven ability to lead, influence, and collaborate with cross-functional teams and regulatory stakeholders.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and risk assessment skills for addressing complex AV safety challenges.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with AV companies, automotive OEMs, or mobility service providers in AV safety strategy, ADAS, and deployment.
• Hands-on involvement with regulatory bodies for policy development concerning AV.
• Familiarity with global AV regulations and safety standards across various markets (e.g., SAE J3016, UNECE WP.29).
• Knowledge of teleoperation safety, remote intervention protocols, and edge-case safety testing.

Additional Information

Life at Grab

We care about your well-being at Grab, here are some of the global benefits we offer:

• We have your back with Term Life Insurance and comprehensive Medical Insurance.
• With GrabFlex, create a benefits package that suits your needs and aspirations.
• Celebrate moments that matter in life with loved ones through Parental and Birthday leave, and give back to your communities through Love-all-Serve-all (LASA) volunteering leave
• We have a confidential Grabber Assistance Programme to guide and uplift you and your loved ones through life's challenges.
• Balancing personal commitments and life's demands are made easier with our FlexWork arrangements such as differentiated hours

What We Stand For at Grab

We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable workplace that enables diverse Grabbers to grow and perform at their best. As an equal opportunity employer, we consider all candidates fairly and equally regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, family commitments, physical and mental impairments or disabilities, and other attributes that make them unique.