Certified Functional Safety Expert

Position Overview The Certified Functional Safety Expert (CFSE) will serve as the site and regional authority for all functional safety lifecycle activities across Oil & Gas production, processing, refining, and midstream operations. This role ensures compliance with IEC 61508 / IEC 61511 standards and supports safe, reliable, and compliant operation of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Emergency Shutdown (ESD) systems, BMS, and other critical protection layers.

The CFSE will collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Controls/Instrumentation, Process Safety, and Maintenance teams to execute hazard analyses, determine SIL requirements, verify logic solver configuration, lead SIF performance evaluations, and ensure proper documentation throughout the safety lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities Functional Safety & SIS Governance

• Serve as the technical authority for functional safety lifecycle management in accordance with IEC 61511.
  
  
• Lead and facilitate PHA/HAZOP, LOPA, and SIL determination studies for all process units.
  
  
• Oversee the design, implementation, verification, and validation of Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs).
  
  
• Ensure compliance with corporate and industry safety standards for all SIS, BMS, ESD, and interlock systems.
  
  

Engineering & Technical Support

• Review and approve functional safety documentation including SRS (Safety Requirements Specifications), cause-and-effect diagrams, logic narratives, and safety lifecycle records.
  
  
• Perform SIL verification calculations, reliability assessments, and proof-test interval determinations.
  
  
• Provide engineering oversight for SIS upgrades, control system migrations, and management of change (MOC) activities.
  
  
• Support root cause analysis for SIS failures, bypasses, alarms, or spurious trips.
  
  

Testing, Validation & Compliance

• Oversee and audit proof testing, commissioning, validation, and periodic performance assessment of SIFs.
  
  
• Ensure safety lifecycle phases are documented and traceable, including test results, deviations, and corrective actions.
  
  
• Maintain audit readiness for OSHA PSM compliance and internal/external regulatory reviews.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Process Safety, Instrumentation/Controls, Electrical, Operations, and Maintenance teams to ensure safe and reliable facility performance.
  
  
• Provide coaching, training, and mentoring to engineers and technicians on functional safety principles.
  
  
• Interface with EPC firms, SIS vendors, and integrators for project design and execution.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Certified Functional Safety Expert (CFSE) or CFSP with commitment to achieving CFSE.
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field.
  
  
• 8+ years experience in process industries (Oil & Gas, refining, petrochemical, LNG) with at least 5 years specializing in functional safety.
  
  
• Hands-on experience with IEC 61511, API standards, OSHA PSM, and lifecycle management tools.
  
  
• Proficiency with SIL/LOPA software (ex: exSILentia, SILsolver, Fault Tree+).
  
  
• Strong understanding of control system platforms (DeltaV, Honeywell, Foxboro, Siemens, ABB, Yokogawa) and safety PLCs (Triconex, HIMA, DeltaV SIS, Honeywell Safety Manager).
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with LNG, refining, offshore platforms, or petrochemical operations in Gulf Coast environment.
  
  
• Knowledge of burner management systems, flare systems, and emergency shutdown systems.
  
  
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
  
  
• Strong communication and documentation skills, including report generation and technical presentations.
  
  

Key Competencies

• Deep expertise in functional safety standards and SIS lifecycle.
  
  
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret complex process safety data.
  
  
• Excellent facilitation skills for PHAs, HAZOPs, and LOPA studies.
  
  
• High attention to detail, compliance-oriented, and strong sense of ownership.
  
  
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels in a safety-critical environment.
  
  

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.