Nagaraj N.-Functional Safety Manager | System Architect | Cross-Functional Team Leadership
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Experience
Manager, Functional Safety
Eaton Industries GmbH
- Lead functional safety strategy and ISO 26262 compliance across the full lifecycle for a high-voltage electronic switching device that safely connects/disconnects the HV battery in EVs, enabling fast fault isolation and high-current interruption.
- Own the Functional Safety Management Plan (FSMP) and Development Interface Agreement (DIA), acting as the primary safety governance authority across program stakeholders.
- Architect system safety concepts — developing FSC, TSC, and system safety architecture — and define the safety manual with complete user instructions.
- Direct verification and confirmation reviews per ISO 26262 independence requirements.
- Lead safety analysis activities (FTA, FMEA, FMEDA, DFA) and chair vehicle/system integration reviews across cross-functional engineering teams.
- Define methods, templates, and processes that establish best-in-class FuSa practices organization-wide.
- Conduct SEooC assessments and audits, representing the safety organization to internal leadership and external stakeholders.
Senior System Architect, Functional Safety
Aptiv Services Deutschland GmbH
- Architected the ADAS Level 3 system enabling conditional automated driving, defining the safe-fallback and controlled-handover strategy within defined ODDs.
- Served as System Architect for Highway Pilot ADAS (ASIL D), leading safety architecture, redundancy, and degradation concept design end-to-end.
- Developed FSC and TSC concepts and defined FSRs and verification methods at system level, guiding cross-functional teams through implementation.
- Directed FTA, FMEA, and FMEDA safety analyses to underpin key system architecture decisions.
- Led secure communication architecture design (CAN, FlexRay, Ethernet) and oversaw penetration testing and security validation.
- Drove safety case development and contributed to road-release approvals.
Project Safety Manager
Robert Bosch
- Led ASIL determination and safety planning for ESP braking systems (ASIL D), ensuring vehicle stability and controllability.
- Directed HARA, safety goal derivation, and FSR/TSR/safety concept development.
- Managed OEM interaction and stakeholder relationships, owning safety plans, FuSa concepts, and the DIA.
- Defined and led execution of Functional Safety Validation Tests (FSVT).
Functional Safety Engineer
Tech Mahindra
- Delivered the FuSa lifecycle per ISO 26262 across multiple safety-critical systems: Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Electric Parking Brake (EPB), and Passive Safety systems.
- Performed system and software safety analysis (FMEA, DFMEA, FTA).
- Executed tool qualification per ISO 26262 and defined item definitions and FuSa requirements at system and software level.
- Delivered software safety improvement recommendations to engineering leadership.
Industry experience
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Experienced in Automotive and Information Technology.
Business area experience
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Experienced in Product Development, Information Technology, Quality Assurance, and Project Management.
Summary
Automotive Functional Safety Leader and System Architect with 12+ years of experience directing ASIL B–D compliant system architectures across ADAS, braking (ESP), and electrified powertrain programs. Combines deep technical command of ISO 26262, ISO 21434, IEC 61508, and SOTIF (ISO 21448) with a consistent track record of leading cross-functional, global engineering teams and owning the customer-facing safety relationship with OEMs and Tier-1s. Experienced in taking full ownership of the safety lifecycle end-to-end — from system architecture, hazard analysis, and safety concept design through verification, safety case, and road release — while building the processes, methods, and people capability needed to sustain it.
Skills
Functional Safety Leadership
- Fusa Management (Fsmp, Dia)
- Iso 26262, Iso 21434, Iec 61508, Sotif (Iso 21448)
- Hara & Safety Goal Derivation
- Fmea, Fta, Fmeda, Dfa
- Safety Audit & Assessment (Incl. Seooc)
- Verification & Confirmation Reviews (Part 8 Independence)
System Architecture
- Adas L2/L3 & Braking System Architecture
- Fsc / Tsc Development
- Safety Architecture, Redundancy & Degradation Concepts
- Hw Architecture & Requirements
- Secure Communication (Can, Flexray, Ethernet)
- Sw Tool Classification & Qualification
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Cross-Functional & Global Team Leadership
- Oem & Supplier Interface Management
- Customer-Facing Safety & Security Management
- Process, Template & Best-Practice Definition
- Vehicle & System Integration Leadership
- Mentoring & Knowledge Transfer
Languages
Education
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Masters in Embedded Systems · Embedded Systems · Pilani, India
GM Institute of Technology
Bachelor in Electronics & Communication Engineering · Electronics & Communication Engineering · Davangere, India
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Profile
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Nagaraj is based in Gummersbach, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.
Nagaraj speaks the following languages: English (Native), German (Intermediate).
Nagaraj has at least 12 years of experience. During this time, Nagaraj has worked in at least 4 different roles and for 4 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 1 month. Note that Nagaraj may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Nagaraj would be well-suited for roles such as: Manager, Functional Safety, Senior System Architect, Functional Safety, Project Safety Manager.
Nagaraj's most recent position is Manager, Functional Safety at Eaton Industries GmbH.
In recent years, Nagaraj has worked for Eaton Industries GmbH and Aptiv Services Deutschland GmbH.
Nagaraj is most experienced in industries like Automotive and Information Technology.
Nagaraj is most experienced in business areas like Product Development, Information Technology, and Quality Assurance. Nagaraj also has some experience in Project Management.
Nagaraj has recently worked in industries like Automotive.
Nagaraj has recently worked in business areas like Product Development, Information Technology, and Quality Assurance.
Nagaraj holds a Master in Embedded Systems from Birla Institute of Technology and Science and a Bachelor in Electronics & Communication Engineering from GM Institute of Technology.
Nagaraj is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.
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Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 26 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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