Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.
We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.
JOB SUMMARY
As our Director of Product Safety, you will build and lead Apptronik’s product safety function. This will include defining what safety means for a novel class of robots, driving the right requirements into our products and systems, and representing Apptronik in the standards bodies and regulatory environments shaping the future of humanoid robotics. You will report directly to the Chief Product Officer with a mandate to grow the function as Apollo scales toward commercialization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Own the product safety roadmap end-to-end and identify where the real risks are, prioritize ruthlessly, and drive executable safety requirements into product and systems engineering.
- Build and lead Apptronik’s product safety team, with a mandate to grow the function in line with Apollo’s commercial trajectory.
- Represent Apptronik in relevant standards bodies and regulatory environments, including R15.06, R15.08, IEC 62061, and IEC 61508 working groups, helping shape the frameworks that will govern humanoid robotics.
- Develop and own the safety plan for safety-critical functions, including HARA, DFMEA, FTA, and system-level failure analysis across Apollo’s electro-mechanical and software systems.
- Develop and document safety requirements and technical safety concepts, collaborating closely with design, systems engineering, and verification teams.
- Navigate evolving consumer safety regulations and lead the process of securing NRTL and other requisite product safety certifications for Apollo.
- Partner with product management and engineering leadership to ensure safety is a pragmatic, integrated part of the development process, not a late-stage checkbox.
- Generate essential safety documentation including safety plans, risk analyses, compliance reports, and reliability assessments.
- Define Apptronik’s approach to safety for AI and ML-based systems, including human-robot interaction safety, as Apollo operates in increasingly complex collaborative environments.
SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Deep expertise in systems safety engineering, including HARA, DFMEA, FTA, and safety strategy development for complex electro-mechanical and robotic systems.
- Proven track record of taking products from concept through safety certification in commercial environments, including hands-on experience securing NRTL certifications.
- Solution oriented individual with strong problem solving skills who is able to evaluate complex problems and guide teams to a working outcome.
- Strong working knowledge of relevant safety standards including R15.06, R15.08, IEC 62061, and IEC 61508, with active or prior participation in standards bodies preferred.
- Experience leading and building safety teams, with the ability to attract, develop, and retain strong safety engineering talent.
- Pragmatic judgment about where safety effort should be focused and able to distinguish the requirements that truly matter from those that are purely compliance-driven.
- Experience with safety for AI, ML, or autonomous systems is a strong plus, particularly in human-robot interaction or collaborative environments.
- Familiarity with requirements management tools such as JAMA or equivalent.
- Strong communicator: able to represent Apptronik credibly with customers and in external standards and regulatory settings and translate safety requirements clearly for engineering and product teams.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; master’s degree preferred.
- 12 or more years of safety engineering experience on complex electro-mechanical systems or robotics, including demonstrated ownership of a full product safety certification cycle.
- 5 or more years building and managing a team
- TÜV or equivalent functional safety certification preferred.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
- Hearing and speech to communicate
*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of systems engineering experience leading safety for complex electro-mechanical systems and robotics
- Bachelor's degree in engineering (Master's degree preferred) or equivalent experience
- Industry expertise in Systems Engineering, hazard and risk assessment, Design failure mode and effect analysis, and safety strategy development
- Prior experience in taking products to commercialization in adherence to safety standards
- Demonstrated experience in functional safety design and certification
- Experience with compliance and functional safety tools & processes
- Leadership experience in change management to execute the safety roadmap
- Expertise in requirements management tools
Apptronik Compensation & Benefits Highlights
-
Healthcare Strength — Medical insurance through UnitedHealthcare includes multiple plan types with an employer-paid portion, alongside life and disability coverage. These core health benefits are presented as comprehensive for a fast-growing startup.
-
Equity Value & Accessibility — Company equity is explicitly included in total rewards, with performance bonuses and relocation assistance also listed. This ownership component adds longer-term upside beyond base pay.
-
Parental & Family Support — Generous parental leave, family medical leave, and an onsite mother’s room are highlighted. These provisions indicate tangible support for caregiving needs.
Apptronik Insights
What We Do
Apptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. Our team has been building some of the most advanced robots on the planet for years, dating back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge. We apply our expertise across the full robotics stack to some of the most important and impactful problems our society faces, and expect our products and technology to change the world for the better. We value passion, creativity, and collaboration to help us overcome existing technological barriers in the industry to create truly innovative products.
Why Work With Us
At Apptronik, we don't see a future where man competes against machine. Instead, we envision a harmonious world where man and machine coexist. Our mission statement, "It is not Man vs. Machine, but Man + Machine," encapsulates our belief that the synergy between humans and robots will pave the way for a brighter, more advanced future.
Gallery
Apptronik Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
