Equipment Safety Engineer

EQUIPMENT SAFETY ENGINEER

The SpaceX Bastrop Environmental Health & Safety team is seeking a highly skilled Equipment Safety Engineer to join our fast-growing Bastrop EHS Team. In this role, you will play a critical part in ensuring the safety and compliance of automated machinery and equipment across multiple production projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in machine safety design, risk assessment, and standards interpretation to develop and implement robust safety programs that protect employees and align with industry best practices. This position requires a proactive approach to hazard mitigation, strong collaboration with mechanical and automation engineering teams, and a commitment to continuous improvement in safety engineering.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Interpret and apply relevant international and national safety standards to evaluate equipment designs, including OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212, ANSI B11.19, ANSI/RIA R15.06, ISO 13849-1, ISO 14120, and others.
• Design and implement machine guarding solutions for automated equipment, including fixed guards, adjustable guards, and interlocking devices to prevent unauthorized access to hazardous areas.
• Perform interlock validation testing and certification for safety-related control systems, ensuring compliance with functional safety requirements and proper integration with machine operations.
• Develop and maintain internal automated machine safety standards, including creating company-specific guidelines, risk assessment methodologies, and training programs based on industrial standards and best practices.
• Conduct hazard analyses, risk assessments (e.g., using HAZOP or FMEA methods), and safety audits on new and existing equipment to identify potential risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with design engineers, production teams, and external vendors to integrate safety features into equipment specifications from the conceptual stage through to commissioning and manufacturing.
• Lead safety incident investigations related to machinery, perform root cause analysis, and ensure implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Stay current with evolving safety regulations and standards, providing training and guidance to internal teams on compliance requirements.
• Support the preparation of technical documentation, including safety manuals, validation reports, and compliance certifications for regulatory audits.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, or in an engineering field.
• 5+ years of experience in equipment safety engineering, with a focus on automated machinery in a manufacturing or industrial environment.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Advanced degree.
• Proven experience in designing machine guarding systems, including selection and fabrication of guards compliant with ANSI and ISO standards.
• Hands-on experience with interlock validation, including electrical and mechanical interlock systems, and familiarity with safety PLC programming (e.g., using IEC 61131-3 standards).
• Demonstrated expertise in interpreting and applying safety standards such as ANSI B11 series, ISO 13849, ISO 14120, OSHA 1910 Subpart O (Machinery and Machine Guarding), and NFPA 79; ability to cite and reference specific clauses in design reviews.
• Experience developing internal safety standards for automated systems.
• Proficiency in safety risk assessment tools and software.
• Strong knowledge of functional safety concepts (e.g., SIL/PL ratings) and familiarity with related standards.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments, such as aerospace, automotive, or robotics.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Professional Engineer (PE) in a relevant discipline, or TÜV Functional Safety Engineer are highly desirable.
• Familiarity with simulation tools for safety validation (e.g., ANSYS or MATLAB for hazard modeling).
• Strong communication skills for presenting safety findings to non-technical stakeholders and leading safety workshops.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to the Bastrop, TX area.
• Position occasionally requires the ability to work extended hours and weekends when needed.